Category Archives: Stuff Joe Likes

Well, I never felt more like singin’ the blues…

Posted on June 12, 2025 by Joe_Williams

A couple years ago I wrote about the stash of non-photo blue pencils I have all over my house and why I use them: Non-Photo Blue pencils are a particular shade of blue that could not be detected by a  … Continue reading →

Posted in Curious Clutter, Illustration, Stuff Joe Likes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I Want a New Toy!

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Joe

…and I got some new toys! First up is the Sailor Fude de Mannen which is a fabulous fountain pen made in Japan. I think it was meant to be a calligraphy pen, but it works great for drawing. You … Continue reading →

Posted in It Came From the Sketchbook, Sketch, Stuff Joe Likes | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tuesday Digital Doodle • Automaton Powers On

Posted on March 19, 2024 by Joe

This is another vector doodle I did in Affinity Designer. In preparation for the occasional science fiction book cover I illustrate, I will play with metallic tones and mechanical shapes. I am figuring out how I may approach that starship … Continue reading →

Posted in Doodle Tuesday, Illustration, It Came From the Sketchbook, Stuff Joe Likes, Vector Illustration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sci Fi Textures

Posted on February 22, 2024 by Joe

When the blank page or screen is staring at me waiting for me to fill it with something illustrative and I don’t really have a solid idea, I doodle digital science fiction textures. I play around with colors and shapes … Continue reading →

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HALF THE PRESSURE, TWICE THE SPEED

Posted on July 26, 2023 by Joe

Decades ago, I had picked up my first Blackwing 602 pencil and loved the feel of the pencil and its rich black lead. It was made by the Eberhard Faber Pencil Company and was enjoyed as the weapon of choice … Continue reading →

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Lansdowne Theater

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Joe

I saw a post on social media about how this beautiful theater which was built in 1927 is in the process of being restored. It’s in Lansdowne, PA and just a stone’s throw from work so I decided to take … Continue reading →

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My sweet irreproducible you

Posted on February 23, 2023 by Joe

Non-Photo Blue pencils are a particular shade of blue that could not be detected by a  graphic arts camera like a photostat camera. I ran stat cameras in the era when graphic design was an analog pursuit involving rubber cement, … Continue reading →

Posted in Curious Clutter, It Came From the Sketchbook, Sketch, Stuff Joe Likes, Technique | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Get to the Point!

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Joe

A search through some old art bins in the studio set me tumbling down a rabbit hole of wooden pencils, pencil sharpeners and crafting the perfect point.

Posted in It Came From the Sketchbook, Stuff Joe Likes, Technique | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hey, Venus!

Posted on December 27, 2022 by Joe

No doodle today, but I am presenting the tool with which I doodle. This as a well-worn but perfectly functioning Venus mechanical pencil or lead holder that is used with 2mm leads. I put Mitsubishi read leads in it and … Continue reading →

Posted in Doodle Tuesday, It Came From the Sketchbook, Sketch, Stuff Joe Likes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments