Category: Edim

EDiM

7/6/2015

One of my favourites, a sprig of rosemary.

The prompts

May brings the Everyday in May challenge and yet again I participated. The first time I tied this challenge was in 2010, and you can see the results spread over the May posts here. I then participated again in 2013 and 2014, and you can the see the results by clicking the EDiM tag in the side panel here.

In 2010, I was living in Sudan and finished 30/31 but the peaceful life I led there helped. This year I finished just 22/31. Why? I found some prompts very uninspiring and some I just didn't get time for due to attending a print course, sketching events, my mother's health, and Degas. Furthermore, I have learnt that I still don't put my art before everything else and I do not have the self discipline to sketch daily (especially when uninspired). Right now, as I type this post, I have 2 illustrations that need finishing, so I shall write no more and let a selection of the drawings speak for themselves.

Please let me know which are your favourites. If you participated, why not leave a link to your posts, so I can check them out.

EDiM Part 2

31/5/2014

#19 A rope. Ink in A4 sketchbook.©Sue Pownall 2014

It's May 31st and the end of another Everyday in May daily challenge. I've completed 26 out of the 31 prompts. I've struggled with some especially as I've wanted to do locational drawings for some of them, but the daytime temperatures here have soared to a massive 50°C (122°F).

Day 19, above, is one of my favourites. It is incomplete as I had almost finished this old, unloved, rope tug, when Degas decided it was the ONLY toy she had to play with.

Here is Degas chewing HER rope.

This Chinese cloisonné vase came from a weekend in Beijing. The prompt was something bought on a trip, but I didn't actually buy it, as it was a gift at the factory we visited on the way to The Great Wall by a lovely American lady, who said I couldn't leave without it.

#30 Something bought on a trip ©Sue Pownall 2014

Days: 17, 18, 20, 21 attempts 2 & 3, 23, 25, 26, 27, and 31 ©Sue Pownall 2014

#29 ©Sue Pownall 2014

Finally, this is day 29's something in my favourite colour. It is easy to guess my favourite colour just by looking at the work over this month. This blue glass is part of a set I received as a secret santa present and is filled with blue & white sea glass collected from the beach near my house. I had fun with this using Inktense pencils and watercolour.

Which of my challenge results do you like the best? Why not leave a comment below to tell me?

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 of sketches

1/5/2014

First, 23rd April and trying to paint the stormy sunset with Degas on the lead on Qantab beach looking west to the mountains.

Next, 24th April, Sultan Qaboos Highway & Ministries District from NTI building in Al Khuwair. It is unfinished, there are buildings missing in the background, as I had to go to a meeting. Then that evening, I drew the peel of an Egyptian clementine.

Finally, today 1st May, and the first of the EDiM (Everyday in May) challenges: a window. This is my kitchen window through the kitchen door.

All in my Stillman & Birn, Gamma series, A5 sketchbook. A free gift at last year's USk Symposium.

If you want to join in EDiM, the facebook group is here.
The flickr group is here.

Chewed stuff 1 - for Jana

27/3/2014

In January, I read that Jana of JanasJournal had rescued a 5 month old pup. Since then she's been posting regularly on the things Millie chews, both allowed and not, and I have been sharing Degas stories in my comments. The other day she wrote "(it) would definitely be fun to see Degas’ finds, destructed bits and favorite chews as sketched by you".

So last night, I started to sketch Degas' purple Teddy. She has several as I bought them cheaply in the local supermarket. She always chews off the eyes and noses before either eating an ear or leg.

Unfortunately, Degas came and took it away before I finished and had a quick chew at it, which is when I took this photo (I think the flash was on, so bleached it). Later, I went into the incomplete sketch with a waterbrush (top).

More use of inktense pencils, but I'm not sure about this Stillman & Birn sketchbook. I have been hearing and seeing many rave reviews of it, but the grain surprised me yesterday. I am used to sketching on smooth surfaces. Obviously as this is only page 2 of 124, I will have many times to either get used to it and/or find a way to work on this surface.

Previous drawn chewed items include Degas' blue teddy from the December post Catch up: A month of sketches.

This box is from the September post Boxes Beware.

Whereas this final image, below, is of a chewed teabag drawn for EDiM and was in the post Snow in Oman (check out the post for why there was snow.)

Degas favourite things to chew are the plants in the garden. I haven't drawn any as I usually just evict them from the house, where Degas has brought them in through her dogflap.

Degas came into my life on April 1st 2013. The year has been fraught at times as she has grown large (and is still growing) and is both boisterous and wilful. I have replaced all my bedding as it's got holed through chewing. Degas continues to steal clothing: last night alone she has chewed through the straps of a T-shirt and has been chased this morning for a dropped item of laundry (although these events are rarer now). Despite training, she chooses when to return to me on walks and tows me down the beach to see her friends.

However, for every little negative she has enriched my life a hundredfold. I return from work to big greetings and cuddles, and regardless of my day all problems are forgotten as we step onto the beach. I may find it hard to work on my drawings as she gets bored and demands attention, but she is also inspiration for sketches from these chewed things to her beautiful face. I have watched her grow from a timid pup on the street, into a beautiful young dog who likes nothing better than running down the beach.
I am truly blessed she chose to come home with me.

Snow in Oman

17/6/2013

EDiM #12 The oldest thing in your fridge.

Sorry, I am still here, I just need a short hiatus from blogging. In fact, I've been having a break from art. I have not sketched since last month and I've only spent about an hour on an overdue commission, with around 27 hours needed to complete it.

My mum remains in hospital and whilst there have been small improvements the overall prognosis is not good. My father has carers coming in several times a day to look after him, plus kind neighbours keeping an eye on him. Finally, a lovely lady is walking Nelson for them.

#27 Draw something sticky: Omani dates with #20 my favourite drink: tea... complete with Degas' teeth marks.

Not #31 a houseplant

At the end of May, I continued with some of the EDiM challenges, and despite the unforeseen circumstances, including not starting until 3rd, I completed 19/31. In 2010, I drew 30/31. maybe next year I can do them all. I cheated on the last challenge which was draw a houseplant as I don't have any. Instead, a friend & I went for a sketchy lunch where we thought they'd have some. There were plenty of plants outside, but none in, so I drew my cake. Sorry it's a really bad scan.

Here in Oman, my life has been taken over by my puppy who is very good, for a puppy, but has a very large mischievious streak. Hence the evidence below and post title.

Due to finances and Degas, I will not be leaving Oman soon, though I will visit mum & dad next month (and see if I can still attend the Urban Sketchers Symposium). I am getting Degas' blood tested ready to travel back to Europe, although it takes 3 months for results to come through. The plan is still to move to Barcelona as it is only a couple of hours away from mum & dad.

I apologise for not regularly visiting your blogs, but I will visit when I can.

EDiM #16 Something that scares you

27/5/2013

and the reason for my absence.

It scares me to see my mum so ill in hospital. This was drawn by her bedside last week.

Please keep mum in your prayers. She had a severe stroke 2 weeks ago and I flew home to UK to see her and stayed for the last 2 weeks. She is speaking and lucid but has no movement on her left. She may be in hospital for a long time. If you wish to visit her or send a card:
Patricia Pownall, C1 The Stroke Unit, Gainsborough Wing, Colchester General Hospital, Colchester, Essex UK

Everyday in May (EDiM) 2013

4/5/2013

Crazily, considering my problems drawing at the moment, having seen a couple of EDiM posts from this year's challenge, I decided to join in yesterday (3rd). I last participated in 2010, when I was in Sudan. You can see the posts by clicking this link: EDiM 2010

#4 Draw your socks

This year I have decided not to post all the drawings on my blog, but have an album on facebook here: EDiM 2013 Facebook album. It's on my facebook page, so maybe you could "like" the page whilst you check out the drawings. Judging by these first two days, it looks like my interpretation of the daily prompts will have a Degas twist.

For more details on EDiM. check out the flickr and facebook groups below for fellow EDiMers. FB: www.facebook.com/groups/296443287101735/ and Flickr : www.flickr.com/groups/edmeverydayinmay2011/