Daily Drawing Diary

Capitol Hill

Drawing Austin’s Captiol Hill made me feel at home. It reminds me of drawing St Paul’s cathedral again. You’ll be pleased to know that it looks like the Senate House in Washington and because we’re in Texas it’s bigger too.

Road Not Taken

This drawing was created in Twitty, just north of Shamrock, Texas in the panhandle. I’ve used it as the cover of the new Texan Compendium that will be released at the opening of The State Of Texas Exhibition Sat 6th October.

Bridge Movement at Experian

Never Too Old To Be A Cowboy

A lot of things have been going on lately and hence a real lack of posting on the diary. I’ve been drawing ALOT but not managing to keep you updated.

There are a few dates for your calendar both in USA and in UK as well:

The State of Texas opens at Mesquite Arts Centre, Dallas Sat 6th October and runs until the end of the month.

Doxology is currently being shown at the Heights Church in Dallas and I’ll be there talking people through the work this sunday (30th Sept).

SW1 Gallery in London is having a group exhibition from the 8th - 15th October featuring artists that have been commissioned by Experian. I have a few pieces there.

The long awaited Texan Compendium will be released on the 6th October at the opening of The State of Texas. Information on how to buy this will be forthcoming.

Xnihilo in Houston will be kicking off the State of Texas exhibition on 19th October as well.

Their Friend Ol Sparky

Since 1930 Texas has executed 676 people - 379 since 1976. Ol Sparky took care of 361 of these.

1800 volts was sent through the person’s body, knocking them unconscious but was then reduced to 500 volts to prevent the body from exploding. The voltage was then taken to 1300 volts and then back to 500 and held for a minute to maintain paralysis of the brain.

For All U.S Americans

For The State Of Texas exhibition one thing I wanted to capture was a certain quality that exists within some of the USA’s youth culture. The drawing above was inspired by Miss South Carolina from the teen Miss USA pageant and also the TV show How to become a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader.

A Different Kind Of Horse

For The State of Texas exhibition at Mesquite Art Center features 7 new paintings based on drawings undertaken in Texas. This painting is turning out to be quite powerful and slightly melancholic.

Nothing evokes the spirit of Texas like the Cowboy. Riding across the open plain, master of his own destiny, driving cattle or showing off his skills at the rodeo, the cowboy is an icon.
But does this cowboy really still exist ?

In a hyperreal world often the icon becomes more real than the original.

The cowboy hat and boots are as much chosen attire for fashionistas as they are for cattle ranchers. Many want to associate themselves with the cowboy ideal  and it certainly makes a lot of money, selling us products, movies and experiences. But has the ‘selling’ of the cowboy become more common than the ‘real deal’ himself ?

The old cowboy riding a wheelchair rather than a horse is a striking image. Poignant and melancholic with the gold leafed ‘Dollar’ sign on high, the question arises ‘where did all the real cowboys go ?’ - Aimie Littler 2007

Whole Foods - The New Export

Wholefoods is an Austin based “organic” supermarket. It now has a prestigious location on central London but it’s origins are a lot more humble, being set up by a couple of college dropouts who lived at the first premises. Austinites are now much more loyal to Central Market than Wholefoods but few people in the UK will realise that it’s a Texan export.

Tread Softly

Little Piece Of Freedom