Now that I’ve had the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro for almost 2 weeks I just wanted to write down my thoughts. I’m using the 12.9” model with my 2018 generation iPad Pro. I wasn’t sure whether I would keep or return during the 14 day period – was it worth the money? Let’s start with the Pros, as there are many! The keyboard is just lovely to use – just the right amount of travel and backlit. I love the satisfying clunky-tap the keys make and just how nice it feels to type on. With the old ‘smart’ keyboard, the keys came right to the front where I normally rest my palms, and so constantly t ..read more

It’s been a year since I wrote that big-assed blogpost about trying to use my iPad Pro as my main computer, so I thought it was time for a follow-up. Because I haven’t been using the iPad Pro as my main computer, despite trying. Here’s two reasons why… Ergonomics I’ve tried various adjustable stands, cases and setups, but the monitor+keyboard+mouse is still my preferred setup for working more than an hour or so. Using a sturdy laptop stand like this one below helps your back and neck a lot, and gives you a Microsoft Surface Studio-esque adjustable position. However, there is too much distanc ..read more

Busy, busy week! My head has melted. Coronavirus As part of my work for Resolve to Save Lives, which includes Prevent Epidemics, I’ve been working on Coronavirus related projects this week. As well as creating infographics on how to how limit contact and spread, Brian Suda (my Oxvik partner) and I setup a Coronavirus update page for the Prevent Epidemics website. It takes the existing site functionality, and shows how many international inbound flights there are from countries with confirmed cases, and how prepared they are for dealing with epidemics (called the ‘ReadyScore’). Birding My ..read more

Near my in-laws in Scotland, there is a house that looks the classic ’home’ icon. I love it’s shape, and over Christmas I passed it when the light was perfect. It had just been raining, but now the sun was out and there were great reflections in the puddles. I fancied trying out a different illustration style and subject to my normal, so I painted it in Procreate, mainly using flat painting brushes. I was aiming for a more ‘reduced’ style like Jon Mcnaught, where the amount of marks is low, but the value of each one is high. It didn’t turn out that way though! I also ruined it a bit by fiddl ..read more

Beer So far this year, I’ve been cutting down on beer. This is mainly a calories thing – I’m not a heavy drinker by any means, but I am a regular drinker, and would have one or two every day. Nothing quite beats a cold refreshing beer for me (except maybe tea), so I’ve been looking into Alchohol-free alternatives. Most lager alternatives aren’t worth bothering about as they taste so watered down. San Miguel was one of the worst, with Budvar and Heineken Zero among the ‘a bit better ‘options. Citrusry ales/IPA alternatives fare much better with Adnams Ghost Ship and Brewdogs’ Punk AF and Hazy ..read more

It’s been an odd week for web browsers: Yet another Chromium browser is released in the form of the new Microsoft Edge, ditching its old rendering engine (EdgeHTML, a fork of Trident which goes all the way back to 1997). The web is less diverse now – browsers are either chromium/webkit or gecko. Speaking of Firefox… Mozilla announce 70 layoffs , and the internet shows off it’s best side with the hashtag #MozillaLifeboat” to help those made redundant. Then there was a report from Hindenberg Research about Opera moving into some decidedly shady practices to raise revenue. Opera refute this ..read more

Albums of the year It’s that time again! A music post is mandatory around these parts, I’ve been doing it since the early ’90s and it’s as much a record for me. As not all albums in this list came out in 2019, I’ve included years in the list: ‘New Hell’ – Greet Death (2019) The top spot goes to my most played album this year, and it only came out in November. The Michigan trio have made an outstanding second album, starting with shoe gaze, but combining stoner rock and even a twang of country on one track. Hits the spot for me every time. Standout tracks: You’re gonna hate what you’ve d ..read more

Last week my thoughts were dominated by one thing – the General Election. I never had any doubts that the Conservatives would win, but the landslide victory was a surprise. I’d always thought that a hung parliament was the best I could hope for, but there wasn’t remotely a chance of that. I despair. A majority of the country has voted for the vilest, most deceitful party I’ve ever known in the UK. The message is: If you consistently lie, you win. If you’re openly racist, and embolden nationalist idiots, you win. If you avoid scrutiny by hiding in a fridge, you win. If you promise to fix ..read more

Oddly Amazing Animals I am immensely proud to have been involved in the book Oddly Amazing Animals, released this week. Back in 2009, Cindy Li and Juliette Melton started making an A-Z childrens’ book together, and it had been an ongoing project ever since. Tragically, they never managed to finish, when Cindy died last October. Her loss was felt globally, and Juliette organised help from Cindy’s many friends, determined to finish the book for her. I submitted illustrations for Dart Frog, Vaux Swift and Xenops. All proceeds from book will go to Cindy and Matt’s sons, Apollo and Orion. Wo ..read more

Finally getting back to some bird illustration With the darker evenings, I’m finding it easier to sit down and do some personal illustration again. This week I did this painting of a Hen Harrier flying over Otmoor at dusk in Procreate. It was inspired on a photo I saw on the Otmoor Birding blog, and I wanted to to try something looser and with a different kind of light to my normal artwork. I find this kind of low light inspiring to see and very hard to do. Work I’ve been in knee-deep in Statamic again this week, setting up a website for one of Resolve to Save Lives projects that currentl ..read more