And Another One!

 

Marker pens in moleskine sketchbook

Working with marker pens has been interesting but I’m still not achieving the result I was hoping for.  I may try going back to watercolour - pen & wash.  The strength of the marker pens can be overwhelming and I’m not too keen on the bleed through either.  Although it has been fun sometimes to use the bleed through to create another picture.

I do enjoy using the fine liner for the sketch and I’m warming to the subject matter, but the colouring is not quite there.

Good to be back!

 

Marker pens

Hello everyone, sorry I’ve been away too long.  For personal reasons I was unable to indulge in my painting for quite some time.  But now I’m back and experimenting with quick sketches.

I decided that I would face my fears as in try sketching buildings.  I like quirky and the wonkier the better.  Some have been quite successful and some not so, but it’s all been a learning curve.

I know what I want to achieve, but I’m not quite there yet.

Here are a few… the good, the bad and the ugly.  You choose which is which! lol 😂 

Pen and wash

Pen and ink

Ink

Marker pens

All completed in less than 60 minutes.  There are some bits I like, some I really dislike, but above all I have really enjoyed getting the sketchbook out again!

Summer Solstice

Watercolour pencil in small moleskine sketchbook

Summer Solstice was earlier this year, I am told it was because it's a Leap Year.  The Longest Day.  The day indeed seemed long to me because I managed to pack so much into it and even had time for this quick sketch.

Standing stones are so magical, they always capture my imagination.

Beach Baby

Another baby painting as I endeavour to get to grips with figures and using acrylics.

Very quick sketch as I just wanted to get the general idea down. Poor skintones but these would be improved when doing a proper painting.

Acrylics in sketchbook.

Timed Out!

Ran out of time here. Only able to capture the essence of the pose and I so wanted to get that lovely chaise longue, but alas time was not on my side.

Back to Life!

This is one of my favourite poses, the back. However, I haven't really done it justice. Ah well, you can't win them all.

Life Forms

Took a little more time getting the form with this one. I just loved the model's hair, wish I could have mine so long. :)

Drawing from life is so much better than from photographs, but it isn't any easier I can tell you. It was nice having a model to work from because friends and family really will not sit still for long enough.

Quickly captured

I rather liked this pose, so relaxed. Getting the main elements of the pose quickly is hard for me particulary trying to get everything proportionately correct at the same time! Charcoal is really good for speed.

This turned out better than I expected.

I hope to improve my speed the more of these I do.

Impressionism

Practising figures, this time a child, in an Impressionistic way.

Wanted to capture the warmth of the sun and of course I do need to practice children in particular.

Mother Bear

Acrylic in small sketchbook

This is Mother Bear, just a very quick sketch of her in acrylics. I was getting ready for my stint as steward at a local exhibition when she called to me to paint her and I just couldn't resist.

I still managed to get there on time so no harm done, but it just goes to prove to me that the urge to paint can occur at the most inopportune times.

Sunflowers Quick Sketch

Watercolour sketchbook

Just couldn't resist going back to my old favourite Sunflowers. A quickie in the small sketchbook, but it cheers me to look at them. Sunflowers are so uplifting.

Don't worry I haven't forgotten the portraits, back to them shortly. :)

Capturing Cary

Firstly, I apologise to Cary Grant for this abysmal rendering of him. He is my hero and represents for me a true gentleman. I adore his films (mostly because I like looking at him!) and among my favourites are of course An Affair to Remember, Arsenic & Old Lace and The Philadelphia Story. Of course that's just a few because I don't want to bore you with a huge list of my favourite Cary Grant films!

Anyway, back to art... I am trying again with portraits and as you can see by this one I really need to work on getting a likeness. I sure didn't get one this time! I will try again tomorrow and see what happens.

Day at the Beach

Took a lone trip to the beach to get some sketching done and it was a beautiful day, warm and sunny but the beach was pretty much deserted. Everyone at work no doubt, but not me... no today I had a very special day off.

Sketched what was left of lunch.

And also my hand holding the apple juice.

Once I had finished I got back to the sketching. I was trying to get to grips with sketching birds from life. Not an easy subject, but then I'm well known for being up for a challenge! I didn't want to use photographic reference but the darn things wouldn't keep still long enough.

It was fun though. I think maybe I shall have to either get really fast in getting my sketch down or use the sketch in conjunction with photographs to make a painting especially of something so quick.

Of course a trip to the seaside is not just for children, I find a visit to the beach always lifts my spirits and the sea air is just so healing.

Rare Moment of Stillness

Ralfi, pencil in sketchbook

Ralfi is my dog and this is a pose he is not often caught in, stillness. I am thinking he really needs to be renamed, Houdini. He's a terrier, which seems to be his best excuse for constantly finding ways of escaping. Since moving house I have lost count of the number of times he has escaped and had me chasing him down the road, along riverbanks, etc.

I wouldn't mind so much if it was just a case of him escaping, me calling and him returning, but no.... I call his name he turns looks at me and then puts an extra spurt of energy into running even faster in the opposite direction!

I have fixed all the places where I think he may have got through to the outside world, but I fear he will outwit me yet. Ah well, I guess it's all exercise!

Back to Fitness

20 mins sketch graphite on sketchpad

Working my way back to fitness, both physically and creatively. Poor health has kept me from my artwork for too long.

No more time for tears. No more wallowing. Now is the time for action.

One day at a time... gently stretching myself a little further each time, always improving, growing stronger all the way. I will show them, I won't be beaten.

Girl Holding Lemons

Graphite sketch of Girl Holding Lemons

Inspired by the Bouguereau Challenge at WetCanvas (Classical forum) this month.

First of all using graphite I did this preliminary sketch of the painting by the French artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau. I want to do several sketches before I even attempt to paint so that I can work out any difficulties beforehand.

Getting the hands correct was a bit of a problem and I shall have to watch that when I come to paint this. The foreshortening on the hand to the right (or model's left hand!) in particular was awkward and I feel I must study this more thoroughly.

Sorry that the left of the sketch is dark but this is due to poor scan of my sketchbook.

Teddy and the Cookie Jar

Teddy with the Cookie Jar - Ink sketch

Pencil sketch

Just sketching some ideas in readiness for my painting. I have already started the painting but I need to add stuff and these are some studies which should help when I get back to the painting.

I have recently been in hospital and unable to paint or even sketch. Glad to say I am on the mend and soooo happy to be getting back to my artwork. I have missed it so much.

How to Get a Likeness?

Pencil in Sketchbook (A4)

Sketching self portraits and finding that trying to get a likeness is not easy. I see myself differently to what others see.

I suppose there is a vague look of me about this.... though I look too young... skin too smooth. Maybe it's me around 30 years ago! LOL!

It's strange but every self portrait I do is either looking far too young or far too old... can't seem to hit a happy medium, which is where I'm at right now. Never mind, there's always the next one!

Sketching in the Dark

Pencil in Sketchbook (A4)

Whilst waiting to collect my daughter from work I whiled away the time sketching the car parked in front of me. It was dark with only the street light nearby so I couldn't really see what I was doing, but fairly pleased with the outcome.

It was a lovely way to spend the time.

Reflections

Pencil in sketchbook

When I see reflections on water I always want to sketch... I just wish I were a little better at capturing them, but I'm sure with practice it will all come together.

New Year always seems to be a time for reflection... taking stock of the happenings of the previous year and thinking of the improvements for the future. One of the reasons I love the start of the year.

Positives for today:
1. New doors to replace the old - kind of symbolic I think.
2. Sound of snow melting from trees in sunlight.
3. Watching my dog enjoy the warmth from a blazing fire.