What Ever Happened To The Skipping Rope?

It's a quarter to one in the wee small hours. I have been drawing pen and ink again. Thank you all so much for your positive comments on the last post.

I have just drawn a picture of some children skipping. The type of skipping in which there is a rope holder at each end, twirling the rope and several kids jump in at the same time and try to keep it going. Do you remember that? Sometimes there would be two ropes going at the same time over lapping each other. How on earth did we do that?

It was mainly the girls who did the skipping, but I have to say I was quite good at it too. I have always been in touch with my feminine side. Isn't that what they say these days?

Do you remember me saying I wanted the book to have a retro feel to it? Well with that in mind I borrowed some of Tricia's beloved Just William books and had a look at the style of drawing. It struck me that my drawings are far too tidy. Of course I have been using a modern pen. So I went to my magic shed and found some old fashioned dipping pens and a bottle of black ink. I am very pleased with the results. Much more of the time I think.

Here is a picture from the Just William book, drawn by Thomas Henry. I think you will agree it has an old fashioned style about it. Actually it was drawn in the 1930's, so it obviously would look dated.

Here is a picture I did tonight, using the old pen and ink method. It hasn't the expertise of the Thomas Henry drawing, and it is certainly not so busy, but I like it. It has the look of the time. I think I shall do them all in this style. The ink splashes are deliberate by the way. I think they add something to the drawings. I'm not sure what that something is though.

So I shall have a few pen and ink drawings, done in the traditional method distributed among the pages of my book.

Do you see that little girl? The one who is standing next to the boy? I draw your attention to her because I just think she is absolutely the best thing about this drawing. Isn't she sweet? I think she is trying to pluck up the courage to jump in. Blimey, now I'm falling in love with a figment of my imagination!

Incidentally, what ever happened to skipping? I cannot remember when I last saw children enjoying this particular activity.

Come and see me again soon won't you.