Arctic Circle Cartoon - Going Plastic Free
Plastic pollution is a problem everywhere and particularly near waterways. And sending it to landfill isn't the answer, as New Zealand found out recently when heavy rains caused a huge part of a landfill to be washed into the Fox River. You can find plastic on nearly every beach in the world. Even on the relatively pristine beaches near New Zealand's Abel Tasman National Park. I went to Stephen's Bay yesterday.
Stephen’s Bay
Stephen’s Bay beach
It's a small beach, but I still picked up a couple of pieces of plastic (the packaging was something I found en route to the beach).
The best way to prevent single use plastic ending up in the ocean is to not buy it in the first place.
Since it is plastic-free July, I'm going to try not to bring any new plastic into my life this month. The challenges so far have been contact lens solution, which only comes in plastic bottles (I will make the one I have last longer by wearing my glasses more), and crisps. Crisp packets cannot usually be recycled. I love crisps and it is hard to make them from scratch without a deep fat fryer. But I discovered that Proper Crisps (based in Nelson, near where I'm staying at the top of the South Island) have released a crisp packet that it is biodegradable.
I'm amazed to see if that it even looks like foil inside.
Is this really going to break down in my compost? Watch this space.
I saw this by the beach too. Although it looks manmade, it is actually a basket fungus!
Arctic Circle Cartoons - Inspired by Greta Thunberg and the Extinction Rebellion
It is amazing how one girl has done more to inspire the western world to act than countless other protesters. And I admire (and took part in) Extinction Rebellion’s peaceful protests.
Taking a Break (Downing the Cartoonist Tools of the Trade)
Take a break and reduce anxiety.
Click to see options for using this image
Next week, I’m off to Motueka for a couple of weeks of writing. I’ve worked ahead so that I can take a break from my normal deadlines, relax and be creative.
For the cartoonists who read these posts, my most used tools are (top to bottom):
Factis eraser (I do use a kneaded eraser sometimes, but I keep pencil off original artwork as much as possible, as the Noodlers ink often smudges, or greys out. Plus I hate rubbing out)
MUJI pen that is falling apart. I bought a bunch of these pens while ago because you can replace the biro and lead pencil inserts . Unfortunately, I have lost most of these pens and am left with two, one of which is starting to split. I still have about 100 biro inserts so I am holding this pen together with electrical tape. I'll probably replace that with Sugru (mouldable glue) when I get around to it. I use the biro for notes, writing and rough drawing.
Dip pen which I used to use with India ink but now use Noodlers.
LAMY fountain pen with Noodlers ink (bulletproof black)
Mechanical pencil with blue non-reproduction lead for drawings I’ll ink over
Uniball fine eye black pen for lettering
2B pencil for sketching and roughs that will be traced
I usually draw roughs on whatever scrap paper I have. I then use layout paper to trace the line. Otherwise (eg. for Arctic Circle comics), I scan the roughs, convert to blueline, print onto heavyweight cartridge and then ink on this.
8 Ways to be Less Anxious
20 years ago this month I was working in an office job in the pharmaceutical industry. It was incredibly stressful and despite 12 hour days I felt I couldn't keep on top of things. I was living in London and commuting three hours a day. I had very little time to exercise or get out into nature. Inevitably, I flipped out and the upshot is I became a self-employed cartoonist.
Ever since that time, I've been prone to bouts of anxiety. This may surprise people who know me, but it is because I organise my life so that I don't have many situations that provoke anxiety.
Recently I went on a trip to Melbourne and found myself feeling more anxious than usual. This inspired me to draw up some of the ways I had to handle it and sparked a miniseries, some of which I’ve put up before. I thought it would be good to collect them all here.
Here we go:
Click to see options for using this image
People who read my newsletter will know that I plan every week. Being self-employed, it is easy for tasks to stretch to fill the time available, so unless I can allot time for those tasks, a lot of things will never get done. In this way I can make progress with personal projects (like the book I am working on now, Forget Kids - Get a Dog). I also try to make sure I complete projects ahead of deadlines to give myself some breathing space. And lists! I don’t know how people can deal with busy lives without lists.
Click to see options for using this image
Friends are important. And I'm not talking about Facebook friends here. The wine helps too…
Click to see options for using this image
I used to do a yoga class and the thing I liked best was the bit at the end where you lie down and focus on your breathing. Partly I enjoyed the meditative effect. Partly I was just happy that the yoga class was over.
Click to see options for using this image
I find working in the garden incredibly calming. Except when I go out for 15 minutes and then realise an hour has gone by and I still haven't got any work done.
Click to see options for using this image
We so miss Billie and though we get to borrow a dog every now and again I think we're ready to give another dog a permanent home.
Click to see options for using this image
Whether it is creating art, or experiencing art.
Click to see options for using this image
No matter the weather, walking by a beach (or in the Port Hills. or in a forest) always makes me feel better.
Earlier this year I spent a month without social media. I didn't post to Facebook, or Instagram, or twitter. I found it liberating and resisted coming back to it. Now many of my posts are automatic and I only interact with them when people comment. That said, if you think this post on how to reduce anxiety would be helpful to someone, please share it any way you see fit!
