Thursday 24 November 2011

Oh dear - my Naughty Pencil!

In fact, I think I should rename it my WICKED pencil!

The little 'doodle' above is the result of a conversation about Thanksgiving in which I suggested that we should make greeting cards for Harvest Festival, the nearest we have to an equivalent 'holiday' on this side of the pond.

But it was pointed out to me that, whereas Thanksgiving conjures up heartwarming 'images of roast turkey, happy families and joyful times', Harvest Festival is associated with 'tins of food, stacked up on a wooden bench, children singing out of tune and smelly old ladies'. 

So out came my pencil while I was 'watching' an episode of Poirot that I'd seen at least twice before - but, as usual, couldn't remember whodunnit. And of course, drawing sitting comforably on the sofa always results in an upward slope to the right in my doodles.

But looking it at it now, I can't help feeling that years of teaching seven year olds has built up a kind of inner store of images of their expressions and gestures.

Presumably it's the smell of the mothballs from the fur coat that the boys are objecting to? 

6 comments:

Nicki said...

Too funny Judy!

I admire you for doodling/drawing while watching TV- a very clever use of time.

Judy Adamson said...

Thank you, Nicki - too often it's that only time I get to draw these days :(

Carole Barkett said...

I love it and I was wondering about the smell. I'd forgotten about mothballs. You definitely have captured the children.

Judy Adamson said...

Thank you, Carole. I'd forgotten about mothballs too, but I can remember them from elderly neighbours I used to visit as a child.

Betsy Grant said...

Unfortunately there are those Americans who aren't much better off in their thoughts on Thanksgiving than what you're describing. I think they become more interested in their stomachs than in any genuine feeling of gratitude. Your drawing is nicely done.

Judy Adamson said...

Thank you for your comments, Betsy. It's interesting to hear about attitudes to Thanksgiving; I was actually totally unaware of it until I started making greeting cards for the US market. Our 'Harvest Festival' is something that is only celebrated in churches and some schools and we certainly don't send cards for it or have days off from work!