Michael Nobbs

Tag: gentle rhythm

  • Back to Tea Made with a Teabag

    A sketchbook drawing of a morning tea tray showing an oat milk carton, a mug, a spoon, and a small dish holding a used teabag. Soft green wash surrounds the objects, and handwritten text reads “Back to tea made with a teabag…”

    Today’s Tea-Tray drawing. The text reads:

    Back to tea made with a teabag…

    It almost feels like the drawing is sighing along with me. Recovery, it seems, isn’t all in one direction…

    I kept this one as simple as possible. I was tempted — ready with my Forest Green Derwent Lightfast pencil in hand — to draw the Moomins too, but in the end decided I couldn’t quite face it. I’m trying to let this be enough today.

    The oat milk carton, the mug, the used teabag — small, familiar company on the tray. A quiet morning, drawn as best I could.

    A close-up of the same drawing, focusing on the mug and the small dish with the used teabag. The pencil lines and green wash are clearly visible, with the handwritten words “Back to tea made with a teabag…” just above.

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  • Two Cartons of Oat Milk

    Sketchbook drawing showing two cartons of oat milk, a mug, and a teapot. Handwritten text reads: ‘Two cartons of oat milk on my tray this morning. I’m feeling very jittery. Am I drinking too much tea? I hope not!

    Here’s today’s Tea-Tray drawing. The text reads:

    Two cartons of oat milk on my tray this morning.
    I’m feeling very jittery.
    Am I drinking too much tea? I hope not.

    Often (usually?) my drawings are simply a record of a moment, of what’s here in front of me — the clutter, the small absurdities of my tiny life, the quiet noticing of how I feel. Today it’s two oat-milk cartons, a teapot, and a cup of tea that’s probably gone cold while I was drawing.

    Open sketchbook on a tray beside a mug of tea, two cartons of oat milk, and a green teapot. The drawing on the page shows the same scene with handwritten reflections about drinking too much tea.

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  • Getting this Site Online

    My laptop showing the new Studio Diary site live for the first time, with yesterday’s tea-tray drawing open on the screen.

    I got this site — my new Studio Diary — online last night, sometime after midnight, once the last bits of code were behaving. It felt good to see it live, sitting quietly in its own corner of the internet.

    I realised as I was finishing up that this domain, michaelnobbs.com, has been mine for more than twenty-two years now — first registered back in October 2003. It’s strange and rather comforting to think that this quiet corner has been here all that time, patiently waiting through the different versions of my work and life.

    This new version of the site feels like a gentle return as well as small beginning. I hope it can become a gentle record of my days in the studio (or in bed!) — drawings, reflections, fragments of reading — gathered slowly, without pressure. A place where the pace of making can stay close to the pace of living.

    In its own quiet way, this site feels like another form of drawing — another way of showing that I exist, that I’m still here, paying attention.

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  • Tea Made in a Teapot (Not a Teabag in Sight!)

    Sketchbook open to a drawing of a teapot, oat milk carton, and mug, placed beside the real objects — green teapot, stainless-steel flask, and mug on a patterned tablecloth. The handwritten text in the sketchbook reads: ‘Tea made in a teapot (not a teabag in sight!!). The first time since Covid. A sign that things are improving.

    Today’s Tea-Tray drawing, Tea Made in a Teapot (Not a Teabag in Sight!)

    Notes: A drawing of my morning tea-tray scene — teapot, Oatly carton, Go Gently mug and flask accompanied by handwritten text:

    “Tea made in a teapot (not a teabag in sight!!). The first time since Covid. A sure sign that things are improving.”

    This feels like gentle milestone marking recovery and the quiet return of ritual; I hope that the drawing combines a little humour, care, and gratitude within the familiar rhythm of morning tea.

    Sketchbook drawing of a teapot, oat milk carton, and mug. Handwritten text reads: ‘Tea made in a teapot (not a teabag in sight!!). The first time since Covid. A sign that things are improving.’ The page captures a return to ritual and gentle humour after illness.

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  • Trying to remember to drink my tea slowly

    Sketchbook open to a drawing of a mug, teapot, and carton of Oatly Barista Edition oat milk, placed beside the real items on a tray. The handwritten text reads: ‘My favourite oat milk was on offer this week (Oatly Barista chilled). Trying to remember to enjoy my tea slowly, rather than rushing into the day and letting it get cold.’ A warm, humorous reflection on slowing down and beginning the day gently.

    Today’s tea-tray drawing, Trying to remember to drink my tea slowly.

    The text on the drawing reads:

    My Favourite oat milk was on offer this week (Oatly Barista chilled). Trying to remember to enjoy my tea slowly, rather than rushing into the day and letting it get cold.

    Rushing to try and avoid that I’m not feeling well this morning? Making rather a mess of this.

    Sketchbook drawing showing a carton of Oatly Barista Edition oat milk, a mug, and a teapot. Handwritten text reads: ‘My favourite oat milk was on offer this week (Oatly Barista chilled). Trying to remember to enjoy my tea slowly, rather than rushing into the day and letting it get cold.’ A gentle note on patience, care, and self-observation.

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