Khadi handmade paper – Page 4

The Annual Cockling.

Back in 1987 a Labyrinth was cut into the turf in Swansea’s Rosehill Quarry, a unique urban wildlife park. It was installed by Bob Shaw and local author and pre-historian Dewi Bowen. It’s based on an ancient Cretan design and the incised path is filled with crushed cockle shells that are a by-product of the localContinue reading “The Annual Cockling.”

Holiday Sketching

Spent a few days in Cumbria this week with very intermittent Internet access, which has been really nice, relaxing. The weather was lovely so I went walking and sketching with my Khadi landscape sketchbook, Inktense blocks and reservoir brush. Here’s a view from Birkrigg Common.

Playing Around 1

I had a bit of a play today, with Derwent Inktense blocks onto Khadi handmade paper. Just playing around, not trying to do anything recognisable, seeing what the materials can do. I might try and do this every day ….

And The Cat “Helped”

And the cat “helped”. I went back to the two head drawings I did over the past couple of days and did a bit more work into them with black gouache. These are random heads and I’m going to keep building with gouache, colour is next, and see where it takes me. I’ve always lovedContinue reading “And The Cat “Helped””

Thanks Maggi

I’m rewatching the BBC documentary on the artist Maggi Hambling on the recommendation of an artist chum. First time round I only watched superficially but this time I’m much more connected to it. I love the way she just picks up a sketchbook every morning and draws. Nothing planned, nothing precious, just draw. I tendContinue reading “Thanks Maggi”

Pushing Through The Fog

I’m still finding it hard to get some creative ideas firmed up, during these 10 months of lockdown I’ve done loads of cooking and I’ve been learning to paint but coming up with something original has been really difficult. I’m still trying though, hoping that something will push through the creative fog. Anyway, today IContinue reading “Pushing Through The Fog”

Déja Vu Drawing

Back at the start of Lockdown number 1 – remember that, in March 2000 – I started drawing on my daily government sanctioned exercise walks, using willow charcoal into a Khadi handmade paper sketchbook that a friend had sent me for Xmas. My dear friend sent me another this Xmas and Lockdown number 3 startedContinue reading “Déja Vu Drawing”

Khadi Cat

It’s Bonfire Night and the sound of exploding fireworks is unsettling Sparta Puss, who is alternating between dozing fitfully on my stool and pacing around the living room. I have a few small Khadi sketchbooks, beautiful textured handmade paper from India and some sepia walnut ink I made recently, so I grabbed a brush andContinue reading “Khadi Cat”

Weird Weobley

I was so blown away by last night’s Midsummer sunset that Husb and I drove out to Weobley Castle on the Gower Peninsula this evening to find another glorious view. It’s so easy to take our landscape and history for granted, I don’t think most of us realise what an exceptional part of the worldContinue reading “Weird Weobley”

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”