The Cockle Picker’s Warning

I was supposed to be going off traipsing across South Wales today, drawing ancient standing stones with Dewi the prehistorian and Melvyn the filmmaker. I woke up to rain, not unusual in these parts and then Dewi rang to say he’d been talking to a cockle picker in Loughor who said the cockle pickers weren’tContinue reading “The Cockle Picker’s Warning”

A Nice Bit Of Overtime

Husb and I popped down to the city centre yesterday evening to the anti-racism rally. There were a lot of police around, several police cars and a large police van. And about 100 genteel people dressed for the heavy, muggy drizzle (of course, it’s Britain) in duffel coats and kagouls, holding soggy placards and listeningContinue reading “A Nice Bit Of Overtime”

Hands 1

  I focused on the model’s hands at the life drawing session at Swansea Print Workshop a few evenings ago. I blocked in the white first, then sanguine and finally black with conté crayons. It didn’t go too well so I tried again…….. but that’s for tomorrow …….        

The Place Of The Castle

This is the third of the three drawings I did en plein air  at Penlle’r Castell (The Place Of The Castle) up on Mynydd Y Gwair this week, in the wind, the cold and the looming rain. I prepared Fabriano Accademico paper with white gesso and my home made walnut ink which suited the multi-layered, stratified landscapeContinue reading “The Place Of The Castle”

A Quick Head

  A quick portrait sketch from last evening’s life drawing session at Swansea Print Workshop. I used white, sanguine and black conté crayons (in that order) into my brown paper sketchbook. It took about 15 minutes.   I love to work with life models, it’s so absorbing to be able to focus and take myContinue reading “A Quick Head”

Stratified With Walnuts

I managed to do three drawings en plein air up on Mynydd Y Gwair this week, in the wind, the cold and the looming rain. It was hard work! The Fabriano paper, prepared with white gesso and my home made walnut ink, dribbled and sponged, suited the multi-layered, stratified landscape and I worked very quickly, indicating theContinue reading “Stratified With Walnuts”

Murky Mountain

Up a mountain once again, Mynydd Y Gwair this week, with filmmaker Melvyn Williams and pre-historian Dewi Bowen, visiting Penlle’s Castell. Although it looks reasonably fine, it was shockingly windy and the rain clouds loomed murkily in the distance and I struggled to draw. It was very hard work, staying upright and drawing but one ofContinue reading “Murky Mountain”

Love Heart

It’s Valentine’s Day. Here’s a little heart for you from my tiny new sketchbook. I stuck in a torn scrap of recycled red tissue paper – it was wrapped around the lovely flowers that Husb got for me. I drew with Faber Castell Pitt drawing pens xxxxxxxx     I am putting my series ofContinue reading “Love Heart”

Drawing The Dark

Husb and I went for a stroll in the dark down to the beach. We’re lucky enough to live just a few minutes walk from Swansea Bay which would be idyllic if it didn’t rain for most of the year! But it’s a great place to nip out for some exercise. I took my A4Continue reading “Drawing The Dark”

Just Wandering

Sitting on the settee, just whiling away a few minutes with my brown paper sketchbook and some conté crayons. I had nothing planned, just let my hand wander across the paper almost automatically. I’m trying to break the habit of a lifetime, drawing spontaneously instead of always drawing what’s in front of me. Let’s seeContinue reading “Just Wandering”