Sue Pownall: Artist & illustrator
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Nature Journal - a new diversion

24/4/2018

 
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For Earthday2018, an urbansketcher friend posted an invitation, a nature challenge  #sowinghopefornature, which included starting a nature journal. (Read the post here). I've been having a muse-free year and think this is the incentive I need  - I'm even blogging again.

First, I got out a new Seawhite of Brighton A5 Artists Travel Journal Sketchbook and attacked it with a stencil that was left over from a workshop, thereby commiting myself to the task.

Then, my furry assistant and I headed into the garden - it was a glorious sunny day -
and started my first spread and, as last year, I celebrated Earthday with a watercolour. On 8th April, I sowed a corner of my garden with wildflower seeds, cornfield annuals, plus a plug of Digitalis and one of Knautia Arvensis. They were last year's seeds, but they are starting to grow 🌱 In front, is a willow fence is to stop my lovely assistant digging them up. Below are photos of this first spread.

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With text added to the spread. (Click to see the image larger)
I had several ideas for a second spread, yay I have a muse, but when driving to visit my mum there was a hitchhiker, a cabbage white butterfly, on my dashboard and then windscreen. (I pulled over, parking, and turning the engine off three times to take photos and to try to let it out). Therefore, my second spread had to be of the hitchhiker.

I don't like handlettering, so am going through a trial and error period whilst I find a style that's both fast and neat. Here's the hitchhiker...
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and a bad photo of the spread.
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Today, I managed to get the butterfly out of my car, fed it a little sugar water, and it is currently on my begonia in the kitchen as it's too cold to put it outside.

Unfortunately, due to my teaching commitments, I didn't have the time to add anything to the journal, I will do soon, but am not putting any pressure on myself to do X per day, week, or month. Please check back here soon.

Jo dibuixo i tu?

23/4/2016

 
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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.

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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.
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Gaudi's Casa Battló covered in roses.
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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.


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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.
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Finally, a photo of Saint Georges dragon near Barcelona university.

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

Hello Spring!

20/3/2016

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

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St. Patrick's Day. ©SuePownall
PictureSt 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.

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Spring monoprint experiments. ©SuePownall
What about you? Is spring your favourite season? What are you working on?

Springtime in southern Italy

19/4/2015

 
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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.
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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?

Focusing on something different.

16/3/2015

 
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Over the course of 2 cups of tea, I completed this sketch of my friend's greenhouse, finishing just in time for breakfast. (sorry the scan has lost some of the watercolour details and turned it pink too).
PictureMy assistant is feeling sorry for herself.


It's been a busy couple of weeks.
I had a weekend away and my
poor assistant has been in Queen's Veterinary School Hospital, Cambridge for surgery on her elbows. She now needs lots of love and cuddles to help her recover.

I have mainly been creative in a photographic way, apart from a couple of sketches. The above one was drawn at my friend's house in Cheltenham. We have had surprisingly clear blue skies, which has made the UK spring look prettier. Here's a few examples... and a fire as the nights are still cold.

What have you done this week?

    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

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