A Nice Bit Of Overtime

Husb and I popped down to the city centre yesterday evening to the anti-racism rally. There were a lot of police around, several police cars and a large police van. And about 100 genteel people dressed for the heavy, muggy drizzle (of course, it’s Britain) in duffel coats and kagouls, holding soggy placards and listeningContinue reading “A Nice Bit Of Overtime”

Random Heads

I’ll scribble anytime, anywhere, me. I only had a lined notebook with me but what the heck! It’s good practice to draw quickly, you can’t expect random people to stay still and pose. It forces you to identify the basic features of your subject and reject anything above and beyond that.   I am puttingContinue reading “Random Heads”

Drawing The Artist

Husb and I went to an artist talk at The Mission Gallery in Swansea earlier today. I like to scribble away in my sketchbook when I go to events like this. The artist, ceramicist Anne Gibbs was in conversation with Cath Roche, talking about her new exhibition, “Still“.  I find that if I draw, ratherContinue reading “Drawing The Artist”

A Thin Veil

Drawing the Mari Ystrad at Gellionen Chapel yesterday was a much more peaceful experience than drawing the Mari Trecopwr around the pubs of North Gower a couple of weeks ago and I had the chance to take my time, observe and record at leisure. I finally drew the full figure – the Mari’s skull atopContinue reading “A Thin Veil”

Singing In The Chapel!!!!

Anyone who knows Husb and me knows that we’re a pair of unrepentant godless heathen. And would be very surprised that we went to chapel today! A gorgeous Unitarian chapel up on Gellionen Mountain, completely deserted and shrouded in this morning’s thick fog. The lovely wood-lined interior was decorated with holly and ivy and thereContinue reading “Singing In The Chapel!!!!”

Pasted Tissue

Chine Collé is a technique that applies a fine paper, such as tissue, between the ink and the paper on a print so that when the whole lot is put through a printing press, the chine collé sticks to the main sheet of paper, adding colour to the overall piece. The pieces of chine colléContinue reading “Pasted Tissue”

Lending A Paw

Sometimes, when I’m scribbling away, I have a little furry helper. Quite often in fact. Her name is Sparta Puss. I am her trained monkey.   I have work featured in two exhibitions at the moment – in The Workers Gallery in The Rhondda Valley and at Llanover Hall in Cardiff, both lovely venues andContinue reading “Lending A Paw”

Random Faces In Random Places

It isn’t glamorous, being an artist. It’s a constant slog. Underpinning my art practice is a daily routine of just that, practice. And at the heart of that practice is simple drawing, usually in sketchbooks. I draw anybody, anywhere, at every opportunity. Random faces in random places.   I have a new piece of artContinue reading “Random Faces In Random Places”

The European

I almost always carry a sketchbook and I’ll sit quietly and scribble wherever I am. I was at a symposium a few weeks ago and this was one of the speakers, an immaculately dressed and groomed man. Of course he was, he’s European. Oh dear, I’m indulging in scandalous stereotypes here but the British menContinue reading “The European”

Recycled Sketchbook

I’ve had this handmade leather Steampunk style sketchbook for ages and used up all the paper a while ago. Its simple design meant that I could remove its innards and replace them with new (old) paper. I have loads of bits of paper left over from drawing or printmaking projects, some plain, some covered withContinue reading “Recycled Sketchbook”