Category: Sketches

Loosestrife

30/5/2018

Click images to enlarge.

Page in progress

I've planted a wildflower patch in the garden, as I shared in my post here, but this yellow wildflower has selfseeded (thank you birds) in the grasses.

I believe it is a Loosestrife, which is the common name for the genus Lysimachia.

It has been a grey day, as the sun came out late evening, I did this little watercolour in my nature journal. I will add to the page when the flowers come out.

For this nature journal, I am using a Seawhite of Brighton A5 travel journal. This image was created with Sennelier watercolours.

The finished page... for now.

What have you drawn or painted recently? Why not tell me in a comment?

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

Secrets

21/2/2016

My assistant playing in the mud whist I sketch.

I'm finding it hard to write a post, here's why:

I have a personal project, which is going well, but it is currently a secret except for those involved;
I have an illustration commission, which involves me traveling a little over the next couple of days, but I can't say anything about that at the moment = Another secret;
I am trying to set up a small arty business venture, but it's in the planning stages, so that's all I can say about that; and
On Wednesday, I was part of a group artist/poets meeting, as I am involved with an Ekphrasis project. Although it's not a secret, there is nothing to share yet;

so what to post is a dilemma.

I guess it's a good time to dip into the sketchbook and share a few recent sketches.

East Mersea, where, despite a cold, blustery wind, I managed a quick sketch.

A perfect excuse for a piece of cake, a new sketchbook to start.

Whilst waiting for Degas to have her check up at QVSH, I sketched this spaniel in the waiting room.

Have you any secrets to share? What have you been up to recently? Why not leave me a comment below, I love to read them!

Backstage at the Mercury Theatre

14/2/2016

Mercury Theatre foyer (colour added at home). ©Sue Pownall 2016

Sketch in progress.

Yesterday, I managed to get a ticket for a backstage tour of the Mercury Theatre in Colchester. Arriving early, I sketched the foyer as I keep avoiding complex subjects. Before I finished it was time to start the tour, so I added colour at home. The foyer has very clever blue lighting highlighting different planes as well as blue carpet.

We started the tour in the Studio Theatre where audience service manager Carol gave us some background info on the theartre (for example designed by Norman Downie and opened in 1972).

Pencil in A5 Daler Ebony sketchbook ©Sue Pownall 2016

Next we were taken into the main theatre and up on to the stage, where the understudy was rehearsing End of the Rainbow, which had opened the night before. We were very lucky to have the artistic director, Daniel Buckroyd, tell us about and show us some of the creative things about the show and the stage set (260 lightbulbs in the set, for example).

©Sue Pownall 2016

Exiting stage left, or was it right?, we went through the wings pass the prompter's chair, spotting props - lots of pill bottles for this glimpse of the later life of Judy Garland - and into the workshop.

The workshop was the most interesting area for me, although the paintshop was interesting, and you could spot scenery parts from old pantos and shows, such as a HUGE beanstalk.

On a bench was the White Model, the technical term for the set design model, for the upcoming performance of Clybourne Park, which I hope to see.

Fe fi fo fum, beanstalk in workshop.

©Sue Pownall 2016

Dodging the rain, we went to the costume department, which was so visually engaging I didn't sketch anything, how ironic is that?

Stunning costume designs and the understudy's costumes.

Dressmaker's work table.

We walked back into the main building and pass the actors resting prior to the Saturday matinée, saying hello to actor Gary Wilmot (remember him? - he was on UK tv way-back-when), we couldn't see the dressing rooms as it was so close to curtain up, and then, all too soon, the tour was over.

Have you ever done a tour like this?
Please leave a comment and tell me about it.

Tiptree Sings at Christmas

13/12/2015

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?

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 :)

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.

Drinkdraw at the Foresters Arms

29/11/2015

Bagpiper player

I'm back after a little blogging hiatus and hope to resume regular Sunday blogging now.

This week I arranged for a drinkdraw evening in the Foresters Arms, Colchester. After nearly 2 hours of sketching, chatting and of course having a drink or two, our group was treated to the local folk jam, which gave us an assortment of musicians and singers to sketch.

That's all for now but don't forget to come back next Sunday.

If you have any thoughts or comments about my sketches, I'd love to receive them.

Freshers' Week

4/10/2015

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.

This one I did the week before...

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

DrinkDraw Chappel

27/9/2015

My assistant.

The railway viaduct at Chappel has been on my "to-sketch" list for many years, so on Friday I arranged for the Essex & Suffolk Sketchers to meet at the Swan pub. With quickly failing light and the temperature dropping, I sat on a bench in the Swan's car park and quickly tried to paint it. It was difficult to tell the colours I was applying as the light changed and dropped. Above is as far as my first sketch got.

Heading into the pub to warm up, I think the guys having bar snacks got drawn by everyone. As usual, I spent more time chatting than drawing, so these two were all I did. Plus, Degas got bored and decided when it was time to go home.

I was sketching in an A4 Monologue sketchbook with Winsor & Newton watercolours & Inktense pencils.

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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Big Draw Colchester

28/6/2015

Photo 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.

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.

<<Previous

Loosestrife

Spectrum Noir Giveaway

Secrets

Backstage at the Mercury Theatre

Have you ever done a tour like this?
Please leave a comment and tell me about it.

Tiptree Sings at Christmas

Drinkdraw at the Foresters Arms

Freshers' Week

DrinkDraw Chappel

Devon doodles

Big Draw Colchester

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Have you ever done a tour like this? Please leave a comment and tell me about it.

About me

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Archives

Have you ever done a tour like this?
Please leave a comment and tell me about it.