Friday 17 February 2012

Moka Coffee Pot

I almost called this post "Decisions, decisions!". I've been quite busy of late one way or another. As I mentioned a couple of posts back, my en suite bathroom is being remodelled and I've spent a huge amount of time trawling round bathroom showrooms looking for inspiration and buying everything needed. Since the job started I've been involved in clearing the room, removing tiles from the wall and then some of the decorating work like painting the ceiling and woodwork.

At the same time my job has exploded in terms of hours in the day needed. At Xmas I decided the time had come for me to retire and I informed the company on my return back to work in January. I've always promised them as much notice as I could give so set my end date at March 31st. There is a lot to do legally and in terms of organisation and handover and ever since my announcement I've been bombarded with meetings and other matters associated with my departure. Over half my time is now spent on such matters and my real work is suffering badly. I am determined to hand over a tidy ship, with a place for everything and everything in it's place, and everything up to date.

So, between the extra demands of my job and 'keeping up' with the bathroom, leisure time is harder to find. And when I do find some it's that horrible decision, art or computer. And if I choose computer, do I follow my blogger friends or play catch up in my art forum. Decisions, decisions!

I am hugely behind on visiting the blogs I like to follow, so much so that I'm now beginning to miss some of the posts. I WILL catch up, I promise.


"Moka Coffee Pot"
Graphite - 10" x 8"
That said, I had some free time today and chose 'art'. I like drawing silverware (not that I've done a great deal of it) and this months drawing project in my forum is this fine Moka Coffee Pot. With my recent passion for sketching and Pen & Wash, it seems like a long time since I last picked up my pencils with serious intent, and so this subject appealed greatly.

These pots are made of aluminium and used over a flame or electric range for making espresso coffee. It consists of two chambers, the lower one holding water and the upper one collecting the coffee. It produces the coffee by passing hot water pressurised by steam through ground coffee contained in a basket set between the two chambers. It was first patented by inventor Luigi De Ponti in 1933.

Now I'm off to try and catch up with a few more blogs. Hey, from the end of March I ought to have all the time I need for blogging .... and my art ... can't wait!!!

36 comments:

  1. I will pay you the same compliment my grandson once paid me when he looked at one of my paintings. He said, "it's so good it looks like a machine made it." I took that as the highest compliment. I loved his innocent remark. Your piece is exquisitely drawn. Nice work.
    Jean

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    1. What a lovely compliment that was from your grandson Jean ... priceless. And thank you very much for paying me the same compliment. I appreciate it very much.

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  2. This is an absolutely fantastic rendition. As you know I've also done the drawing in the project and this beats it by a mile, now wait 2 miles!! Great job , John. BJ

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    1. Thank you BJ but yours is a lot better than you think it is. They're BOTH good. ;-)

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  3. Hello John, this is another nice drawing. We had a pot like that until recently and it looked just like it. I'm a bit bothered by the knob on the top; it looks wrong to me but I'm not sure what you need to do to it. Maybe it needs to have a bit of a curve on the bottom edge.

    If it comes to a choice, I wouldn't worry about the blogging. April isn't that far off and we'll all be here when you are ready.

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    1. I know what you mean about the knob Keith and I've checked against the reference photo many times. This is one of those times when I struggle between staying faithful to the reference or adjusting it in order to make it look right.

      Blogging has to be bottom of the list regrettably, but I'll keep at it. I'm just a bit late getting to things, that's all.

      Thanks Keith.

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    2. I've finally adjusted that knob Keith. I thought I'd mention it in case others wonder what you're talking about. lol.
      Thanks very much ... I'm much happier with it now.

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  4. That's quite a decision to make, retiring...sounds exciting, but if John you think you will have more time from the end of March, please note from one who knows - I guarantee you will be heard saying later in the year.. "I don't know how I found time to go to work"! Love your graphite coffee pot, it's very good.

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    1. Ann, I've already experienced this. I started working part-time a year ago and very quickly found my new leisure time just got soaked up. LOL. Thank you very much.

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  5. Your coffee pot is great! Good luck with bathroom, work, etc! We'll see you in April!

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  6. I know that coffee pot...it's the one I use every morning!! In Italy of course it is what everybody use to make make nice and very strong cafè :-) You did a very good and absolutely perfect drawing out of this! Good weekend !

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    1. Thank you Jane. I think I'll have to get myself one. Have a good weekend.

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  7. Great drawing John it looks very lifelike.

    Thanks for visiting & commenting on my post. Re tv set at Festival: it's actually where the tv presenters sit to watch the performances and do interviews from for a live broadcast, sort of like ITV local news channels.

    Re our-sort-of price... I've gone so regularly I was let in free last night :)

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    1. Thank you Sue, and how fabulous that they let you in for free. You've obviously been making an impression. What an experience. :)

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  8. Oh gosh time is something that is always elusive isn't it? I have been feeling like I don't have enough either. But I'm glad you had time to do this amazing drawing. I love the shine of the silver. :)

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    1. Crystal, time certainly is elusive and I'm sure I don't know how you manage to do all you do. Thanks for the lovely comment.

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  9. Rose, I'm coming to the opinion that I'm just about the only person not to own a Moka Pot. LOL. This took me about 4 hours but I think I was a bit hasty declaring it finished. I could easily pick it up and spend another hour or two on it. Thank you very much.

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  10. I can totally relate to you - Sometimes life just gets so full and really, that's a good thing - Better than too empty! You must be so looking forward to retiring. I imagine that you will then be wondering how on earth you found the time to work! I love the coffee pot by the way. I love drawing metal. My next bear painting has a wonderful brass oil lamp in the composition. I can't wait to paint it! :0)

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    1. Hiya Sandra, For sure I'd rather be busy than have nothing to do. I have so many hobbies in addition to my art, that I fear there will never be enough hours in the day even in retirement. Thanks for the hint about your next bear .... can't wait!!!

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  11. Incredibly well done drawing in my humble opinion. I honestly thought it a photo at first. Bravo!

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    1. What a lovely thing to say Trudy. Thank you very much.

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  12. Lovely job, and I respect your efforts to make an easy transition for your employer when you retire. I hope you thoroughly enjoy your retirement and make lots of art!

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    1. Thank you very much Linda, and thank you for visiting my blog. A few weeks from now I hope to be blogging a lot more. lol.

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  13. Wonderful drawing J, and I can say with all honesty it looks better than the original! :)

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    1. Thank you Ingrid. And thank you for the photo of your lovely coffee pot. ;-)

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  14. An amazing job on this coffee pot, John!! Your graphite drawings are so outstanding and I hope to see a lot more! It truly looks like a photograph!! I retired many years ago when Dad moved in with us..now that he's gone I've joined art workshops and do my painting!!! (when I'm not watching the grandkids!) Life is good!!!

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    1. Oh, thank you so much Hilda. There is no denying I am much more comfortable holding a pencil than a brush. Art workshops is another item on my new list of must-do's.

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  15. Lovely drawing John. I'm sure your anxious for March so that you can do more art work. I look forward to seeing it!!

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    1. Thank you very much Nora. Even in retirement I doubt I'll be as prolific you, but it'll be fun regardless.

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  16. Fantastic piece, John. I've always envied anyone that could render metal or any reflective surface the way you have done so well here!

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  17. beautifully drawn john .. love the top section ..they are beautiful objects part of everyday life here in italy ...i'm sure you are looking foward to your retirement john .

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    1. Thank you very much Jane. Since 'discovering' these pots I find that everyone in the world has one except me. LOL. Yes, looking to my retirement and having lots more time for art.

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  18. Loved this little pencil work of yours. It is neat and strong. And thank you for sharing the info about the coffee maker. I liked it. :)

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