Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, UK

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

I took a trip into Ramsey with my A5 Seawhite concertina sketchbook one morning last week. Ramsey has some fantastic architecture. After painting Thomas A Beckett church, inside and out, I got in the car and parked up alongside the graveyard to make the sketch on the left..a spot that simply caught my eye.
Further along the road, on my way home, I pulled over next to the Wood Lane cemetery. I would love to have sketched this building in it's entirety but parking was more awkward here and I only had a few minutes, so I shall have to return when the weather warms up and take a stroll!

The concertina sketchbook was fun to work in, the elastic band 'bra' I made worked a treat and held it all together nicely, just like a normal book.

Ramsey, Cambridgeshire UK

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

I took a trip into Ramsey with my A5 Seawhite concertina sketchbook one morning last week. Ramsey has some fantastic architecture and a wonderful church that is always open for you to just walk in (sadly not many churches are open 24-7 anymore)

This is the pulpit inside the Thomas A Beckett church.

Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, UK

25-01-11a
Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

I took a trip into Ramsey with my A5 Seawhite concertina sketchbook one morning last week. Ramsey has some fantastic architecture and a wonderful church that is always open for you to just walk in (sadly not many churches are open 24-7 anymore)

Rescued

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Noodlers bullet proof black ink, watercolour and decorative papers in daily journal

Doddington Hospital

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Noodlers bullet proof black ink and watercolour in daily journal

View From The Studio

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Noodlers bullet proof black ink and watercolour in daily journal.

View from the studio, through the dining room and into the kitchen.

Studio

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Part of my studio clutter.

Noodlers Bullet Proof Black ink and watercolour in daily journal

In Loving Memory

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Noodlers Bullet Proof Black ink and watercolour in daily journal.

A difficult task...I'd rather be choosing clothes or jewellery for my Mum...but one that needs to be done.
Dad and I faced it together.
We went into another stone masons today with a larger selection, so our choice has changed since this spread, although we are hoping to merge some aspects, like the engraved rose...Mum loved roses!

Friday

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Noodlers Lexington Gray ink and watercolour in daily journal

A quickie from the side of the road in Wisbech and my TomTom, which I can finally use again now we've managed to get the jammed cigarette lighter out of the car!
Love my TomTom, it allows me to spread my wings...I'm useless without it!

Blue?

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

I used the cartridge that comes with a Lamy Safari fountain pen, it's supposed to be blue but my scanner appears to be colour blind!
Very quick sketch while passing through March town

Chatteris

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

An hour spent in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire

Noodlers Lexington Gray ink and watercolour in daily journal

Waiting For Harry

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Noodlers Lexington Gray ink and watercolour in daily journal.

Sketched from the top of my Drove, waiting for Harrys school bus to arrive.

WorldWide SketchCrawl 30

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

LEFT: All Saints Church, Cottenham
RIGHT: St Andrews Church, Sutton-On-The-Isle

On the way to The Fitzwilliam I passed through both these villages and the churches caught my eye, especially the All Saints with it's unusual shape. So, on the way home I managed to stop and make a quick study of each tower.

These were my final sketches of the day.

WorldWide SketchCrawl 30

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

The collection in The Fitzwilliam museum, Cambridge is so extensive and beautiful I couldn't resist walking around for a while and just soaking it in.
With just two hours to spare it wasn't long before time started running out, so I made a couple of quick studies before dashing out to beat the traffic walden to my car.

WorldWide SketchCrawl 30

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

The Fitzwilliam Museum - Gallery 3 looking into gallery 2.

One of the great things about the Fitzwilliam for a sketcher is that they have lots of seating and even portable folding chairs you can use to sit where ever you wish!

WorldWide SketchCrawl 30

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK

It was raining so I didn't fancy the park 'n' ride facitlity, I managed to park smack bang outside the Museum BUT it only allowed me 2 hours...I was hoping for longer here.
First stop....COFFEE....Limited time or not, after an hour on the road...I have to have my coffee!

WorldWide SketchCrawl 30

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Decided to take my new sketchbag/kit along on my sketchcrawl and try out the A5 Seawhite Concertina sketchbook too!

I made a 'BRA' for the book using 3 elastic bands, so it doesn't unravel on me while I work, it now opens just like any other sketchbook!!!

This spread was completed early Saturday morning before I went to bed! Still counts as the 22nd there was just a few hours sleep before this spread and the next! ....Oh to be a night owl!

More sketchcrawl spreads to follow...

A5 Seawhite Concertina Sketchbook

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

This sketchbook is filled with 140 paper and comes complete with a hard case.
I ordered two of them thinking I might take them on my Italian Tour this year, then the generous Emma-Jane gave me a third!
I thought I'd use the third to test it out on location, see how easy it was to use and how it handles washes etc. (Although I have used Seawhite paper before in my Italian Preparation Sketchbook, I'm hoping it's the same)
I imagine it scans beautifully because the pages lie completely flat.
The unravelling that comes with a concertina format will be the challenge me thinks!

Class Studies

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

During last weeks class I gave my students a large reference and asked them to concentrate on composing thumbnails from one area rather than the whole. It was interesting to see where each focused their time.
TOP: Black Stabilo Point 88 pen and water
BOTTOM: Watercolour
Daily journal: DR Ebony A5

My Jake

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Noodlers Lexington Gray ink and watercolour in daily journal

Hospitals and Buses

17-01-11
Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Noodlers Lexington Gray ink and watercolour in daily journal.

Visited a dear friend in hospital and met a lovely woman, Terri, in the hospital cafe.
The bus ornament is a gift from a friend some years ago and the plant is the only one that seems to survive me....Just!

Sunday

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Noodlers Lexington Gray ink and watercolour in daily journal.

My Harry

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

My Son Harry, watching TV

Noodlers Lexington Gray ink and watercolour in daily journal.

Tulips

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Couldn't resist purchasing these vibrant red tulips along with my weekly groceries!

New Lamp

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

The lamp on the small side table, nearest the sofa I sketch in most evenings, blew up a few days ago and I have missed it so much I had to go purchase a new one.

Studio View

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

A very quick morning sketch from the studio.
I'd like to be able to say that I scanned it wonky but I didn't...I sketched it wonky!

Peterborough City Hospital, Cambridgeshire UK

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

A quick sketch while waiting for a very dear friend to return from a scan.

Waiting For The Bus

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

The farm at the top of my drove, sketched while waiting for Harry's school bus to drop him off.

Vermeer

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

A night of Vermeer on TV!

Arthouse Sketchbook Project

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

The final scan from my Arthouse Sketchbook - The cover.

Simple due to time shortage and the fact that I wanted to leave alot of red...I chose red because in advertising it's the most effective colour to catch the eye!

Arthouse Sketchbook Project

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Finshing touches.
Added my bio to the inside of the cover of my Arthouse Sketchbook

Arthouse Sketchbook Project

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

The final spread in my Arthouse Sketchbook Project was used to hold and display my cards. Istuck one onto the front of two small silver envelopes, cut an opening to make it easier to take a card out and filled them to the brim!
I stuck these in last so I could scan the other pages without bulky shadows...hence the bad quality of the RHS of this scan.

Bertie's Diary by Jane Kinninmonth

Bertie by Jane Kinninmonth
Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

This wonderful feline character is a creation of my good friend and art student Jane Kinninmonth. Last year we spent some lessons bringing to life a diary she has had for many years and turning it into a book.
This project was such fun!
Jane was such a natural with the illustrations, worked hard using new computer programs and injected such humour into the character with her well chosen words...She is such a delight to work with, always willing to push her boundaries and try new things.
She is a ray of sunshine and I am very proud of her!
You can order 'Bertie's Diary' from Blurb using the widget on the RHS of my blog:

Arthouse Sketchbook Tour

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

I simply had to include my Italy tour plans in my Arthouse Sketchbook!

The book is now on it's way to the project, posted on the 11th. I am so pleased I managed to finish in time and was able to let it go. I had alot fun with this book and it was my very first attempt at re-binding...I admire anyone who stuck with the original paper, it was truly awful!

So the book has started it's journey and will soon be doing it's very own tour before ending up in Brooklyn Art Library where it will hopefully out live me.

You can view the tour dates and venues here:
arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject/exhibitions

Arthouse Sketchbook Project

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

The last of my daily journal examples in my Arthouse Sketchbook, one of five, Monday through Friday.

A trip into Wisbech, Cambs

Arthouse Sketchbook Project

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

The fourth of my daily journal examples in my Arthouse Sketchbook, one of five, Monday through Friday.

A trip into Ely, Cambs.

Arthouse Sketchbook Project

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

The third of my daily journal examples in my Arthouse Sketchbook, one of five, Monday through Friday.

Arthouse Sketchbook Project

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

The second of my daily journal examples in my Arthouse Sketchbook, one of five, Monday through Friday.

Arthouse Sketchbook Project

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

The first of my daily journal examples in my Arthouse Sketchbook, one of five, Monday through Friday.

Arthouse Sketchbook Project

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Spread #16.

Recently remembered the deadline for sending off the Arthouse Sketchbook (15th January) and panicked a little!
The hardest part isn't the sketching so much as deciding what to fill the pages with!!!
Finally I decided to continue the book with a few examples of my daily journalling running from Monday to Friday. All I need then is one final spread to sum up and I'm done...I have an idea for that too now...Phew!

Bare

03-01-11
Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Noodlers Bullet Proof Black ink and watercolour in daily journal.

It all looks so bare when the Christmas decorations come down when only the brightly coloured wrappings of the various chocolates are left to remind us of the festivities.

January Sales Finale

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Noodlers Bullet Proof Black ink and watercolour in daily journal.

A dear friend gave me a gift voucher for the shop 'Next' at Christmas and I managed to get both these items and a floral summer dress with it in the sale. The little slippers are so cosy and the blouse and dress will be going to Italy with me!

This is the last of three spreads I made from some of the goodies I purchased in this years January Sales.

More January Sales

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Noodlers Bullet Proof Black ink and watercolour in daily journal.

I saw the jacket and liked it before the sales at £28...I paid £12.50!
The black polka dress is screaming ITALY TRIP to me, perhaps with a red belt and shoes and nice big sunglasses?

This is just one of three spreads I made from some of the goodies I purchased in this years January Sales.

January Sales

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Noodlers Bullet Proof Black ink and watercolour in daily journal.

I know, I know...More shoes! BUT...These were such a bargain at £3, what woman could resist?

This is just one of three spreads I made from some of the goodies I purchased in this years January Sales.

Harry's Supper

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Noodlers Bullet Proof Black ink and watercolour in daily journal.

New Years Eve

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Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

New Years Eve sketches - Noodlers Walnut ink and watercolour in daily journal.