Category: Animal

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?

Monthly challenges.

3/4/2016

Across the Road. ©Sue Pownall 2016

WIP: Bourne Mill in winter.

There's a new challenge over on twitter led by Anthony Greentree (@antsgreentree) called #buildapril, which is is all about buildings and structures in any media.

Above is my 1st April sketch of my across-th-road neighbours drawn with a Super5 pen with DeAtramentis ink and painted with Winsor & Newton watercolours in A Daler Ebony A5 sketchbook. Whilst right is a work in progress started yesterday of Bourne Mill.

Last month's challenge was #animalmarch, and I started well with daily sketches of my assistant, but then life got in the way. Here are a selection of them:

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Secrets

21/2/2016

My assistant playing in the mud whist I sketch.

I'm finding it hard to write a post, here's why:

I have a personal project, which is going well, but it is currently a secret except for those involved;
I have an illustration commission, which involves me traveling a little over the next couple of days, but I can't say anything about that at the moment = Another secret;
I am trying to set up a small arty business venture, but it's in the planning stages, so that's all I can say about that; and
On Wednesday, I was part of a group artist/poets meeting, as I am involved with an Ekphrasis project. Although it's not a secret, there is nothing to share yet;

so what to post is a dilemma.

I guess it's a good time to dip into the sketchbook and share a few recent sketches.

East Mersea, where, despite a cold, blustery wind, I managed a quick sketch.

A perfect excuse for a piece of cake, a new sketchbook to start.

Whilst waiting for Degas to have her check up at QVSH, I sketched this spaniel in the waiting room.

Have you any secrets to share? What have you been up to recently? Why not leave me a comment below, I love to read them!

Devon doodles

19/7/2015

Trying to capture the Devon evening sun.

Having an invitation to a new fringe event in Devon, Tavistock Edge, I decided my assistant and I would have a holiday beforehand and found a cottage for us just on the edge of Dartmoor. I did lots of sketches throughout the week. I was especially fascinated with the cattle in the next field, as was Degas, so I drew them as she barked at them.

Here are the landscapes:

Here is a selection of the animal sketches:

I'll post the Tavistock Edge sketches next Sunday.

What do you think of my sketches? I'd love it if you left me a comment below.

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Lunar New Year - Chinese year of the ram

19/2/2015

To celebrate the start of the Chinese year of the Ram, here is a watercolour of a ram I photographed in New Zealand.

This year is refered to the year of the sheep or goat or ram as the BBC explains in this video Chinese New Year confusion over sheep and where I got this slide:

Inktober 2014

31/10/2014

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5th #Inktober. Wilting sunflower. Soluble ink in Moleskin sketchbook.

On the 5th October, I heard about a drawing challenge called Inktober. It was created in 2009 by Jake Parker, the Inktober drawing challenge is to do one ink drawing a day the entire month of October. More info here: inktober.com

As I'm struggling with creativity and motivation, I thought I would participate. Here are a selection of the ink drawings I did.

You can see the whole set in a FB album here: Sue's Inktober

I love receiving comments, please leave your thoughts below.
Did you participate in #inktober? Why not leave a link with your comment?

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Degas & sunflowers

30/9/2014

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Sunflower 24th September, watercolour

As a quick interlude in my Brasil posts, here are my sketches and watercolour experiments from this month. All have been done in the watercolour Moleskin I got at the recent Urban Sketchers Symposium.

Above are the sketches of Degas, which have been done with a Super5 pen, whilst below are the sunflower experiments.

What have you sketched this month? Why don't you leave a comment below? You are welcome to link to a post too.

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3 weeks in June: UK sketches

26/6/2014

Armed with a new Seawhite of Brighton sketchbook, the 1st of June saw me in Muscat International departures. My assistant was also flying with me, but down in the hold, for a 3 month long trip in the UK. Killing time I sketched some of the people in the lounge and recorded this thought about the sketchbook: "I've not tried one before, but so far I'm impressed by how the ink goes on."

I've been very busy with family stuff, so it was a week later I tried out watercolour in the Seawhite. On Facebook I wrote "I'm loving the Seawhite sketchbook so far. Lots of water and glazes on this, but the page has barely wrinkled. Shame the sketch is overworked."

The following day, Wilkin & Sons Ltd. (THE jam makers) had an open farm day. With so many changes, Degas didn't like being left so I popped there quickly and sketched the people tasting jams. I sat under a tree and added the colour before I dashed home

Next, was a sketch of me NOT watching the opening match of the World Cup football.

The following day, I went to London to attend the artists' evening at The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Having just missed a train, I started to draw the footbridge between platforms. The next train arrived too soon, so on board I added the colour to the unfinished sketch.

At the RA later that day, I sketched the people enjoying the sunshine and drinks in the courtyard.

The next evening England were playing their match and a neighbour had a pre-match barbeque. Feeling like a peeking Tom, I quickly sketched them from an upstairs window.

The football theme continued with my next sketch - a slice of an England football cake.

and the next...

In between have been a few attempts to draw Degas, but she is loving the green fields and freedom and barely sits still. Here's a photo instead.

What and where have you sketched this month? Why not tell me in a comment?

Everyday in May 2014: part 1

16/5/2014

#8 Something with a mirror image

As I mentioned in my 1st May post, I'm participating in the Everyday in May (EDiM) daily challenge, which I first did in 2010. As we are halfway through, and I've only skipped 3 challenges so far, I thought I'd post the drawings to date.

Day 8, something with a mirror image, is one of my favourites so far. Degas often sits on the bed and plans mischief with her evil twin. Yesterday's mischief included chewing on the palm tree in the garden. Ink & watercolour from photo reference in A5 sketchbook.

#15 Biscuit

Day 15, painted today, is another personal favourite. The prompt was "cookie", which in British English is biscuit. The only biscuits in my house are Degas' and I am pleased with the looseness of this pen & watercolour sketch.

Although Degas is a terrible scavenger - dead fish, fish bones, and chicken being her favourites - she takes her time eating her biscuits. She has a terrible habit of getting a mouthful, carrying them to the lounge and dropping them on the mat. I think she prefers to eat in the same room as me, even though she can see me from the kitchen.

Below are my other drawings to date. As you can see, I've have been experimenting with techniques and materials from the very precise to loose with ink, pencils and/or paint.

A week's sketches

5/4/2014

Pencil & watercolour in A5 Stillman & Birn

Some of my friends not only sketch daily, but produce numerous sketches at a sitting. I'm not like that. I find a hundred things to keep me and my sketchbook apart, from the numerous daily walks with Degas, to social media, checking blogs, tv, reading... blah blah blah. If I do sketch, then scanning is another issue. However, like this morning, when I do scan I don't always like the results and so snap a photo, as I have with the two watercolours. I have found that when my laptop is already in my studio then scanning is easier - so there's my excuse to buy a tablet and leave it there. Now, how to schedule more sketching time??? I've signed up for the Urban Sketchers' Symposium in August, so there's a start. If you are interested in the USk symposium the details are here.

A5 sketchbook. ink & watercolour

First up in my sketchbook was last Saturday's sketch. Whilst waiting for my friend to arrive, so we could visit the Royal Academy's Sensing Spaces exhibition, I sketched the people enjoying the spring sunshine.

Next, having not seen daffodils for many years (I don't count those in florists) and inspired by Jean Haines' watercolours, I decide to paint some I picked from mum & dad's garden.

Watercolour with no predrawing

Lastly, I sketched the fluffy bone I gave Degas as her present for being good whilst I was away. I gave it to her yesterday, so she unstuffed and desqueeked one end, then I drew it.

*****
How often do you sketch? Why not tell me here.

<<Previous

Here, there, & everywhere.

What have you been doing?

Monthly challenges.

It's almost time to send my spring newsletter.
Will you get your copy?

Secrets

Devon doodles

Lunar New Year - Chinese year of the ram

Inktober 2014

Degas & sunflowers

3 weeks in June: UK sketches

Everyday in May 2014: part 1

A week's sketches

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It's almost time to send my spring newsletter. Will you get your copy?

About me

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It's almost time to send my spring newsletter.
Will you get your copy?