Something different Sunday - The Sketchbook Project 2011

I finished pages 14 and 15 late last night.  I actually 'cartographed' into this morning a little - labelling all the shipping areas took longer than I thought it would (each one is done with rub down transfers left over from architectural student days).  They give the typography a little imperfection which seems appropriate for a sketchbook.  A little undone and rough.

The Sketchbook Project 2011, page 14 by Cari-Jane Hakes

It was drawn in very authentic surroundings I thought as I marvelled at the intricacy of the outline of Britain.  I had the shipping forecast up on my computer so I could get all the names in the correct position. As I read "There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber, Thames, Dover, Biscay, Trafalgar, Fitzroy, Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides and Bailey"  I could hear the wind outside picking up, the storm hit and passed.

The Sketchbook Project 2011, page 15 by Cari-Jane Hakes

I've written here before about my love of the Shipping Forecast which is broadcast on BBC Radio 4.  For me it is a grown-up nighttime story of sorts.  There is this blanket of sea and ocean surrounding Britain.  In the middle of the night, the Shipping Forecast names the parts of this blanket and calmly comments on its meteorological state with often curious language which makes me smile 'lows 200 miles south of Iceland 970 and England 989, both losing their identity by midday tomorrow'.

The Sketchbook Project 2011, pages 14 & 15 by Cari-Jane Hakes

By way of conclusion therefore - the little girl is packing her case and has included her radio 
"because if she could not sleep in a strange new place she would be able to listen to the Shipping Forecast.  Its rhythmical cadence of mapped quadrants* always rocked her to sleep. *(except 'humber' which was a resolute pentagon.)"


(I also spotted this very fine fellow in the Men's Toast catalogue and felt he should be included here.  To my mind he looks like he is surveying a particularly nasty swell. With the gale warning ringing in his ears he hopes 'it will lose its identity' and so he gathers his courage and departs to brave the rigours of the sea in search of fish.)

taken from AW10 TOAST

Now, honestly, it is hight time I hit the workshop and produced something useful! Here is to a productive week for you all.