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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

Click image for a larger view of the sketchbook spreads so far. ©Sue Pownall

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.

Winter

4/6/2016

I finished this piece a little while ago. Hope you like it.

Morris dancing

29/5/2016

My assistant supervised from the car.

On Friday, I arranged a drinkdraw event to coincide with the Colchester Morris Men (colchestermorrismen.org) dancing at the Alma, Copford.

The dancers move very fast and I filled several pages of movement sketches. Above, is a general scene, which was my final sketch of the evening and below one of the dancing.