janbow's blog

You are cordially invited to my open studio and garden on the last weekend in June. Two minutes from New Cross Station, one stop from London Bridge. As well as new prints, cards, rampaging flowers, etc, there will be tea and cookies too (hopefully!). All welcome.

SO many unfinished Venice pictures. Here’s the very first one from eight years ago. #veniceitaly #unfinisheddrawings #stmarkssquare #viewfromsansalute https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccadl7RI1Qq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

From wintery Toronto with dear twin and nieces and occasional nephew, to spring in Venice. Wallowing in eye candy. This, for example, overlooking lunch outside the magnificent gigantic Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo. Everywhere you look there’s something wonderful to draw. #bartolomeocolleonistatue #equestrian #eyecandy (at Venice, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcaczXpoAZt/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

In Toronto seeing Best Beloved Twin. This is the view a few weeks ago from her back step. #winter #squirrels #canada #springiscoming #backgarden https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb4-9nXORNh/?utm_medium=tumblr

Mr B making pasta carbonara for my birthday. (Rampant chaos elsewhere in kitchen just out of view but) it was delicious. #pensketch #kitchendrawing #weneedarobotcleaner #happyday https://www.instagram.com/p/CNDhLimBKAV/?igshid=2o9oo8xrp1r8

At @hackneyempire waiting for the show to start #beautifultheatre #pensketch #inkandwash #20minutesketch #architecture #interior https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Bvmdbp-Po/?igshid=1u42nuk6zi7kp

Nice commission - another opportunity to draw garsdens. (This is a draft BTW. Hence total absence as yet of birds, which is the entire point) #garden #birdfeeders #illustration #weather #playingaroundwithcolours #autumn #winter #seasons #draft https://www.instagram.com/p/B2o4D1enLJ2/?igshid=5vjobvynv6y6

Finished! A pleasure to draw, and an education in how Ideas and technology were transmitted round the world #alchemy #bookillustration #bookcover #history #earlyscience @fragmentsofjo_y https://www.instagram.com/p/B0oB59yHyWd/?igshid=13i7xhbthuifh

With the effervescent artist Frances Treanor for a delightful afternoon of wine, cream tea, cucumber sandwiches and scintillating conversation. Here she is holding forth on life with typical acerbic flair.

Finally finished this picture of the iconic Troubadour Pub in Earls Court, in thanks for their hosting the ArtistsFor Brexit exhibition last summer. Drew this last month and then faffed about with colours till Paris. Back now and suddenly it worked! This was drawn in February. Atmosphere at the Troubadour whenever I visit is always as mellow as this ;) (Has also hosted Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, etc etc, and is on the cusp of three leylines...)

Here are some pix from a lovely fortnight in Paris, eating in Belle Époque bistros, beng awed by illustration and comicbook shops, and exploring in the February heatwave. Now back home to prepare for next week’s exhibition opening, but here are some pen sketches of the city for your amusement.

Drawn from either end of Paris flat, four vertiginous flights up

In Paris! First dashed sketch

Early morning at Euston Station where enormous rucksacks seem to be a Thing

Chilling post-Christmas dinner