I’ve been sorting through the stuff I brought home from my recent residency in Pakistan. I left some of my prints behind in an exhibition at the Satrang Gallery in Islamabad but I also did a lot of drawings and I’ve been photographing and cataloguing them.
I did around half a dozen quick impressionistic sketches at the Rawal Lake in Bani Gala in Islamabad. The sun was setting over the mountains in the distance and the colours were extraordinary. I sat with friends and sipped lemongrass tea as the dusk descended. Then the mosquitos started biting and ruined it all!
I scribbled these with artist quality Daler Rowney soft pastels into a Khadi handmade paper sketchbook. Each sketch took around 4 or 5 minutes, maybe less.
My printmaking residency in Rawalpindi was supported by Wales Arts International and Arts Council Wales.




What an exciting place to undertake a residency. Your sketches offer a lovely insight into your stay in Pakistan.
Thank you. It was a fascinating experience and so different from the perception of the outside world.
Lovely Rose! I’m so captivated by the colors. Too bad about those pesky mosquitoes.
Thanks Gale, it was a gorgeous place. It’s been challenging for me to sketch the fleeting changes so quickly.
Pinning down the elusive last light! A lovely series Rosie. I am drawn in especially by the first image. It takes me around and around and pulls me in. Quietly.
Thank you, the place was quite magical 🙂
I know it’s too late, but I have heard that mossies keep away if you spray your skin with mouthwash!
Wow, I’ll give that a try next time I’m in Mozzie territory. I’ve also heard that they don’t bite people who eat Marmite.