Testament of Youth

Husb and I went to see the new film based on Vera Brittain’s book, ‘Testament of Youth’ this morning. Deeply moving, I cried buckets but don’t let that put you off. It’s a beautiful film and well worth seeing. Just be sure to take hankies. We sat between 2 couples, one in their 20s andContinue reading “Testament of Youth”

Impossible Lashes

Husb and I have a small visitor having a sleepover. He’s 10 and his face is starting to elongate but still has childlike chubbiness. Very young faces are so hard to draw, no wrinkles, no saggy bits, very few visual cues to go on. I used graphite into my A5 Tate Gallery sketchbook. Why doContinue reading “Impossible Lashes”

Smudginess Abounds

  There are different ways of doing monotype prints. This technique is called a direct line monotype. You ink up a plate, usually perspex or glass, with a very thin layer of litho / relief printing ink. Then you gently lay a piece of good quality paper, not too thick,  onto it and carefully drawContinue reading “Smudginess Abounds”

Random Sponging

I sponged a load of Khadi handmade paper with Indian ink washes and the heavy texture of the paper created some lovely variations in tone and texture. I was stuck indoors today working at the computer so Husb and I went for a walk this evening, in the dark and drizzle. We went down toContinue reading “Random Sponging”

Bloke In Pub

Had a quick scribble up the pub tonight. For someone who hardly ever drinks, I’ve been to the same pub twice in 3 days. Tonight we were celebrating the birthday of a dear friend. I didn’t feel like drawing but I force myself to do it, because that’s my job. This bloke was sitting nearbyContinue reading “Bloke In Pub”

Saint Elvis And The Scratch

Husb and I visited some friends in Pembrokeshire today and went walking in the beautiful Presceli countryside. It was chilly but the sunshine was glorious. We passed some fat fluffy horses and I was worried that one of them had caught its tail in a fence. But my country friends explained that it was justContinue reading “Saint Elvis And The Scratch”

Beery, Beardy And Flatulent

    Husb and I spent New Year’s Eve dancing the night away at a local nightclub to a groovy Funk disco and a fab Funk band called Disco Panther. Great time but I’m aching all over now. I don’t normally drink alcohol but tried a small bottle of a pale foreign beer with aContinue reading “Beery, Beardy And Flatulent”