Lunch on Monday

First day back at work after recovery from my recent operation and I decided to treat myself to lunch at Costas.  Also took along my art journal for a quick sketch... It was lovely making art again, I have missed it so much.

Babushka Doll

Watercolour pencil in sketchbrook

I have always know them as Babushka dolls, but now I find this is incorrect and they are in fact Matryoshka dolls.  Anyway I always wanted a set of nested dolls.  A friend brought me back this little lady from Russia recently and of course I had to paint her.  Isn't she cute?

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.

Monday Morning Blues

Watercolour pencil in moleskine sketchbook

I thought I should try to get back to doing a sketch a day if I can like I used to.  Life got in the way a bit, as it so often does, but now I feel able to make time in my busy day to do that which I love.

This is just a quick sketch.  Monday is always the worst day for me, having to be at work, start of the week and the weekend seems so far away.  I often think of Bob Geldof's song "I don't like Mondays".  Of course I don't go and "shoot the whole day down"  :)   I usually simply try to find the positives and today it was the people in my life, not just friends but also acquaintances that got me through my Monday morning blues.  A cheery smile, a laugh, a chat... little things that mean a lot, just people taking time to show they care.

More Anne Anderson

Inspired by Anne Anderson

Managed to get time during my lunch break to produce this little quickie in watercolour pencil.

Rumpelstiltskin

A wonderful project on WetCanvas, Classical Forum - http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=992492&referrerid=0

After Anne Anderson.

I used watercolour pencils and ink. It was great fun to do.

Fluffy Teddy

Teddies are always such an enjoyable subject. This one is in watercolour pencil in the sketchbook and I was rather pleased with how he turned out.

Facing the Challenge

Hurriedly sketched this one using for reference an illustration by Jessie Willcox Smith.


I just love children at this age when they're starting to get more mobile and inquisitive.

Will You Miss Me?

Sometime when you’re feeling important,
Sometime when your ego’s in bloom,
Sometime when you take it for granted
You’re the most talented one in the room.

Sometime when you feel that your going
Would leave an unfillable hole,
Just follow these simple instructions
And see how it humbles your soul.

Take a bucket and fill it with water,
Put your hand in it up to your wrist,
Pull it out and the hole that’s remaining
Is a measure of how you’ll be missed.

You can splash all you wish when you enter,
You may stir up the water galore,
But stop, and you’ll find that in no time
It looks quiet, the same as before.

The moral of this is quite simple

You must do just the best that you can,
Be proud of yourself, but remember—
There’s no indispensable man. (Unknown)

Sobering words, don't you think? I don't know who wrote the above but it did the rounds of the offices many years ago and I have never forgotten it.

Recently when contemplating a career move these words came to mind and I realised the impact that I have made on this job is insignificant as when I leave I will soon be forgotten.

Right now everybody says the place wouldn't be the same without me and that I brighten up the whole office, which is very sweet of them but I know that when I leave, in a very short time I will be forgotten. That's life.

However, whilst I'm there I am having a great deal of fun just splashing around. That's how we get through the mundane isn't it? Making it fun.

The Lady Clare

Study of The Lady Clare after J W Waterhouse.

Doing this I realised that I needed more time in order to get a better likeness. I am reasonably happy with this but I wish I could have caught that kind of wistful dreamy look that Waterhouse captured... it was beautiful. Still practice, as they say, makes perfect and I intend to continue trying.

Toyota Aygo

25 min wc pencil and watercolours in sketchbook

A few minutes to spare waiting in a car park, what else to sketch but a car? My son recognised what it was immediately which was comforting. I must be getting better at cars... maybe.

Tree Study

15 min study in watercolour pencils on postcard 6" x 4"

Trying to get to grips with what trees are all about. Solid, alive and wonderfully textured.

View of Church

30 min water soluble pencil in sketchbook

Feeling ambitious today... buildings are not easy for me, but hey, nothing ventured nothing gained and I'm always looking to improve. If I don't try these things I will never get better. Bit of a challenge I must admit.

Typically, I didn't plan any kind of comp and therefore the spire went off the page, so I did it separately - that's what sketchbooks are for, isn't it?

Leafy Twig

25 min ink and water soluble pencil in sketchbook

Back to my little patch of grass and here I found a delightful leafy twig.

It's great sketching outdoors because all sorts of people come by and chat. I would say if you are ever lonely and in need of company get out and sketch!

During my lunchbreak today I got chatting to a passerby, a young lady who informed me I had inspired her to take out her sketchbook. Another convert to the wonderful world of art!

Little Patch of Grass

Water soluble pencil in sketchbook

There is always something to sketch.... even a little patch of grass has interest for me. Took my lunchbreak out on an open patch of grass and of course had to sketch!

Trees

25 min watercolour pencil in sketchbook

Decided to spend some time studying trees as my trees in my paintings leave a lot to be desired. 25 minutes of my lunchbreak well spent I think!

Isolation

Aloneness, not always unwelcomed. Far from the madding crowd protected by nature to find peace in sun-warmed walls, secret secluded gardens. Self-imposed abandonment.

Songbird

Feeling in top spirits, singing his heart out because suddenly in the sunshine the world has a new clarity, a new vision and the air is full of joy.

Violets

20 min watercolour pencil sketch

You'll look at least on love's remains,
A grave's one violet:
Your look?--that pays a thousand pains.
(Browning)

Time Out

15 min sketch with wc pencil

Everyone needs to take time out each day just to gather themselves together, take a break and get ready for the next challenge. Even 15 minutes can be enough to make a huge difference.