My friend Barry is writing a book about his recent experience of learning to use a wheelchair and the wider impact this has had on his life. He’s kindly asked me to illustrate it, so once a month I go round to his house and sketch objects and scenes. The book’s made up of reflections and anecdotes, some positive, some not so, and each illustration has a colour to match the mood of the piece. It’s interesting doing a series of pictures with such a specific and consistent ‘look’ (fountain-pen for line, ink-wash for shadows, and water-colour), especially as I now rarely use pen for line in my daily sketches. It’s also lovely to sketch a diverse range of subjects in such good company and in the comfort of someone’s home; instead of leaning against a wall, outdoors, I’m sat on a chair, eating freshly-baked bread and listening to great music!
Lexington grey in fountain-pen and water-brush, watercolour, A4 – about 1 hour each
Mostly drawing 
This is an interesting project, I can’t imagine going through learning to use and depend on a wheelchair
Thanks Christina, Barry’s writings about the experience make it very real and understandable. I’ll post more soon! Ed
What an interesting project! I particularly like the inside-of-the-car and the staircase sketches. As a nurse-to-be, I am very interested in Barry´s story, when he is finished with it. I guess you´ll be promoting it, won´t you?
Thanks Viktoria, I’ll pass your comment on to Barry,and will share the book details etc once it’s finished! Ed
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