This week's Champion carries an article about pothole budgets for Sefton. And it's good news...:
Read more...

http://manorfocus.blogspot.com/2011/03/sefton-roads-to-benefit-from-pothole.html

Merseyside raid police arrested over 'eBay stolen valuables plot'

Three serving officers from an elite police unit have been arrested over claims they stole property confiscated during raids to sell on eBay, it has emerged.


The Merseyside police officers, from the force’s Matrix unit, have been suspended from duty on suspicion of "misconduct in public office and theft".
Read more....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8415880/Merseyside-raid-police-arrested-over-eBay-stolen-valuables-plot.html

Well, England did`nt quite do it in the World Cup, but these two sang them on anyway!! Hand drawn with Faber Castell brush pen, and colorized in Photoshop.

Maybe 2014 we may do a bit better!!

This shot was taken with the Tamron 17-50 2.8 VC. ISO 400 17mm S 1/10

This is a very good lens when working in low light, and a definite fav of mine.

It`s not very often we get fog like this these days, so I took the opportunity to get this shot while I had the chance.

The scene is Bootle town Hall, Oriel Road, Bootle Liverpool. 

Drinker with a Blank note..

This was hand-drawn using the Faber Castell brush pen a very versatile and dependable pen.It was colorized in photoshop.

Many artists choose to draw first with a lead pencil, then overdraw this with the marker, then use a eraser to rub out any visible pencil marks. If this method suits you...use it. I`d suggest trying a 2b pencil, and drawing in lightly, so you don`t have to rub too hard when it comes to rubbing out, and perhaps damaging the texture of your paper. The important thing is to keep up your practice whatever method suits you.

This was drawn with a 8b Faber Castell pencil.

These are quality pencils, which remain smooth `til the last stroke. No scratching the page at all with these.
 For the shading, I used the Lyra Graphite Stick, because this will cover a wider area much quicker.

I find the Graphite has a less dense tonal range than the charcoal, but then, sometimes, that`s what you need.

Drawn, again, with willow charcoal, using the edges, and the width of the stick.

The backgound is soft pastel, just to offset it.