Walking It Off

After 2 days of scoffing and lazing, no work, no art, husb and I shifted our behinds off the comfy settee, dragged ourselves out into the cold and started walking off the sluggishness of the holiday. I took my brown paper sketchbook and some conté crayons and did a quick sketch across Swansea Bay. It’sContinue reading “Walking It Off”

Have A Cool Yule

It’s that time of year. Season’s greetings and all that. Here’s what Sparta Puss thinks of it. Drawn by Husb with snowflakes added by me. She looks happy, doesn’t she? The midwinter festival has been around in these parts since well before Christianity, originally known as Alban Arthan (the Light of Winter) to the CeltsContinue reading “Have A Cool Yule”

Frantic Felix

The second of our little furry friends from the hotel we stayed at in Kyrenia recently. Husb and I called him Felix because he looks like the cat from the Felix food adverts. He was a persistent little tyke, mewing frantically when we passed him on the path and wrapping himself around our legs topContinue reading “Frantic Felix”

Big Ginge

Husb and I were surrounded by cats during our recent holiday in Northern Cyprus. There were three small separate well-fed colonies of kitties living on our hotel site, being doted on by staff and tourists. I thought I might draw them but to be honest, I wanted a bit of a break from drawing whileContinue reading “Big Ginge”

Salamis

On our last day in Northern Cyprus, Husb and I took off on a day trip and one of the places we visited is Salamis, an ancient site dating from the Late Bronze Age, although the majority of the visible ruins are Roman. I did a quick scribble but I don’t feel particularly happy withContinue reading “Salamis”

The Five Fingered Peak

On our last day in idyllic Northern Cyprus (Kuzey Kibris), Husb and I went on a day trip from Kyrenia (Girne) across to the eastern coastal town, Famagusta (Gazimağusa), a fascinating dip into the geology, history and culture of the country. On our way back, heading north over the Kyrenia Mountains as the sun wasContinue reading “The Five Fingered Peak”

Jagged Peaks

I didn’t do much sketching when I was in Cyprus last week because I wanted a break from work, but I pulled out my sketchbook and conté crayons a few times when the mood took me. The Kyrenian Mountain range is spectacular, separating the north coast beaches from the flat inland areas. The sharp roughContinue reading “Jagged Peaks”

The Completed Face

Finishing off the details on the shoulders and body with black, white and sanguine conté crayons; drawing in her pendant; more sanguine in the background; and a bit more depth to the black and sanguine around the mouth and chin. And she’s complete. It’s been interesting for me to analyse a drawing from start toContinue reading “The Completed Face”

A Face In Steps [7]

Nearly finished this life drawing, I recorded the different stages with my phone camera last week at Swansea Print Workshop. I’m using the black and white conté crayons to finish off the hair and add detail to the ear, and the sanguine to begin blocking in the background.   I am putting a new drawingContinue reading “A Face In Steps [7]”

A Face In Steps [6]

At this stage, I’m working up the hair in black and adding some darkish tones in sanguine with conté crayons. I’m working onto brown wrapping paper, I like the effect of it. It’s a shame it doesn’t last, it will fade and fall apart in a few years, but when I use expensive paper forContinue reading “A Face In Steps [6]”