I wanted to draw the Midsummer sunset over Arthur’s Stone at Cefn Bryn, a Neolithic tomb 4,500 years old . It’s a spectacular place and the setting sun threw a dazzling pallette of colours across the Gower landscape. A lot of people were gathered to see it this evening. The sky was almost unbelievably colourful,Continue reading “Magical Midsummer”
Category Archives: out and about
A Visual Odyssey
I’ve edited all the sketchbook drawings from my Pakistan residency into a short film with Adobe Premiere Pro. I drew them consecutively as I journeyed through the country and I also recorded sounds as I went along on my phone, so I’ve added a soundtrack as well. Isn’t technology brilliant? The drawings were madeContinue reading “A Visual Odyssey”
Elderflower Evening
Husb and I have been out this picking elderflowers to make cordial. It’s an annual ritual and makes the house smell lovely. It’s been a fine evening and a lovely way to spend a few hours. I did this sketch a couple of days ago in the Belvedere Gallery in Vienna. It already seems likeContinue reading “Elderflower Evening”
Viennese Stroll And A Bit More Egon
I stopped for some time in front of this self portrait by Egon Shiele at The Leopold Museum in Vienna. I have seen it many times in books but was fascinated when I came face to face with it. The brushwork is so fluid and he creates light and dark and the flow of theContinue reading “Viennese Stroll And A Bit More Egon”
The Black Panther
Husb and I just got back from our few days in Vienna in time for the last episode of Game of Thrones Season 4. Ooooof! Yesterday we went to the Upper Belvedere Gallery in Vienna to take in the permanent collection of Secession, Expressionist and Impressionist art. Marvellous. I drew this sculpture of a pantherContinue reading “The Black Panther”
Big Boned Blokes
Husb and I are having a few days in Vienna. It’s so easy to get to most of Europe and it’s wonderful to be able to see places that I’ve read about. First off though, I had a scribble at Heathrow, a big boned bloke sitting opposite, absorbed in his Tablet so he didn’t noticeContinue reading “Big Boned Blokes”
Fidgety Boxer
Husb and I visited Holly the boxer and her trained monkeys this evening. She’s rather elderly and full of character and I thought she’d make a good model. She had other ideas. Every time I started sketching her, she turned her back on me as soon as she realised what I was doing. I managedContinue reading “Fidgety Boxer”
Drawing Night
Drawing at night isn’t too bad in the city centre, because of illumination from street and shop lighting. But on the beach, Swansea Bay, unless there’s a clear moon, there’s very little light and no clear landmarks. So drawing a deserted night scene is about interpreting the different elements of the darkness with varied materialsContinue reading “Drawing Night”
Pre-washed
A description of 1980s denim fashion and also my way of preparing some of my little Khadi handmade paper sketchbooks (15cms square) with random ink washes using dilute Indian ink applied with a small piece of natural sponge. It’s a good base for night sketches. All you need is a bit of white compressed charcoalContinue reading “Pre-washed”
Bath Building
I spent a couple of days in Bath earlier this week, invigilating at the Commensalis group show at the Octagon, part of Fringe Arts Bath. It’s a long day so I entertained myself by drawing on my Galaxy Tablet Note 8. The Octagon is a beautiful old chapel. I don’t generally draw buildings, I’m muchContinue reading “Bath Building”