Black On Black

First off, Wales won the Six Nations Cup in the International Rugby today. A great end to a fab week. At the start Husb and I were in London for a few days, taking in some exhibitions. The Ice Age Art show at the British Museum was fantastic and it’s influence stayed with me duringContinue reading “Black On Black”

Jewels Of The Courtauld

My sketchbooks are mainly a record of my daily life and to practice drawing. When I’m visiting galleries and museums I like to study the artwork and make visual and verbal notes. Husb and I visited the Courtauld Gallery this week and saw their amazing exhibition, ‘Making Picasso’, his early art. I’m one of thoseContinue reading “Jewels Of The Courtauld”

Another Hat Another Hairdo

Sketching on the London Underground is great because no-one looks at you and if anyone happens to make eye contact, they look down again immediately. So I can indulge my voyeurism and scribble away. Here’s a great hairdo above and below a rather fetching hat – it was freezing and snowing while we were there.Continue reading “Another Hat Another Hairdo”

Hats And Hairdo

Last weekend in London was freezing and loads of people wore hats, great for scribbling. I like sketching on the Tube because people generally don’t look at each other so I can scribble away without being noticed. I find it hard to draw hats on heads, difficult to get the proportions right so it’s greatContinue reading “Hats And Hairdo”

Ancient Nudes

Husb and I have just come back from a few days in London being culture vultures. Top on our agenda was The British Museum. I always get in a visit whenever I’m in London. It’s one of my all-time favourite places. I’m embarrassed that it’s full of plunder from our imperialist past but it isContinue reading “Ancient Nudes”

In Old London Town

Husb has a brand new smart phone so I’m trying to blog from a South London pub where we’re celebrating a friend’s 60th birthday.  I did some scribbling on the tube on the way over and  another in the old pub in Southwark.  This phone is a bit of a pig to use so  that’sContinue reading “In Old London Town”

Apricots And Bunnies (not for vegetarians)

I’ve been having lots of discussions about rabbit skin glue with local artists recently. It seems that some art colleges don’t bother teaching about technique and materials any more. Well, there we are then! Anyway, rabbit skin glue is a very versatile and cheap size for applying to canvas, paper, wood and cardboard before painting,Continue reading “Apricots And Bunnies (not for vegetarians)”

A Bit Different

I tried something a bit different at life drawing tonight. I’d prepared some small scraps of card with white acrylic gesso and Indian ink before I went to Iceland a few months ago but I didn’t use them all. “Waste not, want not” as my Nana used to say. I started with black and whiteContinue reading “A Bit Different”

Snug As A Bug…

“Snug as a bug in a rug”, my Nana used to say. Little nephew is staying the night and watching Avengers Assemble on the big screen. He’s enthralled and just a little bit scared so he’s wrapped himself up in a big spotted blanket on the settee, snug as a bug in a rug. It’sContinue reading “Snug As A Bug…”

Bits And Pieces

It’s tempting to try and do a complete drawing during the weekly Life Drawing sessions as I use so many of these sketches to develop into monotypes and mixed media pieces. But I also want to use the time to practice my craft and sometimes I focus on different parts of the model rather thanContinue reading “Bits And Pieces”