useful boxes (Charcoal Footprint #33)

Now this is not truly "trash", as I have a hard time actually throwing away useful cardboard boxes and bubble wrap and these guys have ended up in the basement, contributing to my ever growing collection.

It is both a blessing and a curse that my husband is of the same opinion. Neither one of us has the resolve to recycle the mountain of  "useful boxes", but at least we don't fight about it.

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Description : charcoal still life drawing of packaging materials - an old cardboard box, bubble wrap and polystyrene packing peanuts

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series.

Clementines at last! (Carbon Footprint #32)

charcoal still life drawing of clementine ppel

Father Christmas would always put a clementine and some Brazil nuts in the toe of my stocking. It was something of a let down after all the silly plastic toys, but I suppose it gave the stocking some weight to hang straight, and as ballast an orange is much better than a lump of coal.

Now I'm all grown up I love the start of clementine season. Every scrap of peel sends up such a glorious wiff of orange and then peeling away all the stringy white pith is so much fun.

And those huge boxes of satsumas are just around the corner...

Description : charcoal still life drawing of clementine peel

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series.

Good Grief! I've run out of charcoal!

how did that happen? I could have sworn I had a brand new pack of chunky charcoal just waiting in the wings. But no, nothing but scratty end pieces and dust. Uh-oh, I see a trip to the art store in my future. QUICK! Hide the credit cards.

In the mean time, here's another scrumptious pastel landscape to enjoy. These Pan Pastels are still such fun to play with. I wonder what other colors they have at the store....

pastel drawng of fall woodland reflected in a turquoise stream

Please stop making Pumpkin Pie! (Carbon Footprint #31)

empty pumpkin pie can - charcoal still life drawing by Jo Bradney

This was my last can of pumpkin. I forgot to budget for the Fall Pumpkin Pie Frenzy and my store has been out of canned pumpkin for almost a month now. It seems they just can't keep it on the shelf. Now what is Lulu going to have for lunch?

It's loyal customers like Lulu that keep the canned pumpkin industry going through the lean Spring months; through the humidity of Summer, when pumpkin pie is the last thing on your mind. I'm pretty sure pumpkin is always on Lulu's mind - she's even added it to her growing list of vocabulary.

She's just going to have to make do with green beans until after Thanksgiving

where's my pumpkin!

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Description : An empty squashed can of pumpkin with a torn paper label, captured in a charcoal still life drawing

This charcoal drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series.

Egg Box charcoal still life drawing (Carbon Footprint #30)

charcoal drawing of an empty plastic egg box with egg shells

Coming back to drawing after a two week holiday is like the first aerobic work out after a vacation...I've been told Fingers all rusty and stiff; eyes have got lazy and are just looking, not seeing; and the legs are complaining about standing at the easel for so long

So what do I choose? 12 ellipses, see-through plastic and lots of funky highlights. And the simply perfect shape of an egg

yeeeees...nothing like easing yourself in gently

(Brilliant fun though)

Description : Charcoal still life drawing of an empty plastic egg box and broken egg shells

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series.

Shell on Prawns, charcoal still life drawing (Carbon Footprints #29)

Prawn shells, squeezed lemon and a bottle of white wine

I've been to the seaside for my holidays. Lots of prawns (or shrimp...depending on which side of the atlantic you lean towards), but much more wine, bestest old school friends, lots of giggles and fishy fingers.

A simply schplendid time had by all

Description : charcoal and pastel still life drawing of an empty wine bottle, half a squeezed lemon and a pile of shrimp shells

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series.

Empty Jam Jar - still life charcoal and pastel drawing (Carbon Footprints #28)

charcoal and pastel still life drawing of an empty jam jar and knife

I enjoyed drawing the empty jam jar so much last week, that it is making a second appearance this week - this time as a solo performer. This long skinny piece of paper was left over from the avocado drawing - "Pitted", so I am also being nice and economical and using up my left-overs... in more ways than one.

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Description : Charcoal Still Life Drawing of an empty marmalade mar and sticky knife.

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Toast and Marmalade Jar - charcoal and pastel drawing (Carbon Footprint #27)

empty marmalade jar and toast crust, charcoal and pastel still life drawing

Up until now, all the Carbon Footprints still life drawings have been genuine discards from my own life. This one is a bit of a fib

There is NO WAY I would have left that much scrumptious toast and marmalade.

But I decided that this picture needed something organic and so I sacrificed the last corner of toast for the picture. There can be no great art, without great sacrifice.

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Description : Still life drawing in charcoal and pastel of an empty marmalade jar, sticky knife and half eaten corner of toast.

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series.

Bread Bag - charcoal and pastel still life drawing (Carbon Footprints #26)

charcoal, white charcoal and pastel still life drawing of a plastic bread bag and crust

I hate eating the last crust of bread. It's usually all dry and stale and too chewy for words. And I am here to testify that it DOES NOT make your hair go curly. That's a complete fib. (Although luckily it has not put hairs on my chest either - which is what I suspect my brother was promised)

However, I can't quite bring myself to throw it away either. That would be wasteful...and I can see my Grandad's disapproving face hovering over my shoulder.

So the compromise is to leave it in the bag until it goes green...and then throw it away. Well, I couldn't possibly eat it in that state.

This slice hasn't quite reach the interesting moldy stage, but unfortunately a day under the studio lights has turned it rigid. I think its going to have to be consigned to the bin

Sorry Grandad

Description : charcoal, pastel and chalk still life drawing of a plastic bread bag and the last dry crust.

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series.

Who Ate All the Pie? charcoal, red chalk and pastel drawing (Carbon Footprint #25)

Charcoal drawing - empty pie box

Red and white stripey string cascades over an empty cake box and discarded silver pie dish Who ate all the pie?

 Left over from celebrating last week's art sale this was a delicious egg custard. And how could I resist that string!

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This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series.