I've been through a lot this past year. More than some and a lot less than others.  A bad bout of depression, turning 40 and recently the death of an old and dear friend. 

They say ever experience is a chance to learn. What have I learnt? I'm still learning from these experiences, but my immediate thoughts turn to the knowledge that pretty much everyone I know is or has suffered from some mental health problem.  

Knowing this has given me strength to face my own issues and deal with them. I wonder if this is why I'm feeling drawn to portraits at the moment?

By being open about my issues others in turn have opened up to me. I never knew how much some close friends were suffering and I wish they had felt they could reach out to me.  

I've taken tiny steps to right myself.  Things like drawing a little bit more often. Being more precise about my daily routine. Nothing really earth shattering in itself. However the effect on my mental out look combined with medication is nothing short of phenomenonal.

I travelled back to Omagh for a friend's funeral, rather than sit on my phone I took a cheap sketchbook and a H pencil. I filled my travel time sketching. The results are mixed. I had to work at speed as I could not tell how long anone  would hold a pose. 

Turns out drawing people on the sly is difficult. 

The backs of heads can be more interesting than you'd think. 

Sleepy airplane lady slumped  pretty much as soon as I started.

This was a quick 5 minute sketch I was hoping to get to work into. But my model got off at the next station. 

This model was really inconsistent moving their arm all over the place.

The foot model shifted her foot as soon as I started drawing. I had to wait 30 minutes for the foot to return.  

Just loved this really odd composition.  

The longest drawing I managed to complete. There was some kind of scandal about someone called Sam. 

This would be my favourite of the drawings. I love the unconventional cropping.