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Michael Nobbs

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  • 4.50 am GMT

    October 26, 2026
    A photograph of an open homemade pocket sketchbook resting on a red, grey and cream checked duvet cover beneath a round, wooden-framed mirror. The right-hand page contains a bold black ink self-portrait of the artist wearing round glasses, with a beard and moustache. On the left-hand page, handwritten text reads: “4:50 am. I reached for a Moonlight Chronicle to read instead of my iPad and then drew myself. All before making my tea. A good start to the day.” The date, 26-10-26, appears above the drawing. Reflected in the mirror is the artist, wearing round glasses and holding a yellow phone in front of his face, revealing the pose from which the drawing was made. An orange Kaweco fountain pen and a black pen lie beside the sketchbook. To the right of the mirror is a yellow-covered copy of The Moonlight Chronicles, decorated with an illustration of a figure drawing. The scene is softly illuminated by warm early-morning light.

    I reached for a Moonlight Chronicle to read instead of my iPad and then drew myself. All before making my tea.

    A good start to the day.

    A close-up photograph of an open homemade pocket sketchbook resting on a red, grey and cream checked duvet cover. A bold black ink self-portrait fills the right-hand page, showing the artist's bald head, round glasses, beard and moustache, with the circular outline of a mirror surrounding his face. On the left-hand page, handwritten text reads: “4:50 am. I reached for a Moonlight Chronicle to read instead of my iPad and then drew myself. All before making my tea. A good start to the day.” The date, 26-10-26, is written in a small box above the drawing. Part of a round mirror is visible at the top of the photograph, with an orange fountain pen lying beside the sketchbook. Everything is bathed in warm yellow light.

    Posted in:

    Drawings
  • Out of sorts

    October 25, 2026
    A photograph of an open homemade pocket sketchbook resting on a larger red and white patterned sketchbook at the edge of a tea tray. The sketchbook contains a black ink drawing of a teapot, mug and milk jug, with little hens on a blue background. Handwritten notes reflect on the clocks going back, an extra-long night and feeling “out of sorts”, alongside a reminder to enjoy the cosiness of dark mornings. Beyond the drawing, the objects that inspired it sit on a blue hen-patterned tray cloth: a green teapot, an earthenware mug containing tea and a white milk jug holding a spoon. Several pens and pencils lie between them and the sketchbook, with a small reading light illuminating the scene. The sketchbook and tray are lying on a grey, red and cream duvet cover.

    3.45 am

    The clocks have gone back an hour for the winter. This is an extra long night (but I’m reminding myself that I enjoy the cosiness of the dark mornings).

    A photograph of an open homemade pocket sketchbook resting on a larger red and white patterned sketchbook. A black ink drawing stretches across both pages, showing a teapot on the left, a tall mug in the centre and a milk jug and spoon on the right, surrounded by little hens against a blue background. Handwritten text reads: “3:45 GMT. The clocks have gone back an hour for the winter. This is an extra long night.” On the opposite page, green lettering reads “Out of sorts”, followed by “(but reminding myself that I enjoy the cosiness of the dark mornings)”. The date, 25/10/26, appears on the right. Pens and pencils lie on the blue hen-patterned tray cloth above the sketchbook, the spout of a green teapot just visible in the upper left corner.

    Posted in:

    Drawings
  • 3.55 am

    October 24, 2026
    A photograph of a small, homemade sketchbook held open in one hand, with the artist's bare feet and green-grey checked pyjama trousers visible beyond it, resting on a colourful crocheted blanket. A simple black ink drawing stretches across both pages, depicting the artist's feet, with “3:55 am” written above them. Handwritten text on the right reads: “Listening to ‘Still Life’ drinking tea and wondering if I'm not seeing well.” A warmly lit tea tray with a mug, milk jug, green teapot and a small reading light sits beside the sketchbook, with a tablet displaying text at the lower right.

    Listening to “Still Life” drinking tea and wondering if I’m not seeing well.

    Posted in:

    Drawings
  • Morning anxiety

    October 23, 2026
    A photograph of a small, homemade sketchbook held open in one hand, with the artist's pyjama-clad legs visible beneath it. The page contains a black ink self-portrait showing a bald head, round glasses and a tired, slightly anxious expression. Beneath the drawing, handwritten words read: “My anxiety levels are very high. Drawing myself to see if I can find a calmer place.” The date, 23-10-26, is written at the bottom. In the background, a round mirror reflects the artist holding a yellow phone. A blue and white crocheted blanket is visible beneath the mirror, and a black fountain pen is held alongside the sketchbook.

    Posted in:

    Drawings
  • Trying

    October 22, 2026
    A wider photograph of an open sketchbook and tea tray resting on a colourful crocheted blanket in the warm light of an early morning. The sketchbook contains a black ink and coloured crayon drawing of the tea tray and surrounding blanket, with handwritten reflections about finding a way forward, step by step and drawing by drawing. Above it sits a white tray covered with a blue cloth patterned with white hens. On the tray are an orange Stanley mug, another mug, a green teapot, a striped earthenware milk jug with a spoon, and an earthenware mug decorated with a hen, along with pens and coloured pencils. A small reading light casts a warm yellow glow across the tray. The two mugs nearest the left of the tray have been added since the drawing was made. The bright blues, pinks and greys of the drawing echo the crocheted blanket beneath it.
    An open sketchbook resting on a colourful crocheted blanket beside a tea tray covered with a blue hen-patterned cloth. A black ink drawing spreads across both pages, showing a teapot, mug, milk jug and reading light. The shapes of the crocheted blanket fill the background in blocks of dark blue, turquoise, pink and grey, with the hen pattern picked out in black ink and pale blue. Handwritten words at the top left read: “Trying to find my way. Step by step. Mark by mark. Drawing by drawing. Not seeing any distance ahead. Trusting (or trying to!).” The drawing is dated 22-10-26 and marked 4:15 am. Part of the real tea tray is visible above the sketchbook, showing the handle of an orange mug, an earthenware hen mug, an orange Kaweco Sport fountain pen and two coloured pencils. The foot and part of a small reading light are also visible, casting a warm orange glow over the scene.

    A couple of hours spent drawing in the small hours while listening to the end of The Lost Art of Letter Writing.

    Trying to find my way. Step by step. Mark by mark. Drawing by drawing. Not seeing any distance ahead. Trusting (or trying to!).

    Posted in:

    Drawings, Studio Notes
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