Sue Pownall: Artist & illustrator
  • Home
  • SHOP
  • Swan Project
  • Recent work
  • On land & sea
  • Gardens
  • Buildings
  • Pet Portraits
  • #UKlockdown
  • Illustrations
  • The decay series
  • Workshops & talks
  • Exhibitions & events
  • Festival Faces
  • Artist profile
  • Newsletter
  • Blog: Art of a Nomad

Capability Brown tercentury map for NT Stowe.

17/11/2016

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

Neighbours Rooves & Chimneys

8/5/2016

 
I seem to have developed a minor fascination with sketching my neighbours chimneys and rooves, so far all from the confines of my house. However, now the warmer weather has arrived, I may be sketching further down the street. After 15 years living abroad with hardly a chimney in sight, I wonder if it's the novelty of seeing them in their different shapes and sizes. What do you think?

Jo dibuixo i tu?

23/4/2016

 
Picture
Plaça dels Àngels.
PictureRafa serves. ©Sue Pownall 2016
I have just spent the last few days in Barcelona.  On Wednesday, I flew over having left my assistant to stay with her dogsitter. After checking into my hotel, I headed straight to MACBA and spent and hour on the above sketch.

After the rain stopped, I spent Thursday at the Barcelona Open BancSabadell – Trofeo Conde de Godo. I saw Rafa win amongst other matches, but didn't sketch anything.  

Friday morning, I headed out for breakfast and had to paint the girl at a nearby table. (below) I went straight in with paint as I didn't know how long she would be there. I had just snapped her surreptitiously, should have moved the menu, when she left.

Picture
From there, I visited the Fundació Antoni Tàpies and saw some interesting artwork and prints before heading to Passeig de Gracia. Being the day before Sant Jordi (Saint Georges), who is the patron saint of Catalonia, Gaudi's Casa Batlló had been covered in roses. It looked beautiful and still being early there were not too many people, so I sat on the street corner to sketch it.
Picture
Gaudi's Casa Battló covered in roses.
Picture
In the afternoon, I went to see some more art at the CaixaForum, which had an exhibition Impressionists and Moderns: Masterworks from The Phillips Collection.

Then went for a walk up to Barcelona's botanical garden. I sat and did a small watercolour, which I really enjoyed painting, surrounded by vegetation, bird song (including green parrots), and little else.

Afterwards, I had a wander around took lots of photos of the beautiful plants and flowers.


Picture
A glade in Jardí Botànic de Barcelona.
Yesterday was my last day and I spent it catching up with some friends. I still managed an incomplete sketch whilst waiting to meet a close friend for brunch. I wanted to capture some of the San Jordi celebrations, as I did last year (Sant Jordi 2015) but tables and more were still being set up, so started above them... and ran out of time.
Picture
Picture
Finally, a photo of Saint Georges dragon near Barcelona university.

*Jo dibuixo i tu? is Catalán for I draw, do you?

Monthly challenges.

3/4/2016

 
Picture
Across the Road. ©Sue Pownall 2016
PictureWIP: 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:


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

Subscribe here

50th WWSketchCrawl: Colchester

24/1/2016

 
Yesterday afternoon, I arranged for the Colchester Sketchers to sketchcrawl at the bottom of the High Street. Tucked down a lane is the Coffee Cube café, which is where we arranged to meet. After a week that saw sleet and rain, we were amazed to have a blue sky and sunshine, so half of us sat outside to sketch the castle.
Picture
First sketch underway.
Picture
Being the organiser, I spent more time talking than sketching at the meeting point, but did manage to spend half an hour on my sketch of the castle. Luckily, as the sun disappeared behind the clouds, it was time to move on.
Picture
My first sketch.
Our second location was Hollytrees Museum, which is a museum of domestic life and childhood. Several of us were attracted by the Alice in Wonderland temporary exhibition.
Picture
The Queen's croquet game.
Our final location was the new Tiptree Tearoom at the Minories Gallery. I think we were all so interested in each others sketches and having some tea, that nobody sketched there. I plan to return another day as the choice of teas and cakes demand a proper "sketch" visit.
Picture
Colchester Sketchers (minus Johnny) show off our best sketches.


Where did you sketch?

Tiptree Sings at Christmas

13/12/2015

 
Sketch
I love going to see choirs sing at Christmas, so last night I went back to Tiptree to see a friend sing in the choir she belongs to. The setting was St Lukes church, which I have only drawn from the outside, so made sure I had coloured pencils alongside my sketchbook.

My first sketch was of some of the female choristers chatting before the concert. They were very animated and seemed quite excited which I hope I captured in the sketch. What do you think?
Sketch
Picture
Listening to the lovely singing, I sketched the top drawing showing a section of the choir and the church.

I forgot to take the proof of on-location sketching shot until the choir was about to start singing in the second half of the concert, but hopefully gives a little idea of my view.


Other news: I was very flattered when Simone Ridyard asked me to contribute to her architectural sketching book, Archisketcher. Yesterday, I received my copy and the whole book is fabulous! I would thoroughly recommend buying it for your shelves because of the fabulous content, not because of my contribution :)
Picture
Finally, due to logistics the Essex&Suffolk Sketchers have renamed themselves Colchester Sketchers. The FB group is here: Colchester Sketchers

Have a good week everyone.

Drawing on the street

23/8/2015

 
It's a funny thing, being an urban sketcher I'm used to drawing in public, out on the streets, but yesterday I was due to give a demonstration of my pen & ink work in front of a local art suppliers and beforehand I was very, very nervous. Whilst I have taught pen and ink, I have never worked up a drawing in front of people, and was very worried about the ugly duckling stage that it would go through.

Luckily, everyone who stopped by was lovely. Some had come deliberately to see me, others by happenstance and we talked about my art, art in general, sketching, equipment, and Oman. Two people had been there, one for work and the other on holiday - small world.

There was only one character who stayed for ages and was being purposely provocative including saying "You could be a brilliant artist, but you won't be". He felt my work was too safe and not experiemental enough. Maybe it isn't very experimental, I may think on that, but as he has never shown his work nor would he give his name, I shall not worry. With the exception of him everyone was very complimentary.
Picture
Ready to start my demo day at Tindalls, Colchester.
The worry about the ugly duckling stage was needless. I had put down the outline beforehand and expected to reach it at some point in the day. However, I spent so much time chatting to all the lovely people, that in six hours I only completed less than an hour's drawing. You can see the progress below (sorry about the green tinge, it's from the gazebo).
Picture
WIP stages.

Big Draw Colchester

28/6/2015

 
Picture
From the morning's sketching of St Botolph's Priory. ©Sue Pownall 2015
PicturePhoto by Angella Horner.
Yesterday, CO3 Gallery in Colchester arranged a Big Draw event, which I attended. We were based near a sponsor, Tindalls Art Store in Trinity Street, but spread out through the town. I wanted to draw St Botolph's Priory as I hadn't drawn it since I was at college in the town. Once again, my colours have come out brighter than usual due to the sunlight, and yes this is England.

After heading back to base, I joined Colchester artist Colin David McAllister on a doorstep with a great view of an old Tudor building, which is now Tyndalls' café. The waitress was great and kindly served tea where we were rather than at a table. Afterwards, I went  into the rose garden, initially to paint roses, but instead captured the gable-end.

All too soon it was time for those left to gather for a group photo and to share their sketches. I'm not too sure why there are Spanish flags behind us - perhaps because we'd stolen their sunshine for the day.


Picture
Sketches from at Tymperleys ©Sue Pownall 2015
There was not any cider in my sketch kit this week. I used an A4 Monologue sketchbook with Staedtlar pigmentliners and Winsor & Newton watercolours. It was a lovely day sketching with new people and I look forward to sketching with them again.

Urban sketching in Halesworth, Suffolk

21/6/2015

 
Picture
St Mary's graveyard, Halesworth. ©Sue Pownall
PictureMy day's sketching kit.
Yesterday, was the 2nd meeting of the Essex and Suffolk sketchers out at the picturesque village of Halesworth. The venue was chosen as a member had an exhibition there.

We were very lucky with the weather as the rain didn't start until we were on our way home. We started at the church and then I found a seat outside the White Swan, where I sat and drew the old alms houses. I think the wonky perspective is partially due to wonky building and a lot due to the cider. Next up was a quick sketch over a bowl of organic asparagus soup, then it was time to meet and share our sketches over a cuppa.

Picture
Wonky cider-aided perspective. ©Sue Pownall
PictureLunchtime sketch at Focus Organic.
There are lot more sketching events coming up. You can see the Essex & Suffolk ones here: Essex&SuffolkSketchers
or you could send me a message.

Springtime in southern Italy

19/4/2015

 
Picture
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.
Picture
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?
<<Previous

    About me

    I am a nomadic artist travelling the world for inspiration. Here, I publish my sketchbook work alongside my new finished pieces.

    All posted artwork/images and text are ©Sue Pownall. All rights reserved.

    Email for permission if you want to use them using the contact form.

    It is ok to quote images or text on your non-commercial blog or website as long as you give a credit and link back. It is not okay to pin images.


    Copyright © 2009-2019
    Sue Pownall

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Tags

    All
    Abstract
    Acrylic
    #aedm
    Animal
    Art
    Artist
    Art Teacher
    Art Tutor
    #atp
    Barcelona
    BigDraw
    Boat
    Boats
    Bourne Mill
    Brazil
    Building
    Cadbury
    Café
    Calligraphy
    Canada
    Canson
    Catalan
    Charcoal
    Charity
    Children
    Chimney
    Chinese New Year
    Christmas
    Class
    Coffee Shop Project
    Colchester
    ColchesterSketchers
    Coloured Pencil
    Competition
    Countryside
    Course
    Coventry
    Cow
    #creamtea
    Cuckoo Farm Studios
    Daler
    Dance
    Decay Series
    Degas
    Degasworld
    Demo
    Devon
    Digital
    #dlaberasmus
    Dog
    Drawing
    #drawingAugust
    Drinkdraw
    Easter
    Edim
    Elephant
    Environment
    EssexBookFestival
    Essex&SuffolkSketchers
    Etching
    Everyday Matters Edm
    Exhibition
    Experiment
    Farming
    Festivalfaces
    Flowers
    Furry Assistant
    Garden
    Garden Sketch
    Gaudi
    Gelliplate
    Giclée Prints
    Giveaway
    Hydrotheraphy
    #IAAFWorlds
    Illustration
    Illustration Friday
    Infographic
    Ink
    Inktense
    #inktober
    InkyFingers
    Italy
    Laloran
    Landscape
    Lifeclass
    London
    Machinery
    Magnify
    Maldon
    Manchester
    Mersea Island
    Mill
    MixedMedia
    Moleskin
    Monologue
    Monoprinting
    Music
    Musicians
    National Trust
    Nature
    Nature Journal
    Nature Photography
    Oman
    Painting
    Paris
    Pen And Ink
    Pencil
    Pen & Watercolour
    People
    Pet
    Photography
    Pool
    Portrait
    Printing
    Pub
    Qatar
    #recordingCoventry
    Review
    Review & Resolutions
    Rio
    Robin
    RolandGarros
    RomanRiverMusic
    Rugby
    Ruin
    SanJordi
    #sbsexpressing
    Science
    Sea
    Seawhite Of Brighton
    Secondary School
    Selfie
    Sennelier
    Senses
    Silvertown
    #silvertownldn
    Singers
    Sketchbook
    #sketchboookskool
    Sketchcrawl
    Sketches
    Sketching
    Slideshare
    #solitarywanders
    Spain
    Spectrum Noir
    Spring
    StaedtlerPigmentLiner
    STEAM
    STEM
    Stencil
    St Patrick's Day
    Super5
    #TavistockEdge
    #TBT
    Teaching
    Tennis
    Theatre
    Tiptree
    Trainee Teacher
    Tree
    Tutor
    Uae
    UK
    Unicef
    Urbansketch
    Urbansketcheronholiday
    Urbansketchers
    Urban Sketchers
    #uskbcn2013
    #uskparaty2014
    #USkWorldCup
    Watercolour
    Wildflower
    Wimbledon
    Winsor&Newton
    Winter
    Wivenhoe
    Wood
    Workshop

    Archives

    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.