Dog Sketches

Sketchbook - Dog Sketches

Buddy is a Golden Retriever, 6 years old, still acts like a puppy, always wanting to play with his ball.

The Village Idiot

The Village Idiot, ink and watercolour, 3 x 4 inches, ©2016

The Village Idiot is a record store located in Wortley Village. They have all kinds of music from the 1920s forward, stereo equipment, furniture to house it and posters. With a slogan like “cool stuff for cool people” and that beautiful red paint, why not visit in person at 135 Wortley Rd (I couldn't find a website for them).

This illustration is available at The Art Exchange.

Victoria Tavern

Victoria Tavern, ink, watercolour, gouche, 4 x 5.5 inches, ©2016

The Victoria Tavern is opening again and has a new owner, Mike Small. This location housed a grocery store from the 1920's until 1933 when the Victoria Tavern opened. The long standing SoHo watering hole closed its doors in 2013, but was included in our Barhopping into History book, because if closed just as we were going to print. I haven't been inside since it re-opened, as it was closed for a function the day I tried. It is January and we finally have winter, so I thought it was time to paint a snowy, wintery picture.

Sweet Onion Grill

Sketchbook - Grimbergen

Sketchbook - draught taps

Enjoyed the opening for "The Preview Show" an exhibition of the artworks representing the upcoming shows for 2016 at Westland Gallery. After which we enjoyed a beverage at Sweet Onion Grill. A beer that I have never heard: Grimbergen. Lots of history here. "The Grimbergen Abbey dates back into the Middle Ages when Norbert van Xanten took the name of Norbertus and founded the Premonstratensian Order (or Norbertine Order). In 1128, the Lords of Grimbergen asked him to build an abbey and he granted them their wish. Shortly after, in the same year, the Fathers of Grimbergen Abbey began to brew a local beer." Read More

Winks Eatery, Inc.

Sketchbook - Winks Eatery

Sunday afternoon "drinking and drawing" at Winks Eatery, Inc., Richmond and Albert Street in London. Enjoyed a Hoegaarden, a wheat ale that is brewed in Belgium, one of my favourites! Comes in a really big glass, makes it look bigger than it is.