All Categories

...and the winner is...

4/9/2017

@DegasWorld picks the winner

Aided by my furry assistant, the name out of the hat (aka paper bag) was
Tina Koyama.

Tina please could you message me with your postal address please. Your prize of Spectrum Noir pens will be coming your way soon.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

******

If you want to know more about Spectrum Noir, they are a Crafter's Companion brand and the two website addresses are as follows:

www.spectrumnoir.com and www.craftercompanion.co.uk

1 Comment

Spectrum Noir Giveaway

19/8/2017

5 Comments

Over the last month, I have been testing Spectrum Noir Art Liners. Although I normally use black pens, it was interesting to have a range of colours, brown and grey pens.

I have never really got on with brushpens, as each of these sets contained 1 or more along with a set of coloured brush pens, I started with them. I took a purple and green to the Wimbledon finals. Having tried to sketch at tennis tournaments before, I knew I spend all the time watching and not sketching. I was fortunate to get a front row seat at court 12 for the invitation men's double final. I sketched Dutch pair Eltingh and Haarhuis between games, then used the brush pens to add the pop of colour. I was impressed with the brush pens, unlike others that I have used the brush wasn't too long, so they were easy to control and gave a smooth line of colour.

Eltingh & Haarhuis in the invitation men's double final, which they won.

Next, I arranged to meet some friends to Drink and Draw at a local pub. It was a lovely evening and I took the whole set of coloured fineliners in anticipation of lots to sketch. As we sat outside, I tried to capture the shadows cutting across a cornfield. The sketch is not the most successful, but full marks to the smooth flow and consistancy of the pens.

I sketched and drew with the pens over the next few days, but the next major challenge was the IAAF World Athletics in London. There was so much going on that it was really difficult to sketch, but I managed this one between events. The photo left shows me sketching in my seat and I found the pens, both artliners and brushes, great for quick sketching.

High jump in the Olympic Stadium, London.

Finally, I used the black pens, including the brush pen, whilst doing some studies for a commission.

Did you know you could commission me to draw or paint your garden? Message me for more details if you are interested.

I have continued to use the various pens past the month's test period. Spectrum Noir have won me over to using brush pens and the artliners are now part of my regular sketching kit.

Now to the exciting part...
Would you like to win all the pens in the photo at the top of this post?
You could own:

SN Artliner - Bright (8pc)
SN Artliner - Bright - Brush (8pc)
SN Artliner - Black (6pc)
SN Artliner - Neutral (6pc)
SN artliner - Hand Lettering DVD

This bundle is worth £74.95!

Just comment on this post stating the drawing you like the most on this site
(not one in this post please).

The lucky winner will be randomly drawn on Sunday 3rd September.

*****
If you want to know more about Spectrum Noir, they are a Crafter's Companion brand and the two website addresses are as follows:

www.spectrumnoir.com and www.craftercompanion.co.uk

5 Comments

2016 review

16/1/2017

2016 in review from Sue Pownall

Capability Brown tercentury map for NT Stowe.

17/11/2016

Thanks to a very talented product photographer, Becky Palmer, here are my illustrations as used by National Trust Stowe this year.

Rehearsals of Roman River Music

17/7/2016

Sketching in Mistley church. Photo by Victoria Steinitz.

Recently, I was very flattered to be invited to sketch at the Roman River Music concerts, of which the main festival is in the autumn (Details here). A limited number of Colchester Sketchers were invited to join me at a couple of rehersals connected to the Summer Festival.

Last Friday, we went to St Mary's & St Michael's church in Mistley where the talented musicians Elena Urioste violin, Timothy Ridout viola, Orlando Jopling cello, and Tom Poster piano were rehearsing for their concert that evening.

Arriving before the musicians, I took advantage of the time and sketched one of the church's beautiful stained glass windows.

Window in St Mary's & St Michael's ©Sue Pownall

Then tried to capture the musicians as they rehearsed... but I have to confess to keep stopping to listen to the music. The sketches are in pencil or watercolour. Here are my results:

The following day's rehearsals were in St Mary's, Wivenhoe and the musicians seemed to have such fun. They were all superb and were Juliette Bausor flute,
Daniel Bates oboe, Katherine Spencer clarinet, Stuart King bass clarinet, Peter Whelan bassoon, and Pip Eastop horn. Again I sketched in pencil or watercolour:

I can't wait to sketch more!

What have you been sketching?

Wimbledon

11/7/2016

Pencil sketch from Henman Hill, Wimbledon.

Sketch in progress at Wimbledon.

Did you miss me yesterday? I was at Wimbledon for Finals Day. As many of you know, I love watching tennis, so I forgot to blog in the excitement of preparing to go. I also forgot to pack my watercolours, but managed to sketch a view from my spot on Henman Hill.

I plan to add some colour IF I get a moment.

What did you do on the weekend?

Here, there, & everywhere.

3/7/2016

Exhibiting in the Old Bank Studios Summer Exhibition.

It has been a busy time: two of the art courses that I have been tutoring concluded; I've run a workshop as part of the Harwich Festival of the Arts; I have had drawings being exhibited at Old Bank Studios (the exhibition closes today); and the garden project continues.

Info sheet I prepared for a class on line and wash. ‪

Finally, I have managed to do some sketching. This is the latest and the model was fantastic sitting very still.

What have you been doing?

Garden sketchbook

25/6/2016

First viewing of the garden Seawhite of Brighton concertina sketchbook (almost finished) at New Town Gardeners meeting.

The New Town Gardeners were very lucky on Sunday as the sun actually came out for the event. It was lovely wandering around the area and I saw and sketched many beautiful gardens. Most, I sketched on-location in pencil, but one garden I watercoloured, and it made the local newspaper.

Colchester Gazette. June 22nd

As you can see from the top photo, I took the almost finished sketchbook to Friday's monthly gardeners meeting, where it stretched across 2 tables.

Last Sunday, I didn't manage to visit all the gardens, but am hoping to visit more when the sun comes back.

Where have you been sketching?

A snap of 2 finished spreads.

New Town Open Gardens

19/6/2016

Back in February, I was invited to sketch the New Town Open Garden event. The event is this afternoon, but I made a head start yesterday by sketching the Community Garden and both of the organisers gardens too.

I shall do all the initial drawing on site using a Seawhite concertina sketchbook, but finish inking and colour in the studio.
Eighteen to go this afternoon! Wish me luck.

Brown Dog

11/6/2016

I was recently commissioned to paint someone's old dog. He is a real character and at 14 years old still loves a good roll in the grass and saying hello to his friends up the park. He is called Harley, but everyone calls him Brown Dog. I delivered the painting yesterday and right is him checking it out.

Below are the WIP stages. The eyes were tweeked after the last photo to create the final painting above.

<<Previous