Category:

Nature Journal - a new diversion

24/4/2018

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.

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...

and a bad photo of the spread.

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.

Spectrum Noir Giveaway

19/8/2017

Over the last month, I have been testing Spectrum Noir Art Liners. Although I normally use black pens, it was interesting to have a range of colours, brown and grey pens.

I have never really got on with brushpens, as each of these sets contained 1 or more along with a set of coloured brush pens, I started with them. I took a purple and green to the Wimbledon finals. Having tried to sketch at tennis tournaments before, I knew I spend all the time watching and not sketching. I was fortunate to get a front row seat at court 12 for the invitation men's double final. I sketched Dutch pair Eltingh and Haarhuis between games, then used the brush pens to add the pop of colour. I was impressed with the brush pens, unlike others that I have used the brush wasn't too long, so they were easy to control and gave a smooth line of colour.

Eltingh & Haarhuis in the invitation men's double final, which they won.

Next, I arranged to meet some friends to Drink and Draw at a local pub. It was a lovely evening and I took the whole set of coloured fineliners in anticipation of lots to sketch. As we sat outside, I tried to capture the shadows cutting across a cornfield. The sketch is not the most successful, but full marks to the smooth flow and consistancy of the pens.

I sketched and drew with the pens over the next few days, but the next major challenge was the IAAF World Athletics in London. There was so much going on that it was really difficult to sketch, but I managed this one between events. The photo left shows me sketching in my seat and I found the pens, both artliners and brushes, great for quick sketching.

High jump in the Olympic Stadium, London.

Finally, I used the black pens, including the brush pen, whilst doing some studies for a commission.

Did you know you could commission me to draw or paint your garden? Message me for more details if you are interested.

I have continued to use the various pens past the month's test period. Spectrum Noir have won me over to using brush pens and the artliners are now part of my regular sketching kit.

Now to the exciting part...
Would you like to win all the pens in the photo at the top of this post?
You could own:

SN Artliner - Bright (8pc)
SN Artliner - Bright - Brush (8pc)
SN Artliner - Black (6pc)
SN Artliner - Neutral (6pc)
SN artliner - Hand Lettering DVD

This bundle is worth £74.95!

Just comment on this post stating the drawing you like the most on this site
(not one in this post please).

The lucky winner will be randomly drawn on Sunday 3rd September.

*****
If you want to know more about Spectrum Noir, they are a Crafter's Companion brand and the two website addresses are as follows:

www.spectrumnoir.com and www.craftercompanion.co.uk

Rehearsals of Roman River Music

17/7/2016

Sketching in Mistley church. Photo by Victoria Steinitz.

Recently, I was very flattered to be invited to sketch at the Roman River Music concerts, of which the main festival is in the autumn (Details here). A limited number of Colchester Sketchers were invited to join me at a couple of rehersals connected to the Summer Festival.

Last Friday, we went to St Mary's & St Michael's church in Mistley where the talented musicians Elena Urioste violin, Timothy Ridout viola, Orlando Jopling cello, and Tom Poster piano were rehearsing for their concert that evening.

Arriving before the musicians, I took advantage of the time and sketched one of the church's beautiful stained glass windows.

Window in St Mary's & St Michael's ©Sue Pownall

Then tried to capture the musicians as they rehearsed... but I have to confess to keep stopping to listen to the music. The sketches are in pencil or watercolour. Here are my results:

The following day's rehearsals were in St Mary's, Wivenhoe and the musicians seemed to have such fun. They were all superb and were Juliette Bausor flute,
Daniel Bates oboe, Katherine Spencer clarinet, Stuart King bass clarinet, Peter Whelan bassoon, and Pip Eastop horn. Again I sketched in pencil or watercolour:

I can't wait to sketch more!

What have you been sketching?

Wimbledon

11/7/2016

Pencil sketch from Henman Hill, Wimbledon.

Sketch in progress at Wimbledon.

Did you miss me yesterday? I was at Wimbledon for Finals Day. As many of you know, I love watching tennis, so I forgot to blog in the excitement of preparing to go. I also forgot to pack my watercolours, but managed to sketch a view from my spot on Henman Hill.

I plan to add some colour IF I get a moment.

What did you do on the weekend?

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?

Morris dancing

29/5/2016

My assistant supervised from the car.

On Friday, I arranged a drinkdraw event to coincide with the Colchester Morris Men (colchestermorrismen.org) dancing at the Alma, Copford.

The dancers move very fast and I filled several pages of movement sketches. Above, is a general scene, which was my final sketch of the evening and below one of the dancing.

Sketching Bows n Belles. Photo by Russ Smith

What do you think of my sketches?Please leave a comment below, I really appreciate reading your thoughts.

Sketch meet: Concert in the park

22/5/2016

Impression of the bandstand and The Band of The Parachute Regiment.

Last Sunday, I arranged for the Colchester Sketchers to sketch at the bandstand in Colchester Castle Park where The Band of the Parachute Regiment were playing. The concert was great, the sun was out for the majority of the afternoon, and there was a good turn out of sketchers. The only negative has to be my wonky perspective and roof on my watercolour.

People in the audience.

Band leader

After doing the watercolour sketch, I did the two quick pencil sketches above.

What do you think of them? The band liked my watercolour.

*****

Next Sunday, if you are in the Colchester area, you will find me at the Farmers Market at Bourne Mill, where I have a table showing sketches, paintings and selling prints and cards. Pop by and say hello :)

Have a lovely week everyone.

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?

Drinking and drawing

1/5/2016

Pencil sketch of Natasha Robertson at The Black Buoy's April/May Beer Festival 2016

I have just returned from the Black Buoy in Wivenhoe's May bank holiday real ale festival. My assistant and I sat outside sketching and listening to the music, although my assistant was more interested in the fish and chips.

Earlier this week, I arranged for the Colchester Sketchers to drink/draw at the Bricklayers. My first sketch of my Aspell's cider was the most successful and is shared below.

Direct watercolour sketch.

Finally, something different, I currently have my experimental piece hung at the Art Exchange where it was selected for the Celebrate Landscape exhibition. If you are in the area, pop in before it closes next Saturday.

Jo dibuixo i tu?

23/4/2016

Plaça dels Àngels.

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.

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.

Gaudi's Casa Battló covered in roses.

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.

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.

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

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

<<Previous