Here are a couple of sketches from the start of this month. I found this fountain pen that had been in my office for years, it was from China, given by a former student I think, I’m not even sure how long ago. I thought I should put some ink in it and see if it worked ok. So I filled it with some Platinum Carbon ink and did a few sketches (including the one of the lemonade stand downtown), and the one below against the pink background. I decided I didn’t like it enough; it drew ok, but the ink definitely leaked a bit, and you don’t want that ink on your clothes. So I decided against using that pen any more. I did however dig out my old Lamy Safari, assuming that it would be all dried up and unusable. It was not difficult to clean, so I filled that up with platinum carbon ink and drew the scene above, the view from my bed. I was watching an old episode of Anthony Bourdain. You can see my electric guitar leaning up against the bookshelf. It’s also in the sketch below, it’s a Squier Telecaster in Lake Placid Blue, and it’s very nice to play. I love playing my guitar; I may not be very skilled technically, but I can play decently enough for what I like. I realized a while ago, I can’t play all that fiddly stuff you see guitarists do, I love strumming chords and rhythm, and that’s because that is the sort of music I like. I don’t listen to fiddly guitar hero stuff, so I don’t play it. I’m always a bit embarrassed about my guitar playing, because ‘real’ players play ‘properly’, but I only play for me and I get better where I want to get better. Now I wish I were a better singer, that would be nice, but I don’t even like my speaking voice let alone my singing voice. I am sure my neighbours growing up didn’t much either. We liked a sing-song in our house though, that’s where all the Irish music came out. Anyway, do I like drawing with fountain pen? I think so (because I just bought two more Lamy Safaris in different nib sizes) but we’ll see. I just don’t want to have to refill my ink thing while out and about, because my ink well is well messy. Bedroom sketching. Reminds me of the heady days of the Pandemic, when that was our cocoon.