Another hot and tiring day. Went up to Bath again to take down the Commensalis exhibition. That week just flew by. We had a ‘closing’ for the show, afternoon tea with lashings of tea and home made Victoria Sandwich. It was very busy but I had a few minutes for a quick sketch and drew these two young sisters dozing in the sun amongst the gravestones.
Suddenly there’s a heatwave and everyone’s out on the beach, in shorts and swimsuits. It’s gorgeous when the sun shines here. The best place in the world. Pity it rains 90% of the time. I went for a paddle and sat on the steps awhile outside the Civic Centre with my feet dangling in the water and did a quick scribble of the kids playing in the gentle waves. The sea was glassy and the horizon merged into the sky. Hot and still, not like a British summer at all.
Just got back from this evening’s life drawing session at Swansea Print Workshop, which was a bit of a curate’s egg….good in parts. I loosened up with my first drawing, using white conte crayon and a lump of carbon onto a piece of handmade paper that I’d prepared with a dark ink wash. I like this, it’s much freer than my normal approach. Then I retreated into my comfort zone, with a dip pen and Indian ink.
The upper body went well, but then I lost the plot completely with her left hand, which was very difficult because of the foreshortening. So I went over it with white ink, but it didn’t dry so I’ll have to leave it for another day.
Finally, I took an old discarded etching that I’d prepared with a soggy tea bag and did a quick sketch with a grey ink wash and a dip pen, to try and get the proportion of the hand correct, to use as a reference for the drawing above when I’m ready to rework it. Ho hum…….
The opening on Monday evening of the group exhibition my work is in, Commensalis in Bath, was fab, really busy, great fun and loads of happy people who enjoyed the art. I stayed over to invigilate the next day and also to do a short residency; I set up a tabletop easel and did drawings of the interior throughout the day. I don’t normally draw buildings and I find it hard not to make them look like architectural drawings, so I tried to focus on atmosphere rather than detail. It’s a fascinating building, sparse and a bit Gothic, a mortuary chapel surrounded by very old graves. I did the drawing onto an A3 canvas sheet, prepared with a yellow ochre oil wash, using dip pens and Indian ink, black and white conte crayons and wet wipes (yes, the things you wipe babies bottoms with) to get a wash effect.
Here are a few pictures of the opening featuring my ‘Art Here’ banner and the marvellous ‘Lady Margaret’, of The Natural Theatre Company, who kindly and graciously opened the exhibition, aided by the ‘Wind-up Merchant‘ Nick Steele with his antique HMV Gramophones and DeeJay set of vintage 78 vinyl platters.
The show is still on until Sunday, 12.00 to 18.00 daily, so if you fancy a day trip to Beautiful Bath, pop in and see the exhibition in Walcot Chapel. And on Sunday, between 3 and 4pm there’s Tea With The Artists – lashings of tea, scones and Victoria Sandwich…….
Just got back from 2 days in Bath, setting up, opening and invigilating our group exhibition, Commensalis. It’s in a very old mortuary chapel, set in a sloping graveyard. We set up pretty quickly and Husb and I drifted off into the graveyard to have a rest. Here he is, sunbathing. Can you believe it?! Sunbathing. In a British Summer. It must be the end of days 😉
Tomorrow I’ll post some pictures of the opening, but now I’m off to bed…..
Walking over the hill above Bracelet Bay, Mumbles a couple of evenings ago with Husb and small Nephew, we saw lots of wild rabbits quietly munching away. Husb and Nephew stopped for a few minutes to gaze at a young bunny; the little ones don’t seem particularly afraid of people. The Boy tends to copy Husb and their stance was very similar – he’s learning to be a man. So cute. On their left is a sweep of a small tree that’s been sculpted by the wind. Drawn into my A5 cloth-bound sketchbook that I’d prepared with some ripped brown parcel paper, stuch on with Pritt stick. I used Faber Castell Pitt drawing pens in sepia and a touch of black and white conte crayons.
Husb and I went to a local pub to watch today’s rugby international, Australia vs The British and Irish Lions. It was a terrific atmosphere and we had lunch there too, pie and mash. They make their own pies so I indulged myself with a lamb and mint pie with shortcrust pastry and cheesy mash. mmmmmmmmm :). Top notch pub grub.
The rugby was excellent; we won by 41 points to 16. The commentary was in Italian but it didn’t matter. For readers outside rugby-playing countries, it’s a bit like American Football but without the protective clothing and probably more violent. Great stuff.
I spent a while scanning the pub to find the focal point for my drawing and settled on the elderly guy with the rather strange haircut. Once I sketched him, the rest fell into place. I used Faber Castell Pitt drawing pens in sepia, sizes S, F and M into my A5 clothbound sketchbook that I’d prepared with some ripped brown wrapping paper. I picked up on some highlights with a white conte crayon.
Sunshine today and a lovely evening spent with Husb and small nephew in Mumbles, splashing about on the beach and taking a stroll up to the newly renovated Big Apple to buy some Joe’s icecream. There’s a new line – sugar free Joe’s! I’ve died and gone to heaven!!!!! Nephew is all skinny arms and legs and big belly. A couple of years ago, the Big Apple was almost wrecked by a hit and run driver. It dates from the 1930’s and a number of them were set up by a fruit juice company. The one in Mumbles is probably the last left and there was a huge campaign to save it. Lovely to see it back in action, serving icecream to another generation. I did the little sketch below when it was smashed up.
I’m in a group exhibition in Bath next week (Commensalis) and we needed a banner so I painted one. Here it is. Does what it says on the tin.
Then, I went with Husb and Maminlaw to Ikea, I love that place. Bought lots of frames and some smoked salmon. On the way back I scribbled this in the car.
It’s not particularly interesting but it’s important (I think) to try and draw every day, so I make use of what’s in front of me. And then I started to blog and THIS happened!
Honestly!!!! The things I have to put up with! Now I’m going to watch Rolling Stones at Glastonbury on BBC iPlayer. Toodles 🙂
The latest instalment of nuttiness from this spoof of superpowers in Wales, from the bonkers imagination of Notsogreatdictator Smith
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