All hail @josh_mcelroy !
Just a kid from Australia who arrived in London with nothing but a big heart, a rucksack full of dreams, and $14.35 in Aussie money.
He plays Lonnie Byers in Stranger Things: The First Shadow and we share a dressing room. He makes me laugh out loud every single day.
And today is his 30th birthday! Happy birthday mate! He’s a little painting of him based on a modelling shoot he did for @aubinandwills which he doesn’t like talking about.
Back To Life (Drawing). It’s been 9 months since I’ve been to a life drawing class, due to commitments keeping the unruly kids at Hawkins High School in line in @stonstage .
So it was a huge pleasure to pop into @adriandutton_life_drawing and draw @alaia_artmodel this evening.
All sketches either 1, 2 or 10 minute poses, drawn in conté pastel. A bit rusty after all that time away and had the same triumphs and disasters I always have but so great to engage this part of my brain again.
Adrian’s classes are always so relaxed and welcoming- there are always people there who have never been to a class before. They run nearly every night of the week, so if you’re in London, look him up and see if there’s one near you. Go with a friend or on your own.
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#lifedrawing #lifemodel #pastel #sketch
#Rivals season 2 starts Disney+ on Friday 15th May.
Here is my portrait of the brilliant @bellamaclean , who plays Taggie. A couple of years ago she kindly asked me to paint portraits of her and her two sisters as a Christmas gift to her parents.
Bella‘s a fantastic actress and a very lovely person and it’s terrific to see her career soaring. Can’t wait for the new series.
6 years ago exactly I got so bored in lockdown that I decided to retouch the lettering on some of the classic David Kindersley road signs around where I live in Walthamstow (for non typography nerds, Kindersley was a wonderful letter designer and stone carver- a bit like Eric Gill but without the really awful abuse Gill was guilty of). Kindersley’s legacy lives on with the wonderful @cardozokindersleyworkshop
I did half a dozen but haven’t done any for a while - but I’ve got my eye on a couple of others. Strictly speaking, it’s a form of tagging. I’m literally painting over public property without permission. But I’ve a feeling councils don’t prioritise the maintenance of postwar street signage as they should and it might be pretty far down the list.
So should I do more?
Swipe to see my favourite.
Remembering this dog portrait I did for @katebeckinsale a couple of years ago.
Currently taking pet commissions if you know anyone who would love their dog, cat or axolotl captured in walnut ink.
Incredible dinner at @jsheekeyldn last night and wore this beautiful velvet suit to celebrate.
Purchased around Christmas last year from @blackout2vintagefashion - one of the best vintage stores in London. Full of proper, beautifully curated clothing from the 1920s onwards- and a really proper men’s section which I could gladly spend my life in.
Dressed down a bit with trainers and Breton top but you can bet I will be tarting about in this suit all year round. It’s Italian, hard to date but probably late 70s. The kind of thing Tom Ford has spent his career recreating.
@maximilian_graham00 has been auditioning to photograph me mincing about for weeks now. Even submitting a portfolio of his work at one point.
And here is his first shot: worth the wait. A @labourunion_clothing Henley #RRL jeans, a gift from @cinzano_pirelli , @lairdhatters summer hat and some other bits.
Enjoy the sunshine if you’re getting some today x
A few Press Night cards from The Corn is Green which opened 4 years ago today (give or take a day) at @nationaltheatre .
I do these for every play I’m in, including four shows at the NT between 2019 and 2024.
But with 32 cast members of @stonstage and 60 crew I decided… not to. Sorry, guys!
Look through my feed to see all previous paintings - and if you’re in a show, commission me- like @wellhayley did for Much Ado with @jamielloydco .
Have a great week!
Happy to share a recent commission for @krishmajumdar , BAFTA winning TV producer and director and chair of BAFTA from 2020 to 2023.
His gorgeous twins, painted in walnut ink on Saunders handmade paper 41 cm X 31 cm.
Framed by @flyingfoxframing
Another great visit to the @classiccarbootsale this morning in King’s Cross.
I wore the 1956 baseball jacket I bought there on my last visit and today bought an A2 US flight jacket, which I’ve wanted for ages. The leather needs a bit of love, and I’m keen to identify the patches. Paging @dilleyryan …
Also bought some Japanese selvedge jeans from @blackhorselane and a beautiful sweater from @northseaclothing which I’ll post about later.
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#classiccarbootsale #vintagestyle #vintageclothes #mensvintage #americana
