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47th WWSketchCrawl in Barcelona

26/4/2015

Tramvia Blau, Tibidado. ©Sue Pownall 2015

Yesterday was Worldwide Sketchcrawl day and I was fortunate enough to be in Barcelona and able to join their sketchcrawl. I missed the start due to having a lovely catch-up breakfast with a friend, so I took the tourist tramvia blau up to Plaça Dr. Andreu arriving shortly before the other sketchers. My first sketch of the day had to be the tram, but as it only stayed a short while, the sketch became a composite of the trams.

Montse & I sketching the Funicular de Tibidabo.

Whilst trying to capture the tram, I started my second drawing, this time the building for the Funicular de Tibidabo. Despite an underdrawing it fell off the page, which is a problem that keeps occuring.

©Sue Pownall 2015

Taking the funicular up to the Parc del Tibidado, we gathered for a mid-way point photo. Coincidently, the park mascots wandered past and were coerced into the photo.

Photo by Mar Villarino Chico.

Unfortunately, the "spectacular views" were hidden behind cloud, so I started drawing the plane, which was one of the original rides from the park's opening in 1928. As with the tram, I had to start a second sketch as I could only capture it as passengers got on and off, hence the sweet cart on the left page. I'm not one for doing spreads, so after sketching the people at a bus stop, I copied Elena's idea of linking them with the old, big wheel. Finally, I added the genuine American hotdog stand. I'm quite pleased with how the spread came out, what do you think?

Spread drawn in Parc del Tibadado

Springtime in southern Italy

19/4/2015

In situ painting of Torre Talao, an old military instalation, Scalea.

This week, I had to pop over to Italy to sort out some banking and apartment issues. Whilst there, I was able to take advantage of the spring weather to do a couple of watercolour sketches.

Spring in Pollino National Park from the kitchen.

I'm loving my first full spring in years. Is it spring where you are? Are you out sketching too?

Pushing Your Sketching Boundaries pt3

17/4/2015

My last Coventry sketch, painted in Simone Ridyard's great workshop.

Determined to do one 360° drawing, which was halfway right, I started the day with an early morning sketch out of my hotel window. It's a bit better than the previous attempts, but this technique still needs some work.

After breakfast, I headed into town for a pre-workshop sketch and ran into Liz Ackerley, a fabulous landscape designer at Poppyhead Consultancy. Tackling the wonky, albeit restored, building of the Flying Standard was a challenge. I would have liked a bit more time to work on the sketch, but had to join Simone Ridyard for her great workshop.

The Flying Standard from the Priory.

First up was 1-point perspective down the side of modern university buildings with the cathedral in the background. Again, I ran out of time and having pencilled in the cathedral added colour later. (sorry about image quality, my scanner is ignoring watercolours, so I too a photo).

Simone's demo in the cathedral.

Next we went into the old cathedral for a demo on 2-point perspective by Simone, which was really informative.

Then it was round the corner to Hay Lane, where I drew the Golden Cross pub with an extreme perspective as I sat on the pavement. Whilst I pencilled in the rest of the street I chose not to overwork the sketch and empasize the pub's structure.

Sadly, due to worrying about Degas' health despite being left with my amazing dog-sitter, who sent me regular messages, and the Friday /end of Easter traffic I chose not to participate in the the last afternoon session but head home. I was greated by a very waggily tail, cuddles and half an hour of crying from Degas.

I had a fabulous time on the workshop and would thoroughly recommend attending an UrbanSketching workshop regardless of your level and experience. Thank you to the wonderful instructors and my fellow participants.

Don't forget the Urban Sketcher's Symposium is in Singapore this year, and I hear there will be an Oxford workshop later this year.

Website links:

Simone Ridyard
Swasky (aka Víctor Martínez Escámez)
Isabel Carmona

Urbansketchers'workshops
Urbansketchers symposium 2015

Urban sketchers in Coventry. Photo by Simone Ridyard.

Pushing your sketching boundaries 2

14/4/2015

Images from day 2.

Day 2 started with some fun warm up exercises with Isabel Carmona, then the challenge began: we had to produce 360° sketches. This was the most challenging thing I did all week both inside the Herbert and then outside at the new cathedral. As you can see below, I didn't get the taper correct, among other things.

New Coventry cathedral

In the afternoon, our tasks included drawing people and then placing them in context. As you can see from the photos it was a lovely sunny afternoon and a pleasure to sketch outside, which is not what you expect from Coventry in April. Exhausted we had a debrief over a refreshing glass of cider in the local. I sketched an amazing pink cider, but I cannot get a decent copy of it, sorry.

Last part will be on Thursday.

Pushing Your Sketching Boundaries Workshop pt. 1

11/4/2015

With Degas on the mend, I was able to attend the UrbanSketchers Coventry workshop this week. However, needing to leave her with the dogsitter for as short a period as possible, I arrived almost on time for the start of the first workshop, but missed the night before's drink and draw registration event. I also left before the end on Friday, partially due to Friday/end of Easter week traffic, but also as I wanted to see how she was. In between was a great event, arranged and tutored by Isabel Carmona, Swasky, and Simone Ridyard.

On the wall of the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.

With no time to settle, it was straight in with recording the old cathedral in Swasky's workshop on Bending the Floor. The result is above, and I have to confess it's my favourite of the three days. The workshop was ran alongside the Recording Britain exhibition, at the Herbert, and copies of our drawings are there until the end of the month.

The second exercise was more complex, and although I didn't do it correctly, I am also pleased with my representation of the Herbert and adjacent university buildings. (below)

In the afternoon we drew lots of portraits of each other, which was fun, and Simone took this great photo of us (below).

Exhaused, we retired to the nearby pub for food, drinks, and, of course, more sketching.

Parts 2 and 3 will be posted on Tuesday and Thursday. I hope you come back to check them out. Please remember I love receiving your comments.

47th WWSketchCrawl in Barcelona

Springtime in southern Italy

Pushing Your Sketching Boundaries pt3

Pushing your sketching boundaries 2

Pushing Your Sketching Boundaries Workshop pt. 1

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