Advert for the Lockheed Super Constellation as seen in the November 1955 issue of National Geographic magazine. I’ll meet you in the congenial Starlight Lounge.

Here’s to a very happy New Year to you all! I’d say, “It’s in the cards…”, but that would just be ridiculous #pose #poseref #lightstudy

Rainy weekend ahead in the Sunshine City…or so they say. #PoseRef #Pose

Mulberry. Fable has it that the fruit was originally white, and became blood-red from the blood of Pyramus and Thisbe. The botanical name is Morus, from the Greek moros (a fool). - [BDOP&F p. 623] Also, a lovely and poignant BBC sitcom from the early 90s.

Until recently it had been a long time since I’d created any pose refs, but I was fortunate recently to be able to shoot with a bunch of great artists. Till those shots are released, here’s one from the archive that nods to the spirit of the season. I hope your holiday is slightly less frenetic.

"Rabbit rabbit rabbit" is a superstition found in Britain and North America wherein a person says or repeats the words "rabbit", "rabbits" and/or "white rabbits" aloud upon waking on the first day of a month, to ensure good luck for the rest of it. -- (NOT in Brewer's, interestingly.)

Birler. In Cumberland, a birler is the master of the revels at a bidden-wedding, who is to see that the guests are well furnished with drink. To birl is to carouse or pour out liquor (A.S. byreliari), ----- (BDoP&F, p. 109)

Aqua Regia | A mixture of one part of nitric acid, with from two to four of hydrochloric acid; so called because it dissolves gold, the king of metals. ----- Aqua vita | Bransy; any spiritous liquor; also, formerly, certain ardent spirits used by the alchemists. (BDoP&F, p.43)

Mews. Stables, but properly a cage for hawks when moulting. The word has acquired its present meaning because (in the 17th cent.) the royal stables were built upon the site (now occupied by the National Gallery) where formerly the king's hawks were kept. (BDoP&F, p.609)

Tar. Jack Tar. -- A sailor; probably an abbreviation of tarpaulin, of which sailors' caps and overalls are made. Tarpaulins are tarred cloths, and are commonly used on board ship to keep articles from the sea-spray, etc. (BDOP&F, p.888) --- Starting to think that Mr. Brewer was fond of the sea.

Bibliomania. A love of books pursued to the point of unreason or madness. --- Bibliophilia is a devotion to books and the collecting of them, that stops short of bibliomania. --- (BDoP&F, p.105) --- Two entries from the same page, narrowly beating the mythical 'Bicorn', which was quite interesting.

Cut neither nails nor hair at sea. - The cuttings of the nails and hair were votive offerings to Proserpine, and it would excite the jealousy of Neptune to make offerings to another in his own special kingdom. ----- (Sailors' superstition, from Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable, p.262) #folklore

In my ongoing quest for magical artifacts (i.e. books) I have stumbled upon a truly rare find; Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Folklore. 977 pages of pure wonder. For at least a little while I shall use my 977-sided die to pick a page at (pseudo)random and share a gem from that page. Tally-ho!

"He may be a rogue, but he's no fool on the march." ----- Though his honesty may be in question, he is a useful sort of person to have about. (from Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable, p.588)

The Red Delicious is the tilapia of the apple world.

The future isn’t what it used to be.

@thewhalergirl.bsky.social (Sam Hogg) posted a wonderful concept piece from her Whaler Girl project that featured birds with beaks of a beautiful blue. This reminded me of the lovely blue eyes of the White Ibis. (photo by me)

I've been trying to claw some time back outside work to do more stuff for The Whaler Girl, especially from an environment point of view! So enjoy these first couple of pieces! #art #conceptart

Books, Blackwing pencils, fountain pens, notebooks, handwritten notes, art, coffee, tonic water, and the occasional cigar.