Drawing, Blogging, Drugs and a Little Coffee

how an illustrated blogger was born.

By Michael Nobbs

Back in the New Year I decided to make some major changes to my life. I stopped working completely (I’d been doing some teaching) and began clearing out my painting studio. I did something I never thought I would. I burnt piles of work. Then I threw or gave away piles of material. Then I burnt more things. Then I took down all my now empty studio shelves...

Pleased with the empty space I decided I wouldn’t waste my energy on painting large paintings in there anymore. Instead I turned the shelving into a work top, bought some kitchen units to put it on, found a table and added a bed. Suddenly I had a cosy den to work in.

© Michael Nobbs Instead of painting large messy abstract painting I found I was making small drawings of the things around me. I became excited about pens, coloured pencils and sketchbooks. I bought a scanner. I started posting the things I draw to my blog. The redesigned my blog. I began to smile a lot more. Suddenly I was a illustrated blogger.

I saw my doctor back in the spring. He suggested (again) that I try taking an SSRI called sertraline. Realising that not continually doing the things I had always done seemed to be making me happier I surprised us both by saying “yes.” I began to smile even more.

This morning I woke up, made a pot of delicious coffee and took my drugs. On the table in front of me are my pens and sketchbook. Later I shall make a small drawing. A little later still I shall upload it to my blog. Suddenly I find I’m enjoying today and looking forward to tomorrow. Drawing, blogging, drugs and a little coffee are wonderful things...

If you are interested in finding out more about illustrated blogging then the Illustrated Webring is a good place to start. To start you own blog for free visit Blogger and sign up for an account. For an easy blog that lends itself well to illustrated blogging take a look at Typepad. •

About the Author
Michael Nobbs is a artist, blogger and part-time ME/CFS sufferer living on the west coast of Wales. You can read his illustrated blog at www.michaelnobbs.com and find out about his new book at www.thebeany.com.

11/23/04

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