I’m playing with Adobe Photoshop and some of the charcoal drawings I did during the first lockdown 2 years ago, using Gradient Map and a selection of Artistic Filters. The originals are in black and white and it’s expanding my imagination to change them into colour and try out some different effects.
I suppose in the old days, artists would bring their sketches back to their studio and work up some colour studies with paint. To be honest, I’m too lazy to get the paints out so having digital paint to play with suits me fine.
The Original Charcoal Sketch.
I did the original sketch in the Oystermouth Castle park. It’s a gorgeous place but such a violent history.
I’ve been looking at some of my sketchbooks and having a digital play with some of the drawings. I don’t normally do that, I usually scribble and then leave them, but lately I’ve been going back to them, seeing if they trigger any ideas.
Thinking Dystopian.
I take digital photos of all my sketches and I uploaded this one into Adobe Photoshop. I drew it early in the Covid19 pandemic lockdown, using charcoal into a Khadi handmade paper sketchbook, when I was walking through the park by Oystermouth Castle. I flicked it through different effects, which was fun, and I liked these two. The landscape around here is very green because of the rain, but I enjoyed seeing this hot fiery filter on the first, it’s such a contrast. The second is pretty dystopian and alien. I’m having fun.
Here’s the original. in charcoal. I don’t know if I’ll do anything more permanent with the image, but sometimes it’s nice just to play and get the imagination going a bit.
For the first time in many years, I went into the sea a couple of weekends ago. I’ve never learnt to swim, despite living right by the sea for most of my life. The film Jaws didn’t help. I saw it when I was in my teens and convinced myself that great white sharks could snatch me from Swansea Bay. But Husb made me a makeshift float from some polystyrene packaging and I’ve been sort of swimming – ish. But I needed a swimcap so I ordered one from a Facebook chum, the artist Nancy Farmer who has some fab stuff on her Etsy shop. I’m looking forward to getting these tentacles wet this weekend.
Back in the Great Lockdown of 2020, I painted along with Ed Sumner’s Cheese and Wine Painting Club over on Facebook every week, copying works by great artists. I’ve always loved this portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer and gave it a go. It took AGES Here’s a very short film of just a tiny bit of the details I painted.
The Woman In Gold is also one of my favourite films, telling the story of her portrait and featuring Ryan Reynolds and Helen Mirren.
I’m working on a couple of collages as part of a recent commission – all a bit secret at the moment, but here are some sections. The brief is to work with a group of people to develop text-based collages using recycled printed paper. It’s great, they’re all so different. All will be revealed in a few weeks.
Dewi’s working on his new book, about the links between the South Wales standing stones and Y Twrch Trwyth, one of the tales in the Mabinogion – the book of ancient Welsh legend. It’s been about 20 years since he began his research and it’s nearly ready ……. nearly …..
Raising Funds.
My family is raising money for Phil, a younger relative of mine, to have life-changing surgery in Spain. Phil is disabled by Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and the operation he needs isn’t currently available in the UK. I know times are hard, but if you’re able to spare a bob or two, please click here find out more or to donate a small amount to Phil’s crowdfunding campaign. Thank you xxx
Raising funds for Phil, bottom left, to have life-changing surgery xxx
Trying Out A Change.
I’m having a go at new templates for my website so I’ll be changing them a few times over the next couple of weeks to see how I get on with them. If there’s one you really like, or dislike, please let me know . Thanks x
The massive Maen Llia with Melvyn and Dewi on the left.
It’s Saturday / #Caturday and here’s another from my kitty archives. This is Little Ming, our floofy tortoiseshell rescue cat, now sadly no longer with us. But she was 18 when she died which was really good considering the awful life she started out with, poor little mite. Here she is lying on top of Husb’s rucksack on top of my fancy blanket on top of a cushion. Couldn’t get enough of those home comforts. Still miss her like mad 😥
Raising Funds.
My family is raising money for Phil, a younger relative of mine, to have life-changing surgery in Spain. Phil is disabled by Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and the operation he needs isn’t currently available in the UK. I know times are hard, but if you’re able to spare a bob or two, please click here find out more or to donate a small amount to Phil’s crowdfunding campaign. Thank you xxx
Raising funds for Phil, bottom left, to have life-changing surgery xxx
Trying Out A Change
I’m having a go at new templates for my website so I’ll be changing them a few times over the next couple of weeks to see how I get on with them. If there’s one you really like, or dislike, please let me know . Thanks x
Husb has been searching around for a free digital drawing programme for me, to replace the “Markers” I used on my old Samsung Galaxy 8 tablet. He found “Concepts” so I’m giving it a tryout. I did this very quick scribble in a darkened room while Husb watched the TV. It’s got potential, not bad for a first go.
Raising Funds.
My family is raising money for Phil, a younger relative of mine, to have life-changing surgery in Spain. Phil is disabled by Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and the operation he needs isn’t currently available in the UK. I know times are hard, but if you’re able to spare a bob or two, please click here find out more or to donate a small amount to Phil’s crowdfunding campaign. Thank you xxx
Raising funds for Phil, bottom left, to have life-changing surgery xxx
Trying Out A Change.
I’m having a go at new templates for my website so I’ll be changing them a few times over the next couple of weeks to see how I get on with them. If there’s one you really like, or dislike, please let me know . Thanks x
Here’s the last of the sketches I did in Elysium Bar the other evening. Gigs are good for scribbling because people are generally focused on the performers and keep reasonably still. Tom Emlyn and Sarah Passmore were playing – check them out, they’re fab.
Raising Funds.
My family is raising money for Phil, a younger relative of mine, to have life-changing surgery in Spain. Phil is disabled by Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and the operation he needs isn’t currently available in the UK. I know times are hard, but if you’re able to spare a bob or two, please click here find out more or to donate a small amount to Phil’s crowdfunding campaign. Thank you xxx
Raising funds for Phil, bottom left, to have life-changing surgery xxx
Trying Out A Change.
I’m having a go at new templates for my website so I’ll be changing them a few times over the next couple of weeks to see how I get on with them. If there’s one you really like, or dislike, please let me know . Thanks x
Here’s another of my sketchbook drawings from the Elysium Bar the other evening, two friends engrossed in talking. Lovely.
Raising Funds.
My family is raising money for Phil, a younger relative of mine, to have life-changing surgery in Spain. Phil is disabled by Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and the operation he needs isn’t currently available in the UK. I know times are hard, but if you’re able to spare a bob or two, please click here find out more or to donate a small amount to Phil’s crowdfunding campaign. Thank you xxx
Raising funds for Phil, bottom left, to have life-changing surgery xxx
Trying Out A Change.
I’m having a go at new templates for my website so I’ll be changing them a few times over the next couple of weeks to see how I get on with them. If there’s one you really like, or dislike, please let me know . Thanks x
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