January the 17th is Art’s Birthday according to Robert Filliou, a French Fluxus artist, who proposed “Art’s Birthday” in 1963. He suggested that a million years ago there was no art. But one day, on January 17 Art was born when someone dropped a dry sponge into a bucket of water. Now, lots of artists and artsContinue reading “Art’s Birthday”
Tag Archives: sketchbooks
The Orange Reflection
There was a strange reflection that caught my eye recently while Husb and I were walking on the beach. The full moon was bright silvery white but its reflection on the calm high tide was orange. I used my little Khadi sketchbook, handmade paper with a very rough texture. I had pre-coloured it with anContinue reading “The Orange Reflection”
On The Hoof
Did some speedy sketching out and about. I put some basic lines down very quickly in pale grey graphite then worked over it when I got home with dark graphite in my A5 Tate Gallery sketchbook. It’s difficult to do much detail when you’re sketching on the hoof, so I find it useful to justContinue reading “On The Hoof”
Cat. Feet.
I often do my daily drawing at the end of a busy day, when I’m crashed on my chair in front of the TV. That’s why there are a lot of drawings in previous posts of my cat or my feet. Tonight I have a drawing of my cat AND my feet. Bargain. I hadContinue reading “Cat. Feet.”
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”
Scribble Cat
The end of a long, cold, rainy day, busy with loads of admin. I’m sitting half watching a documentary about World War 2 on the telly with Sparta Puss on the stool in front of me. Time for a scribble. I used graphite into my A5 Tate Gallery sketchbook.
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”
Paper Love
I love paper! I love it, adore it, when I was little I even ate it! I love to possess as many papers as I can afford. I love to try them out with different media and see what they’re capable of. This is handmade Khadi paper. I doused it with an Indian ink washContinue reading “Paper Love”
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”
