Do not be deceived by my size. I am Louis,
famous warrior. Just today, I saw this
woodlouse square up against a ladybird.
Well, don’t you worry, lads. I put a paw in
there and sorted the whole situation right
out. For my heroic deeds, I look forward to
the day when I am born aloft and carried
through the streets. In fact, I’m certain I’ve
seen a bag around here that will do the job...
Tweet us a picture of your #dogsinblankets
or #catsonmats @simplethingsmagTREE OF THE MONTH
Not only the UK’s second most common
tr ee, the large and long-living oak has plenty
of stories to tell. Its thick trunk has proven
an ideal spot for hiding through history,
including Charles II in the Civil War. It
has provided wood for everything from
battleships to barrels, some very nice
furniture, and even the traditional
yule log as well.
Look for: leaves, with rounded lobes; in
winter, a cluster of buds at the tip of twigs
Celebri-tree: Major Oak, Nottinghamshire.
Between 800 – 1000 years old, it’s said
to be Robin Hood’s hiding place.The heart of history and legendENGLISH OAK
DOGS IN BLANKETS
The secret thoughts of readers’
pets: Louis, 4, Teacup ChihuahuaManaged to get a tea
or coffee stain on
your carpet that won’t
budge? Spray with
some WD40 – let it
soak in, before wiping
off. Try applying onto
stained clothes before
bunging in the washing
machine, too.
HOUSEHOLD
you, you need to see them as a collection of
different shapes and lines. Draw an outline
of their head, and lightly mark two grid lines,
one from forehead to chin, another across at
eye level. Use these to judge where all their
features sit. If you find that too hard, another
trick is to work from a photo. Turn it upside
down, and you’ll be forced to see it less
as a face, more a collection of shapes.
Once everything looks like it’s in the right
place, add one or two distinctive details to
give a sense of personality, such as particularly
recognisable eyebrows, or smirk.
For extra fancy points, look for the darker
and lighter points on the face. Make the most
of shading, and you can use an eraser to help
lighten areas: just make sure to blend well.TO DRAW A REALSITIC PORTRAIT?
You won’t be able to draw the Mona Lisa but
at least your subject won’t be moaningHOW HARD CAN IT BE...
Donotbedeceivedbymysize.I amLouis,
famous warrior. Just today, I saw this
woodlouse square up against a ladybird.
Well, don’t you worry, lads. I put a paw in
there and sorted the whole situation right
out. For my heroic deeds, I look forward to
the day when I am born aloft and carried
through the streets. In fact, I’m certain I’ve
seen a bag around here that will do the job...
Tweet us a picture of your #dogsinblankets
or #catsonmats @simplethingsmagTREEOFTHEMONTH
NotonlytheUK’ssecondmostcommon
ee, thelargeandlong-livingoakhasplenty
f storiestotell.Itsthicktrunkhasproven
an idealspotforhidingthroughhistory,
including Charles II in the Civil War. It
has provided wood for everything from
battleships to barrels, some very nice
furniture, and even the traditional
yule log as well.
Look for: leaves, with rounded lobes; in
winter, a cluster of buds at the tip of twigs
elebri-tree: Major Oak, Nottinghamshire.
Between 800 – 1000 years old, it’s said
to be Robin Hood’s hiding place.The heartof history and legendENGLISH OAK
DOGS IN BLANKETS
The secret thoughts of readers’
pets: Louis, 4, Teacup ChihuahuaManaged to get a tea
or coffee stain on
your carpet that won’t
budge? Spray with
some WD40 – let it
soak in, before wiping
off. Try applying onto
stained clothes before
bunging in the washing
machine, too.
HOUSEHOLD
you,youneedtoseethemasa collectionof
differentshapesandlines.Drawanoutline
of theirhead,andlightlymarktwogridlines,
onefromforeheadtochin,anotheracrossat
eyelevel.Usethesetojudgewherealltheir
featuressit.If youfindthattoohard,another
trickis toworkfroma photo.Turnit upside
down,andyou’llbeforcedtoseeit less
asa face,morea collectionofshapes.
Onceeverythinglookslike it’sin the right
place,addoneortwodistinctivedetailsto
givea senseofpersonality,suchasparticularly
recognisable eyebrows,orsmirk.
Forextrafancypoints,lookforthedarker
andlighterpointsontheface.Makethemost
of shading,andyoucanuseanerasertohelp
lighten areas:just make sure to blend well.TODRAWA REALSITICPORTRAIT?
You won’t be able to draw the Mona Lisa but
at least your subject won’t be moaningHOW HARD CAN IT BE...