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”

Drawing Egon

Yesterday in Vienna Husb and I spent most of the day in The Leopold Museum wallowing in Egon Shiele’s art. And other Secession and Expressionist artists. It was an amazing experience. Husb and I are the sort of people who upset the gallery staff by standing as close as possible to artworks to try andContinue reading “Drawing Egon”

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”

Dark Impressions

I’m carrying on with working dark on dark. I prepared lots of pages in my handmade Khadi sketchbook with an Indian ink wash and I’m working on top with random marks using different drawing materials such as carbon, graphite block, black pastels, black oil bar, compressed and willow charcoal. I admire artists who work fromContinue reading “Dark Impressions”

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”