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Drawings by teen Queen Victoria to go up for auction

<p>A set of 19th century drawings made by a teenage Queen Victoria will be put up for sale at the Old Master, British and European Pictures auction in Roseberys, London next week. </p> <p>A few of the sketches were made when the royal - who reigned from 1837 until her death in 1901 - was still a princess and just 14 years old. </p> <p>Dated July 1833, the drawings depict a knight, a woman, and a veiled woman on a horseback. </p> <p>The fourth drawing was made a year after she ascended the throne, and depicted a woman sitting with a crown and sash, similar to herself, with the inscription: "by Her Majesty." </p> <p>Charlotte Russell, Head of Sales at the auction house, said: "These slightly early drawings show that maybe she was still learning a lot, that she was still honing her craft." </p> <p>"She was very curious and keen as an artist," Russell told <em>CNN</em>.</p> <p>Roseberys set an estimated sale price of £1,500 to £2,500 ($AU2853 to $4755) for the album with the four sketches, as well as works by other artists.  </p> <p>Russel added that the album was likely assembled by Augusta Hayter, daughter-in-law of George Hayter, who was the Queen's court painter and painted her coronation portrait. </p> <p>The album also features royal ephemera, including an invitation to the coronation of King George IV at Westminster Abbey in 1821.</p> <p>"I'm interested to see how it performs," Russell said. </p> <p>Queen Victoria was very passionate about art, receiving her first drawing lesson at just eight years old. </p> <p>She went on to be tutored by renowned artists like Edwin Landseer, William Leighton Leitch and Franz Xaver Winterhalter.</p> <p>"She is known to have experimented quite a lot with different subjects," Russel said, adding that Victoria would make "little sketches of costumes of people in the areas" where she travelled.</p> <p><em>Images: Roseberys Fine Art Auctioneers &amp; Valuers via CNN/ Shutterstock</em></p>

Art

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“The gate is a no”: Apartment security gate draws ire online

<p dir="ltr">While security gates are meant to be secure, one installed at a property in the UK has left many questioning just how effective it will be.</p> <p dir="ltr">A photo shared by the account Design Fails shows a security gate that seems fully functional at first glance, but includes a glaring design flaw.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e66f96fc-7fff-e187-a401-03dcf7d48f27"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Though it has locks and an intercom panel, the design of the gate itself lends it to being a handy ladder that could be used to get inside.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">security gate that doubles as a ladder <a href="https://t.co/TQWmZBiyc7">pic.twitter.com/TQWmZBiyc7</a></p> <p>— Design Fails (@epicdesignfails) <a href="https://twitter.com/epicdesignfails/status/1587076092791328768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Security gate that doubles as a ladder,” the photo caption read, with the post soon attracting over 33,000 likes, over 6,000 shares and plenty of comments pointing out its fundamental flaw.</p> <p dir="ltr">“OMG What on mother Earth was the designer’s thought doing that,” one person commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The gym I never thought I needed. I’d purposefully forget my access card,” another joked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Whoever designed this gate heaven is waiting for her/him,” a third shared.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So the thieves can climb over the gate 😑,” one user noted.</p> <p dir="ltr">While some tried to defend the design by pointing out that it could be electrified, others were quick to point out the flaws in that argument too.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If its (sic) electric and still has a key, thats weird. To be a gate and a ladder, while not thinking the violator can climb over the gate too is weird. Saying its electrical and not keeping in mind that its on the street is weird. Only turning it on at night is weird,” one person clarified.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The gate is a no.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e05cfff1-7fff-fca4-5c90-a84d44232244"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

Real Estate

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Have you fallen for the myth of ‘I can’t draw’? Do it anyway – and reap the reward

<p>Drawing is a powerful tool of communication. It helps build self-understanding and can <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0276237420923290">boost</a> mental health.</p> <p>But our current focus on productivity, outcomes and “talent” has us thinking about it the wrong way. Too many believe the <a href="http://www.visuallanguagelab.com/P/NC_drawingdevelopment.pdf">myth</a>of “I can’t draw”, when in fact it’s a skill built through practice.</p> <p>Dedicated practice is hard, however, if you’re constantly asking yourself: “What’s the point of drawing?”</p> <p>As I argue in a new <a href="https://www.closure.uni-kiel.de/closure8/fisher">paper</a> in <a href="https://www.closure.uni-kiel.de/start_en">Closure E-Journal for Comic Studies</a>, we need to reframe our concept of what it means to draw, and why we should do it – especially if you think you can’t. </p> <p>Devoting a little time to drawing each day may make you happier, more employable and sustainably productive.</p> <h2>The many benefits of drawing</h2> <p>I’m a keen doodler who turned a hobby into a PhD and then a career. I’ve taught all ages at universities, in library workshops and online. In that time, I’ve noticed many people do not recognise their own potential as a visual artist; self-imposed limitations are common. </p> <p>That’s partly because, over time, drawing as a skill set has been devalued. <a href="https://mili.eu/insights/sunday-times-essential-workers-poll-response">A 2020 poll</a> ranked artist as the top non-essential job. </p> <p>But new jobs are emerging all the time for visual thinkers who can translate complex information into easily understood visuals.</p> <p>Big companies <a href="https://inkfactorystudio.com/">hire</a> comic creators to document corporate meetings visually, so participants can track the flow of ideas in real time. Cartoonists are paid to draft <a href="https://australiacouncil.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Graphic-Storytellers-at-Work-GSAW-Report-Case-Study-One.pdf">innovative, visual contracts</a> for law firms.</p> <p>Perhaps you were told as a child to stop doodling and get back to work. While drawing is often quiet and introspective, it’s certainly not a “waste of time”. On the contrary, it has significant mental health benefits and should be cultivated in children and adults alike.</p> <p>How we feel influences <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261661107_An_Introduction_to_the_Diagnostic_Drawing_Series_A_Standardized_Tool_for_Diagnostic_and_Clinical_Use">how we draw</a>. Likewise, engaging with drawing affects how we feel; it can help us understand and process our inner world.</p> <p>Art-making can <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0276237420923290">reduce anxiety</a>, <a href="https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ722383">elevate mood</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6124538/">improve quality of life</a> and <a href="https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8bq69315">promote general creativity</a>. Art therapy has even been <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16288447/">linked to</a> reduced symptoms of distress and higher quality of life for cancer patients.</p> <p>And it can help you enter a “flow state”, where self-consciousness disappears, focus sharpens, work comes easily to you and mental blockages seem to evaporate.</p> <h2>Cultivating a drawing habit</h2> <p>Cultivating a drawing habit means letting go of biases against drawing and against copying others to learn technique. Resisting the urge to critically compare your work to others’ is also important.</p> <p>Most children don’t care about what’s considered “essential” to a functioning society. They draw instinctively and freely. </p> <p>Part of the reason drawing rates are thought to be <a href="http://mtoku.yourweb.csuchico.edu/vc/Articles/toku/Toku_what%20is%20manga_.html">higher in Japan</a>is their immersion in Manga (Japanese comics), a broadly popular and culturally important medium. </p> <p>Another is an emphasis on diligent practice. Children copy and practise the Manga style, <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/20716077">providing a critical stepping stone</a> from free scribbling to controlled representation. Copying is not seen as a no-no; it’s integral to building skill.</p> <p>As researcher and artist Neil Cohn <a href="http://www.visuallanguagelab.com/P/NC_drawingdevelopment.pdf">argues</a>, learning to draw is similar to (and as crucial as) learning language, a skill built through exposure and practice, "Yet, unlike language, we consider it normal for people not to learn to draw, and consider those who do to be exceptional […] Without sufficient practice and exposure to an external system, a basic system persists despite arguably impoverished developmental conditions."</p> <p>So choose an art style you love and copy it. Encourage children to while away hours drawing. Don’t worry about how it turns out. Prioritise the conscious experience of drawing over the result.</p> <p>With regular practice, you may find yourself occasionally melting into states of “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)">flow</a>”, becoming wholly absorbed. A small, regular pocket of time to temporarily escape the busy world and enter a flow state via drawing may help you in other parts of your life.</p> <h2>How to get started</h2> <p>Use simple tools that you’re comfortable with, whether it’s a ballpoint pen on post-it notes, pencil on paper, a dirty window, or a foggy mirror. </p> <p>Times you’d typically be aimlessly scrolling on your phone are prime candidates for a quick sketch. Doodle when you’re on the phone, watching a movie, bored in a waiting room.</p> <p>Together with mindful doodling, drawing from observation and memory form a holy trinity of sustainable proficiency.</p> <p>Drawing from life strengthens your understanding of space and form. Copying other styles gives you a shortcut to new “visual libraries”. Drawing from memory merges the free play of doodling with the mental libraries developed through observation, bringing imagined worlds to life. </p> <p>With time and persistence, you may find yourself producing drawings you’re proud of. </p> <p>At that point, you can ask yourself: what other self-limiting beliefs are holding me back?</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/have-you-fallen-for-the-myth-of-i-cant-draw-do-it-anyway-and-reap-the-rewards-172623" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

Art

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Couple ‘draw’ 7,237 kilometre bicycle in name of climate change

<p dir="ltr">A couple has taken a stand against climate change that can be seen from the skies, having cycled more than 7,000 kilometres to create the image of a bike to encourage others to ditch their cars.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2924358c-7fff-a56b-b348-0a24954f55ca">UK-based couple Arianna Casiraghi and Daniel Rayneau-Kirkhope first took it upon themselves to “draw” a 956-kilometre-wide bicycle across Europe in 2019, telling the <em>Guardian </em>they did it to “draw attention to the scale of climate breakdown” and get others to think about choosing bikes over cars for shorter trips.</span></p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChRmUTSM9j8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChRmUTSM9j8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Arianna🇮🇹 - Daniel🇬🇧 - Zola🐶🇫🇮 (@bicycleswillsavetheworld_)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Though a pandemic, injuries, and poor weather made their short trip anything but, the Italian-British duo eventually finished the task.</p> <p dir="ltr">After quitting their jobs in 2019 to start the ride, Casiraghi suffered a knee injury that put a hold on their journey until November, when the cold and rain made it so miserable they had to stop again.</p> <p dir="ltr">Plans to restart the ride in March 2020 were derailed, but Casiraghi said finishing what they had started was both for a sense of accomplishment and so they didn’t let down the people who had been following their progress.</p> <p dir="ltr">Their trip, which totalled 131 days of cycling, finally came to an end on August 15 and the couple took to Instagram to share the news.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We have completed our gps-trace drawing! And what a drawing it is!” they wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We cycled 7237 km through 7 countries to draw our massive bicycle and hopefully encourage one or two people to use their bike instead of the car.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair revealed they had also beaten several records, including the Guinness World Record for the largest GPS drawing, the unofficial record for the largest one completed by a bicycle, and “we have definitely drawn the biggest bicycle ever!”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-59646a05-7fff-caea-4913-328d6ab06308"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">As if their feat wasn’t impressive enough, the duo also took their Italian water dog, Zola, along for the ride, using custom-built bikes that had a compartment for the pooch to sit in whenever she wasn’t running alongside.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CeWkHS1s06U/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CeWkHS1s06U/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Arianna🇮🇹 - Daniel🇬🇧 - Zola🐶🇫🇮 (@bicycleswillsavetheworld_)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">"We tried to go on small roads where possible, or off-road, so Zola could walk a bit," Rayneau-Kirkhope said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The planning of their drawing was also a complex task, with their first draft route taking them directly through Charles de Gaulle Airport.</p> <p dir="ltr">Reflecting on their trip, the couple said Casiraghi’s injury proved to be “really quite demoralising”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We had to stop travelling in order to rest and undertake dedicated</p> <p dir="ltr">physiotherapy sessions, which unfortunately meant that our project got delayed," they said.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, people’s reactions to their journey far outshone the harder moments.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The highlight of the trip has been the incredible support that we have received from</p> <p dir="ltr">people along the road," they said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Without them, cycling through the cold and rainy winter months would simply not have been possible with our tight budget.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We still are amazed about how open-minded and selfless people can be."</p> <p dir="ltr">As for what’s next, the pair said they would be heading home for a rest before hitting the pedals again - though their next trip won’t be so artistic.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Now, we will go home and rest before going for another cycling trip," they said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"No drawing, just pedalling in whichever direction we bloody well please!"</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-81fc3562-7fff-e4d9-0b25-1e07cd6bb981"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @bicycleswilsavetheworld_ (Instagram)</em></p>

International Travel

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Artist can draw with both hands and both feet at the same time

<p dir="ltr">Dutch artist Rajacenna van Dam has taken being ambidextrous to the next level, as she taught herself to not only use both her hands to create her art, but her feet as well. </p> <p dir="ltr">Rajacenna is a former child prodigy who, at the age of 16, was discovered as one of the world’s best and youngest hyper-realistic pencil drawing artists.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now 28 years old, Rajacenna is known worldwide for being quadridextrous, as she uses both her hands and both her feet at the same time to create up to six photo-realistic portraits at the same time.</p> <p dir="ltr">While Rajacenna knew she was talented with her hands, she was surprised to discover the talent transferred to her feet. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I love to challenge myself so I thought why not try for the first time painting with my feet while drawing in a realistic way, while being upside down and also one drawing in 3D,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It surprised me how much control I was able to have over my feet, something I never realised before. All that time I was drawing while I thought my feet were useless with art and now, I discovered they can do way more than I thought!”</p> <p dir="ltr">Rajacenna’s talent was proven during an EEG scan for a popular scientific TV program when it became clear that during drawing, there is superhuman brain activity to be registered in Rajacenna’s brain, according to neuro therapist and world’s number one EEG Biofeedback expert Bill Scott.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Scott said Rajacenna is an “extraordinary human being; she has a very exceptional brain”, claiming, “I have never seen this before in anyone’s brain.”</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/enZbw1j8-ZE" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><em>Image credits: Youtube</em><span id="docs-internal-guid-59ad9a48-7fff-f220-3f61-c21971eb0597"></span></p>

Art

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Group rescued after drawing SOS in sand

<p dir="ltr">Two men, a woman and a toddler have been rescued from a remote beach after a huge SOS was spotted in the sand. </p> <p dir="ltr">The two men, a 19-year-old and a 23-year-old, a 23-year-old woman and a two-year-old girl left Pormpuraaw in a car headed for Kowanyama, in Far North Queensland about 2pm on Friday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Their vehicle was located by a member of the public, abandoned and bogged south of the Coleman River.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is believed they may have left the vehicle on foot in search of assistance.</p> <p dir="ltr">A ground and aerial search ensued before Queensland Government Air Helicopter spotted the SOS drawn in the sand.</p> <p dir="ltr">The group was eventually located safe and well about 11.30am on Sunday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Acting Senior Sergeant Rob Morris said it was important to stay with their vehicle in the event it breaks down and not wander off. </p> <p dir="ltr">​​"People who wander off to seek help run the risk of perishing if they do not have the adequate supplies or knowledge on how to stay safe," he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">He also recommended having emergency water and food supplies. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Queensland Police</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Unwanted lottery win up for sale

<p dir="ltr">After buying tickets for a lottery for the last four years to support a charity, a Sydney man has finally won a prize - except he doesn’t want it.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mark Wu won a boutique, multi-million-dollar apartment block on the Gold Coast through a charity Christmas draw, according to <em><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/property/18228814/man-who-won-apartment-block-sells-it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a></em>, but has since listed it for sale.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As far as the prizes go, well I just thought if I win, I win, but I never dreamt I would,” Mr Wu told <em><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/unwanted-lottery-prize-of-a-whole-apartment-block-up-for-grabs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">realestate.com.au</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When they rang to tell me, I thought it was a scam.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite winning it at the end of last year, he and his family visited it for the first time in February in one of the few trips they’ve made to the Gold Coast.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was the first opportunity we had to come and look at it because of Covid,” he explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s so beautiful, the way it is styled and the views over the ocean. It will be sad to let it go.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We don’t holiday regularly on the Gold Coast, so the apartment would be sitting empty.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Wu explained that they weren’t considering moving into one of the building’s luxury apartments either, as they already own a home in Sydney, their daughters are settled into school, and they enjoy the lifestyle they’re already living.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are better off investing in something in Sydney, which we can then pass on to our children, so they have security in their future,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The new owners of the four-storey building will be sure to enjoy it (or at least make a tidy profit renting it out), with the high-tech block including a five-bedroom penthouse with its own private rooftop terrace.</p> <p dir="ltr">The first and second floors are home to ultra-modern two and three-bedroom apartments with open-plan kitchens and living room areas that open out to a terrace with stunning beach views.</p> <p dir="ltr">As for Mr Wu, he hopes to use his profits to give his kids a chance to travel overseas on a family trip.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I never travelled as a kid and I would love my children to have that experience. For us, it’s all about the children,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">While <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unitblock-qld-tugun-139005999" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expressions of interest</a> for the property close on May 10 at 5pm, each apartment also comes with its own title and can be sold off individually in the future.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4a3b49df-7fff-c760-f5d0-2ac805c55816"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: realestate.com.au</em></p>

Real Estate

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Djokovic makes the cut while Barty draws dead

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After a last-minute delay, Novak Djokovic’s future in the Australian Open seems to be confirmed following the announcement of the draw on Thursday afternoon.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The announcement was pushed until after an update from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, with many expecting a comment on Djokovic’s fate.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though Minister Alex Hawke still holds the ability to cancel the tennis champion’s visa for a second time, organisers of the Australian Open are treating Djokovic as if he is still going to play.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Top seed and nine-time <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> champion 🇷🇸 <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> begins his title defence against Miomir Kecmanovic.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/96MAlHNElG">pic.twitter.com/96MAlHNElG</a></p> — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1481500590681198592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The World No. 1 has been drawn against fellow Serbian and World No. 78 Miromir Kecmanovic.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Organisers also announced the draw for the women’s singles, with Ash Barty to begin her Australian Open campaign against a qualifier - meaning she will need to win a pre-tournament competition in order to secure her spot.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Barty Party in Melbourne 🎊 <br /><br />Top seed 🇦🇺 <a href="https://twitter.com/ashbarty?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ashbarty</a> starts her <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> campaign against a qualifier.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/hMDkESm9No">pic.twitter.com/hMDkESm9No</a></p> — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1481497862840012806?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The announcement comes while Djokovic’s future in the country hangs in the balance, with a decision from Minister Hawke expected on Thursday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When asked about the star’s fate at his press conference, Mr Morrison refused to comment.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I refer to Minister Hawke's most recent statement and that position hasn't changed," he told reporters on Thursday afternoon.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"These are personal ministerial powers able to be exercised by Minister Hawke and I don't propose to make any further comment at this time."</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @djokernole (Instagram)</span></em></p>

News

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Is this the world’s oldest drawing?

<div> <div class="copy"> <p>A faint, red, cross-hatched design discovered in a cave in South Africa just might be the oldest known drawing in history, researchers say.</p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0514-3" target="_blank">In a paper</a> published in the journal Nature, a team led by Christopher Henshilwood from the University of Bergen in Norway reveals the discovery of a decorated piece of stone – of a type known as silcrete – excavated at an archaeological site called Blombos Cave, 300 kilometres east of Cape Town.</p> <p>The stone flake features a cross-hatched pattern, which the researchers say microscopic and chemical analysis confirms was applied deliberately with an ochre “crayon” fashioned into a tip between one and three millimetres wide.</p> <p>The design – which has been dubbed the world’s first hashtag – might originally have been part of a larger, more complex piece.</p> <p>The sediment layer in which the decorated stone was recovered has been reliably dated as 73,000 years old. The find is highly significant, because it pre-dates the earliest known abstract and figurative drawings discovered in Africa, Europe and southeast Asia by at least 30,000 years.</p> <p>Henshilwood and his colleagues note that the same sediment layer in the Blombos Cave has previously yielded other artefacts, including shell beads.</p> <p>The latest find, they write, “demonstrates the ability of early Homo sapiens in southern Africa to produce graphic designs on various media using different techniques”.</p> <em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em>This article was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/archaeology/is-this-the-worlds-oldest-drawing/" target="_blank">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Andrew Masterson. </em></p> </div> </div>

Art

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Never-before-seen Van Gogh drawing goes on display

<p>A newly discovered Vincent Van Gogh drawing has made its debut in in Amsterdam.</p> <p>The Van Gogh Museum revealed that the never-before-seen piece was drawn in 1882, marking the early days of the famous artist's extraordinary career.</p> <p>The artwork had been sitting in a Dutch family's private collection for over 100 years, and was loaned to the Amsterdam Museum for viewing for the first time.</p> <p>The unique piece will be visible to the public until January 2nd 2022, before returning to the private collection.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">🎉We have discovered a new work by Vincent van Gogh! Study for ‘Worn Out’ from 1882 is added to Van Gogh's oeuvre. What do you think of this study? On display in the museum from tomorrow on. Find out more: <a href="https://t.co/LyjgpLkRtv">https://t.co/LyjgpLkRtv</a> <a href="https://t.co/86fu9XRbeY">pic.twitter.com/86fu9XRbeY</a></p> — Van Gogh Museum (@vangoghmuseum) <a href="https://twitter.com/vangoghmuseum/status/1438498921169391623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <p>The drawing depicts an exhausted old man and has been titled <em>Study for Worn Out</em>.</p> <p>Signed <em>“</em><em>Vincent”</em>, the drawing shows an elderly labourer dressed in boots, trousers and a waistcoat bending over with his head in his hands.</p> <p>Teio Meedendorp, a senior researcher at the Van Gogh Museum, told the BBC that it was "absolutely impossible" to predict how much the piece was worth.</p> <p>The artwork seems to be an earlier version of a more well-known Van Gogh piece titled <em>Worn Out</em>, which has been on display at the museum for many years.</p> <p>This first draft of an artwork gives researchers an exclusive insight into Van Gogh's working process as an early artist.</p> <p>As expected, the team at The Van Gogh Museum, were “delighted with this discovery” and felt like they had contributed to their specialty.</p> <p>The owner of the artwork, who wishes to remain anonymous, was conversing with the museum about the likelihood of the piece being attributed to Vincent Van Gogh.</p> <p>Teio Meedendorp stated, "In stylistic terms, it fits perfectly with the many figures we know from Van Goghs time in the Hague and the connect with <em>Worn Out</em> is obvious”.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty Images</em></p>

Art

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Royal fans furious over "cruel" drawing of Prince George

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Royal fans are furious over how animator Gary Janetti has drawn Prince George in Janetti's upcoming cartoon series<span> </span><em>The Prince</em>.</p> <p><em>The Prince,<span> </span></em>an eight-part series, features a range of royal family members, including Meghan Markle and the Queen, while keeping Prince George as the main character.</p> <p>Janetti was formerly a writer on<span> </span><em>Family Guy<span> </span></em>and<span> </span><em>Will &amp; Grace</em><span> </span>and shared a glimpse of Prince George on his Instagram page, with him and his siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis arguing over their Halloween costumes.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CHA6wrznXL1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CHA6wrznXL1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Gary Janetti (@garyjanetti)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The series has attracted big names to voice the characters, including Orlando Bloom as Prince Harry and Sophie Turner voicing Princess Charlotte.</p> <p>However, a petition to cancel the show is now circling and has garnered around 700 out of 1,000 signatures.</p> <p>It was created by the Mountbatten-Windsors Royal Fan Page and argues that the series mocks Prince George and exploits an innocent child.</p> <p>“I would like to put an end to a series that mocks an innocent child, his siblings and his family in order to create comedy,” the petition reads.</p> <p>“It is very uncomfortable to use a non-consenting child's likeness in this way without considering how it might affect him in the future. It is irresponsible and cruel.</p> <p>“He is only 7. His siblings are only 5 and 2 and having adults voice them and portray them in ways that are dishonest and crude is very disgusting.”</p> <p>A Disney producer also believes that the show is "cruel and unfair".</p> <p>“It’s one thing for film-makers to play fast and loose with the truth in shows like<span> </span><em>The Crown</em><span> </span>but poking fun at a seven-year-old child seems cruel and unfair,” the insider was quoted.</p> <p>"Some things should be off-limits. It’s morally wrong to use a child to get cheap laughs."</p> <p>Janetti has stated that the jokes are meant "with affection", but the Buckingham Palace has not responded to the controversy so far.</p> </div> </div> </div>

TV

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Angry neighbour rants over chalk drawings

<p>A Melbourne resident tried to spread joy to her community by drawing on footpaths in chalk, but has since been labelled a "pretentious pr**k" by one of her neighbours.</p> <p>Fiona Cracknell set up Cracknell Chalk Drawings to showcase her chalk designs on Facebook.</p> <p>“I started drawing for my beautiful 3 year old daughter, had no idea it would impact my local neighbourhood while in lockdown this much,” Ms Cracknell wrote on the page.</p> <p>However, another resident took issue with the drawings and has since complained to council.</p> <p>“Someone has complained to the Council about my chalk drawing. Calling me a pretentious p**ck and that I am graffitiing,” Ms Cracknell wrote on the Facebook page on Thursday.</p> <p>“First of all I was doing to bringing joy to the community [sic], not cause drama and second, the Coucil loves it. For the first time in ages I have brought positive news to Gladstone Park.</p> <p>“I cannot believe this! I am really upset and angry. All I wanted was to make people smile at a time they needed it the most.”</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F9NewsMelbourne%2Fvideos%2F266144354828037%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>The letter was sent in anonymously and called the artwork "destructive graffiti".</p> <p>“I’ve copied the letter to the pretentious p**cks at that house in the hope they will see this letter as a warning and cease their crap,” the letter says.</p> <p>“They may also get it into their skulls that graffiti of council land is illegal. Placing the lives of locals at risk because of their desire to.”</p> <p>However, the council won't be doing anything, according to a statement from <em>7News.</em></p> <p>“Chalk messages and drawings on streets have been developed by children and adults alike during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing hope and joy to Victorians during this difficult time,” the statement to Seven News said.</p> <p>“Council will not issue any fines for these drawings or ask for them to be removed.”</p>

Home & Garden

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“It doesn’t look half bad”: Fake number plate draws acclaim

<p>An Ohio man’s uniquely creative approach to rustling up a fake licence plate has drawn laughs – and some acclaim – from around the world after he was booked by US police when they spotted something a little off with his number plate.</p> <p>The driver was pulled over in Millersburg, Ohio, on September 2, and at the time a Millersburg highway patrol officer said in a statement on Facebook: “Something just didn’t seem right about this particular licence plate.”</p> <p>It turns out – yep, you guessed it – the driver’s licence plate had been completely drawn on, and quite realistically too.</p> <p>“After further investigation it was determined that the driver of the vehicle had no insurance and was driving on a suspended licence,” police explained further, before adding: “Pro Tip: Don’t forget to draw the registration sticker.”</p> <p>While the ultimate penalty handed down to this particular driver remains unknown, reactions to his creative effort had people on Facebook highly amused.</p> <p>“I ain’t even mad,” commented one woman, “that’s dedication.”</p> <p>Another man added “you can’t knock that effort”.</p> <p>And even more went on to comment that the hand-drawn effort was actually surprisingly well done.</p> <p>“I mean... it doesn’t look half bad, if I’m being real,” wrote one commenter.</p> <p>“From art class to the jail house,” said another.</p> <p>Many others agreed that the police could perhaps have spent their time catching more serious perpetrators.</p> <p><strong>Image:</strong> Facebook / Millersburg Police</p>

Travel Trouble

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Can you spot the rude drawings hidden on this biscuit tin?

<p>A design for a Huntley &amp; Palmers biscuit tin from the 1970s has made headlines after two rude illustrations were spotted.</p> <p>The illustrator, Mick Hill, confessed that he thought the inappropriate pictures would be better-hidden, but the design came out much lighter when it was printed.</p> <p>The artist said he kept a “low profile” after the tins hit the shelves, hoping the pictures would go unnoticed until he had been paid.</p> <p>However, the tins were ripped from shelves after a shopkeeper noticed the rude drawings Hill thought he had discreetly concealed in the illustration. </p> <p>In a bizarre twist, the tin is now considered a collector’s item.</p> <p>Can you spot the rude drawings?</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7817364/1_500x375.jpg" alt="1 (114)"/></p> <p>It turns out the artist previously wrote "sex and drugs and rock n' roll" in Japanese on a different tin. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="334" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7817370/4_500x334.jpg" alt="4 (15)"/></p> <p>On another tin he also included a questionable cigarette. </p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see if you spotted the rude drawings that were concealed in the biscuit tin design.</p> <p>Did you spot the images correctly?</p>

Art

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The hidden UNO rule that no one knew about

<p><span>UNO is a classic card game that many enjoy playing and is usually introduced to people at a young age by either family or friends.</span></p> <p><span>However, a lover of the game has taken the time to read the UNO rule book and has discovered one hidden rule that no one has mentioned before.</span></p> <p><span>“So it’s taken me 35 years on this earth to realise that I’ve been playing Uno wrong since I was a kid,” wrote LaToya in a Facebook post, alongside a picture of the rules.</span></p> <p><span>“Did y’all know that you can only play the Draw 4 Wild card IF you have NO other cards that can be played? AND if you suspect that someone has illegally played this card, they have to show you their hand. AND if they in fact played the card illegally they must draw 4, but If not, the person who challenged the play must DRAW 6?”</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flatoya.stallings%2Fposts%2F2077807725579019&amp;width=500" width="500" height="778" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe><br /></span></p> <p><span>The post has gone viral as people are shocked about the secret twist.</span></p> <p><span>“OMG I had noooooo idea!” replied one woman on Facebook, “Mind officially blown!”</span></p> <p><span>“What? I’ve been playing this wrong my whole life,” wrote another.</span></p> <p><span>“Well damn I been playing wrong,” commented another player, “but I’m not switching it up.”</span></p> <p><span>Will you start playing with the new rule? Let us know in the comments below. </span></p>

Mind

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Incredible optical illusion makes 2D drawings appear 3D

<p>Serbian artist <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/nikola_culjic_art/" target="_blank">Nikola Čuljić</a></strong></span><strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/nikola_culjic_art/" target="_blank"></a> </strong>has stumped the internet after creating an optical illusion with his 2D drawing.</p> <p>The artist draws realistic images that appear as if they are popping out of the paper and the technique, which has even been used by Leonardo da Vinci in <em>Leonardo’s Eye</em>, is called anamorphosis.</p> <p>Anamorphic drawings are images that have a distorted perspective that require the viewer to use a specific vantage point to reconstitute the image.</p> <p>The artist uploaded a video to YouTube to explain the trick to his work.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dqmFAXY6s2o?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see more of Nikola’s incredible work.</p> <p>Did you figure out how the optical illusion worked before watching the video? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Image credit: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/nikola_culjic_art/" target="_blank">Nikola Čuljić</a></strong></span></em></p>

Art

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Artist dad draws on kid’s lunch bag to help him make friends

<p>Imgur user, DomZombie, shared a creative post revealing the custom drawn lunch bags he makes for his son every day for school.</p> <p>His son is in elementary school and the artist aims to help him talk to new people through the conversation started the lunch bags create.</p> <p>“For the past 3 years or so, I've been drawing on my son's lunch bags when he took lunches to elementary school," the artist shared on the internet.</p> <p>"Even though he has friends, he's pretty shy, so I started doing these to help break the ice and get conversations going," he said.</p> <p>The father only takes one hour on each bag and the son tries to save each one for keepsake.</p> <p>“We may lose one to the occasional soggy sandwich or leaky drink, but that's to be expected."</p> <p>‘Any pop culture references from movies or TV that we saw will usually go directly to a lunch bag," the father explained, "We like the DC shows like <em>Flash</em> and <em>Legends of Tomorrow</em>. Star Wars was big ... with the release of <em>Star Wars: The Force Awakens</em> and <em>Rogue One</em>."</p> <p>"Occasionally, I'll do original characters or I'll illustrate private jokes between him and me," he wrote. "But mostly, kids like established characters because then he can talk about it with his friends."</p> <p>The father aim has definitely succeeded in his original aim as his son is growing more confident in talking to new people.</p> <p>"He's broken out of his shell because of this, and I like to think that I had a hand in helping him do this with these bags," the artist revealed.</p> <p>Which lunch bag is your favourite artwork? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Images: DomZombie via Imgur</em></p>

Art

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