Holkham Doodles

A couple of late night quickies in my sketchbook

IFJM - April 19th & 20th

Two more, rather quick spreads, from Alphonse

IFJM - April 18th

Janes Seaside Trio

"Seaside Memories" by Jane

This is the recent work of Jane, one of my students.

With each piece we work on I introduce new techniques, applications and challenges and am proud to say that Jane rises to each and every one. She throws herself into the task and enjoys every moment, painting very much from her heart.

I am so very proud of her and, as I'm sure you'll all agree....she should be very proud of herself.

Well done Janie!

IFJM - April 17th

IFJM - April 16th

Another spread from Alphonse's journal, both before and after adding watercolour.

Ely Cathedral

I created this compilation the same day I did the Peacocks Tearoom compilation. The tulips were a purchase from the market that same day.

I admit to using a little pencil on this one to build a frame for proportion of the various layers, before going in with a sepia coloured pigment liner to add detail. The RHS of the Cathedral was sketched loosely in pencil allowing me to add the tulips to the piece back at home before completing the rest of the building in sepia, so the flowers could appear to lay over the top rather than separatelyand to the side.

Ely Cathederal is both beautiful and complex, it was quite a challenge.

Melford Hall

IFJM - April 15th

Dykemoor

A quick sketch of a barn in the drove opposite my own while waiting for Harry's school bus.

IFJM - April 13th & 14th

A couple more entries from Alphonse's journal

My Weekend In Norfolk - Horning

The Swan Inn Garden

Joan and I spent Saturday in the small village of Horning. We had coffee and cake in a quaint cafe garden, lunch and a tipple in an elegant pub garden and all just yards from the river Bure. The sun shone, the laughter flowed and we even managed a few sketches.

Little thatched cottage next to the swan Inn

Horning Sailing Club

This final spread of our day was created in just a couple of minutes (approx 30 seconds for the boat sketch before colouring) I was surprised at how it came out...A good example for all those 'I didn't have time to sketch' moments!

My Weekend In Norfolk

As you may have read in Alphonse's journal, I recently visited my good friend Joannie at her home in Coltishall for the weekend. Here are the journal pages I created on the Thursday and Friday of my stay.

Alphonse On Holiday

More pages from Alphonse's journal.

Click images to enlarge.

Ickworth House

Another sketch compilation for my upcoming exhibit.

Sadly I am still without a scanner and relying on my amateur photography.

Click the image to view larger.

IFJM - April 7th

IFJM - April 6th

Another spread from Alphonse's journal.

IFJM - April 5th

Another couple of spreads from Alphonse's journal

IFJM - April 3rd

IFJM - April 2nd

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE AND READ ALPHONSE'S NOTES

Alphonse was a very busy bear on the 2nd and put no less than three entries in his journal!

IFJM - April 1st

CLICK TO ENLARGE AND READ

Wells-Next-The-Sea

7x9" pen and wash

Another sketch compilation for my upcoming exhibition

Sketchbook Spread

Spring Florals

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

IFJM Tools

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Another page from Alphonse's journal

Tesco Cafe

It's been ages since I took a coffee and a sketch in the Tesco cafe before doing my weekly grocery shop, it's satisfying to fill another page in this little watercolour moleskine.

Denver Mill Cafe

This is the sketch I made at Denver Mill from the cafe garden before pulling over in the car to sketch the mill on canvas board.

IFJM Introduction

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

IFJM Title Page

April is International Fake Journal Month (IFJM) and I have decided to give it a shot this year. I will be writing my fake journal through the eyes of Alphonse, one of the many bears from my Mums huge collection, who now lives with me in my studio.

This is the inside cover/title page.

St Wendredas

A quickie in my sketchbook of a local church in March town.

Happy Birthday To Me

Sketched at Haddenham Galleries, Cambridgeshire.

Yep, today is my birthday and I can't think of a better way to share it with all my blogger friends than to invite you to join me in my favourite tipple...A cup of coffee!
Enjoy!