Category: Sketching

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?

Hello Spring!

20/3/2016

The gates are open for 2016 at the National Trust's Bourne Mill. ©SuePownall

Sitting in the gateway

Today is the Spring Equinox in the northern hemisphere, and spring is one of my favourite seasons. I also like autumn ... and summer ... oh and winter if I'm inside and warm and it's snowing outside.

On Wednesday, I was sketching outside in order to record the 2016 opening of the National Trust property, Bourne Mill. I'm working with the property this year, so rather than sketch the building, other than the outline, I chose to focus on the open gates.

I used a Monologue sketchbook and as the photo (left) shows, I Inked on site. However, I added the watercolour added at home due to icy wind.

St. Patrick's Day. ©SuePownall

St Patrick's Day sketching with my assistant.

On Thursday, Saint Patrick's Day provided the opportunity to get some green paint out as I sketched with some friends in a local pub.

The above sketch was completed on site, Winsor & Newton watercolour with Staedtlar pen in A5 Daler sketchbook.

More green featured this morning, which is why I'm blogging this evening, as I experimented monoprinting using a Gelli plate. Some of these prints I am thinking of working up, maybe with stencils, or watercolour, or.... not sure. Some as collage backgrounds, maybe. Whilst one will become an Easter card to send to my mum.

Now, I'm looking forward to lots of garden drawing, flower sketching, and more spring printing.

Spring monoprint experiments. ©SuePownall

What about you? Is spring your favourite season? What are you working on?

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.

First sketch underway.

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.

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.

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.

Colchester Sketchers (minus Johnny) show off our best sketches.

Where did you sketch?

Freshers' Week

4/10/2015

View from Square 4 ©Sue Pownall 2015

Due to a cash flow issue, I am currently temping at the University of Essex. I only have 30 minutes for lunch but have managed to do a few sketches so far.

Tai chi demo in Square 4 ©Sue Pownall 2015

This one I did the week before...

Ivor Crewe lecture hall. ©Sue Pownall 2015

With a couple more weeks there, I wonder what I can do next.

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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Urban sketching in Halesworth, Suffolk

21/6/2015

My 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.

Lunchtime 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.

Down in the Allotment

15/6/2015

Sketching flag iris.

Last Friday, 5th June, I attended a workshop on monoprinting with stencils. The photo above shows the stages of my print starting with sketching in an allotment to adding the cutout pieces as collage.

The workshop was run by Essex artist and printmaker Karenza Jackson (www.karenzajackson.com) and I would recommend attending a course with her. With just 5 of us attending we all got lots of attention and help.

Starting in an allotment we spent some time sketching. I started with lupins and moved on to sketch the scarecrow, onions, nettle patch and more. I would have been quite happy to stay there all day, so may plan a return trip. Back inside it was those first lupins that I decide to make a stencil of as well as some poppies. I enjoyed the whole process of monoprinting with stencils and found it quite liberating. Now, I need to get back to etching.

Here, there, & everywhere.

What have you been doing?

Hello Spring!

50th WWSketchCrawl: Colchester

Where did you sketch?

Freshers' Week

Devon doodles

Urban sketching in Halesworth, Suffolk

Down in the Allotment

Have you tried monoprinting? Why not tell me about it in a comment below and you are welcome to link to your own prints too.

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