gina mckee

For today’s morning sketch, I made a quick drawing of British actress Gina McKee, who’s going to be reading You Can’t Eat a Princess! on CBeebies at 6:50 this evening. I’m really glad it’s Gina, I loved her playing the mother/dark queen in Dave McKean and Neil Gaiman’s film MirrorMask. She has this long, languid elegance to her that’s so wonderfully striking.

I need to do more morning sketches, I’ve been slacking off a lot recently, and it’s making me feel all itchy and terrible. I’ve heard several recent talks by people who blithely claim they don’t need to keep sketchbooks or draw for fun, and I suppose I’ve subconsciously let it seep into me that maybe I can get away with that, too. But I can’t, that’s not me, when I stop drawing for fun, my drawing seizes up and I just don’t feel healthy or right in the head.

I’ll make myself post them here, even if they don’t turn out very well at first, just to hold myself accountable (which is mostly why I keep a blog, if I have to admit it – also, to remember things because my brain’s a sieve). I drew this one so fast that I got it all messy with the side of my hand and had to go back and erase all the smudges in Photoshop, which took longer than if I’d just drawn it slowly and calmly. I’m heading up to north Yorkshire this weekend so I’ll hopefully get a chance to do some sketching there.

Hey, does anyone know of a flat or house up for rent in the Peckham, Brockley or Nunhead area? My fab friend Viviane Schwarz is looking for a place to live and make her lovely picture books and comics, with a garden (or at least a balcony) and a nice setting with local cafes nearby. She’s thinking she wants to share with another woman, maybe someone who’s living there already, or who can move in with her. (Contact viv at vivianeschwarz dot co dot uk)

18 Responses to gina mckee

  1. hooton says:

    I just want to say, I fangirl Gina McKee like a mad thing so I am v. v. v. jealous of you right now. She’s awesome and has a brilliant reading voice.

  2. hooton says:

    I just want to say, I fangirl Gina McKee like a mad thing so I am v. v. v. jealous of you right now. She’s awesome and has a brilliant reading voice.

  3. I do miss your more whimsical/for-no-real-reason-at-all sketches (even though I’m one of the bad ones that blithely claim not to keep sketchbooks). When you don’t keep me well-fed with Sarah-sketches I just don’t feel healthy or right in the head!

    And Gina McKee = :oD

  4. I do miss your more whimsical/for-no-real-reason-at-all sketches (even though I’m one of the bad ones that blithely claim not to keep sketchbooks). When you don’t keep me well-fed with Sarah-sketches I just don’t feel healthy or right in the head!

    And Gina McKee = :oD

    • dan fone says:

      Aw, bless you, Garen! It’s all been going a bit fast for me lately, really having a hard time keeping my head around all the paperwork. Are you coping okay? Once I get through the October book tour month, I think I’ll be able to focus a bit more on my drawing and book work.

      Actually, I’m looking forward to October, I love doing the presentations. If the people are nice and supportive (and they almost always are), it feels a bit like a holiday because I get to travel and stay in hotels and stuff. Not my usual! 😀 So glad you’re going to be in Edinburgh, that’ll be fun.

      • I am coping – thank you! But only just, on the edge. ‘Making it’ seems touch-and-go, but it’s also all good stuff, so just have to remember to not let it stress me out. Making big lists helps. I know how busy you’ve been and am keeping out of your inbox 🙂 Look forward to seeing you at whatever’s next – hopefully Caption! Definitely looking forward to Edinburgh.

  5. Anonymous says:

    cbbeebs reading ace !

    you’re right about drawing for fun, it has to be done ! and I never get time and yes it does make me rusty and quite bonkers, If i don’t get any art done I become unbearably freaky. Blogs are a good disciplin.

    keep drawing gal ! X

  6. Anonymous says:

    cbbeebs reading ace !

    you’re right about drawing for fun, it has to be done ! and I never get time and yes it does make me rusty and quite bonkers, If i don’t get any art done I become unbearably freaky. Blogs are a good disciplin.

    keep drawing gal ! X

  7. dan fone says:

    Aw, bless you, Garen! It’s all been going a bit fast for me lately, really having a hard time keeping my head around all the paperwork. Are you coping okay? Once I get through the October book tour month, I think I’ll be able to focus a bit more on my drawing and book work.

    Actually, I’m looking forward to October, I love doing the presentations. If the people are nice and supportive (and they almost always are), it feels a bit like a holiday because I get to travel and stay in hotels and stuff. Not my usual! 😀 So glad you’re going to be in Edinburgh, that’ll be fun.

  8. I am coping – thank you! But only just, on the edge. ‘Making it’ seems touch-and-go, but it’s also all good stuff, so just have to remember to not let it stress me out. Making big lists helps. I know how busy you’ve been and am keeping out of your inbox 🙂 Look forward to seeing you at whatever’s next – hopefully Caption! Definitely looking forward to Edinburgh.

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