Doldrums

I did a lot of artwork when I was in the USA last month but since I’ve been back I’ve really been in the doldrums. I’ve had the artist equivalent of writer’s block and the past few days in particular have been very frustrating. I realised today that I just have to get off myContinue reading “Doldrums”

Prelims

Just got back from life drawing group at Swansea Print Workshop. I tried something different this week. I worked onto an A3 sheet of canvas that I’d prepared with a rhodamine red oil wash. I drew in charcoal and oil bars (black, white and translucent) but it was very difficult to do any detail onContinue reading “Prelims”

The Columbian

I spend the afternoon at Swansea Print Workshop but didn’t have any plates or blocks ready for inking so I did a spot of drawing instead. This is our lovely old Columbian Press, dating from 1855, with one of our artist/printmakers inking up a collagraph in the foreground. It’s drawn onto a sheet of stretchedContinue reading “The Columbian”

The Castle Cat

There’s a lovely cat down by our allotment site, beneath Oystermouth Castle. He’s big and fluffy, white and ginger, cuddly and chatty and we’ve often seen him wandering around the Castle but this evening for the first time he came up for a cuddle as we left the allotment. He and Husb sat on theContinue reading “The Castle Cat”

Inky Lady

Just got back from this evening’s weekly life drawing session at Swansea Print Workshop. I made a simple Victoria Sandwich to take along for tea break. This is one of our longest-serving models; she’s terrific and can hold a pose perfectly for ages. This is a one-hour pose drawn onto some handmade paper I boughtContinue reading “Inky Lady”

The Stinky Rat

Greetings hairless apes. Sparta Puss here. It’s been a while; I’ve been busy sleeping, eating, hunting, sleeping….. The trained primates disappeared for a couple of days last week and left Ming and myself alone in the house overnight with an automatic food dispenser. Result! Soon got bored with over-eating so I caught a rat andContinue reading “The Stinky Rat”

Havin’ A Fag

Today I did these scribbles opposite the infamous ‘Full Moon’ pub in High Street, Swansea, just around the corner from where I lived until I was 6. Then all the houses were knocked down as part of a massive slum clearance programme and we went to live in a council house. But they left theContinue reading “Havin’ A Fag”

Summer In The Square

It’s SUMMER!!!! It’s about 19C and the sun is out and there’s no rain and that’s good enough to qualify as Summer in Britain. Met up with teenage niece after school this afternoon and sat awhile on the steps in Castle Square, supping milkshakes and sketching the other people sharing the sunshine. No-one’s ready toContinue reading “Summer In The Square”

Metal Man

I spent a couple of days invigilating the Twelve:34 exhibition at Fringe Arts Bath and I set up a small easel and used the time constructively to do some drawing. I rarely draw buildings so it was good discipline for me, although pretty tough, to spend several hours drawing an interior. It’s hard for meContinue reading “Metal Man”