Caricatures at Great Missenden

Despite the occassional down pours, Gt Missenden was an enjoyable show with various country pursuits on display, ... Ferrets, birds of prey, Horses, Dogs, helicopter rides and bee arial display team, to say the least...but didn't get to see much of this as I was busy caricaturing. Thought I'd post here a few portraits I did on the Sunday so you can compare the finished item with the subject matter!

The Hare, the Lurcher and the mad cow

Thought I'd try out a different technique in my pictures using pencils and wax-oil pastels.
Limited edition prints are available on my website: ahayball.co.uk

Wimborne folk festival

Wimborne folk festival was a great success. Thanks to all who had their caricatures drawn and those that bought artwork...Much appreciated! It was great weather for it too. ( apologises for the shirt, photos by Siouxsie, Ta! )

My next Public Caricaturing is near Alton, Hampshire at the 'Departure Lounge cafe' on Saturday 20th June for the day.
I shall also have some limited edition prints and coasters with me.
Come along if you can- for details see link:
'the departure lounge cafe'
Its a craft show and i think there is a garden centre there also.
cheers,
al

Green Lizard on the Overcliff

I was so pleased to get my own shot of one our local green lizards! While walking the dogs last night on the Boscombe overcliff (secret location!), we spotted this green lizard basking in the late sunday sunshine. He was almost posing for me. I couldn't get my camera out quick enough, there were cases and lens caps flying everywhere! Anyway I was quite pleased with the result, you can so clearly see the scale pattern (click on pic to enlarge). Apparently some pet lizards were set free along the cliff tops years ago and they have bred since, along with the wall lizards. I shall have to send it in to Springwatch!

Hengistbury Head

Having a very photographic day today!
Heres some pics I took on my cycle trip to Hengistbury head this afternoon.
Very warm!

Blue tits and Great tits

I took these photos outside my kitchen window this morning. The garden is great at the moment, all green and secluded. I have about 7 or 8, Great tits and Blue tits flying around my bird feeder, with parents feeding the fledglings a mixture of fat balls and insects that they are pecking from the russian vine. A loveley sight to see! Quite unusual, as in the past I have struggled to attract birds to my garden as there is quite a few cats in the neighbourhood....The rspb is a great site for identifying birds in your garden.
Its definately great tits and blue tits I have at the moment.

click on the images to see them larger.

It would be good to see your photos of wildlife if you have any.

an alternative interior...

This is Neil Taylor, a very talented bepoke wooden stool maker from the craft circuit. A great interior to his long LWB Iveco! Wood burning stove included!

An 'H' van weekend - camp

What a great collection of H vans!...and not forgetting the 'Velo Solex Bike' with a motor,- I've always wanted one of those, so you couldn't get me off it, a buzzing around the campsite!
After an early evening 'Caricaturing' at a very nice wedding in a beautiful setting near Henley on Thames on Saturday, then I headed back to 'Sixpenny Handley near Cranborne where I enjoyed a couple of beers and enjoyed the next day of the H van camp. Loveley weather in a great setting. Very well organised Keith and Lee!

Finished the 'Moomite' Van!

'Treated to a rainbow at the end of our work'

Well here it is!... The interior, of the 'Moomite' van. After visiting the new forest 3 or 4 times a week for quite a few weeks its finished, and looks pretty good if I might say so myself.
Keith has been a real trooper working away through tooth aches, bad backs, working his garden and allotment and putting up with my scrutineering!... , and Lee has been fantastic with the sandwiches. Keith has obviously done most of the work with me as an assistant. Altough I chipped in with the sanding, finishing and did all the varnishing,...quite a few coats of interior silk then exterior gloss I'll have you know! It has been a bit of making it up as we go along as modifications and changes inevitably appeared along the way, (Sorry mate...) but at the end I think its been worth getting it exactly how we wanted it.
Just a table to do, a box for the leisure battery, a top for the cooker, and a couple of extra lights, but its finished ready for my craft show this week. All plumbed in for water & gas, fridge and cooker- and leisure battery, fuse box and split charge relay installed, all tried and tested!
Just had to pull it all out again today as the fridge flue needed securing again and to fish out the fridge 240v power lead and varnished one last door.

Its just how I wanted it, a small area for washing cooking and drinking and a nice pocket sprung mattress made as a bed permanently, rather than having to balance on the bits of foam that converted into a seat in my previous van (sorry 'PUF', hope u r keeping well!)
So:) many thanks 'Swampy', aka keith.
Its amazing what you did with 4 sheets of marine ply, a jig-saw, drill and my dad's 1973 electric screwdriver!

Not quite a converted horse box lorry but my own little home from home!

So heres the pics, make of it what you will!-not quite like my original sketch!- all comments gratefully received.
alx