Spanish Concertina Journal

 

 

I'm off to Canyamel, Mallorca for a few days!

 

 

 

 

 

I'm taking my Seawhite Concertina sketchbook which I hope to complete on this trip and will share on my return.

 

 

 

You can view sketches from this journal and my trips to Spain in 2012 and 2014

HERE

 

 

The Last Of 2012

30-12-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

This was the only spread I did in my sketchbook during December 2012, I did paint a commissioned acrylic double portrait but this was my only sketch.
I struggled for inspiration towards the end of last year and I tried very hard to fight it; I even joined the 75 day sketch challenge to try to kick start myself again but the passion just wasn't there. Unusual for me to say the least!
So, in December I decided to stop fighting and simply chill, I figured that perhaps I just needed the break and so I got lost in Christmas and all it's wonderment and I think it was good for me.
So...a new year begins and I'm hoping 2013 will restore my misplaced sketching mojo, so far I seem to be plodding along, creating a spread here and there, gradually getting back into my groove....Time to remind myself that Christmas is over and get my arse into gear I think!

Phone Sketching

21-11-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

A few 'doodles' from a magazine while talking on the telephone

Goodie Bag

11-11-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Another from the year past I' afraid...catching up!
My bag of goodies from the Cambridge Style Week launch party at the 12A club in Cambridgeshire

New Shoes

10-11-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Just one of the pairs of shoes I got before Christmas with some Christmas money I had. Very quick sketches in my Alpha S&B sketchbook.

Reminants Of 2012

09-11-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

I'm a bit behind in my scanning, so the next few uploads are from the year past I'm afraid.

Portrait Duo - Commission

PortraitDuoCommission, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Safe to share this now, as my client informs me that it's been unwrapped by it's happy owners.

Acrylic on canvas 16"x20"

New Iron

03-11-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Needs must!!!

Last Cuppa

01-11-12c, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Watercolour and Ink in Stillman & Birn Alpha sketchbook

How He's Grown

01-11-12b, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

My youngest, Harry, on the 2 seater sofa

View From The Studio

01-11-12a, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Watercolour and white gouache in my Stillman & Birn Alpha sketchbook

Mini Victorias

31-10-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

More baking!

Hand Bag

29-10-12b, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

A quick sketch of my hand bag, from the comfort of the sofa, while watching TV.
I'm loving how the S&B Alpha paper reacts to juicy washes!

Baking

28-10-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

A day at home, due to my bronchitis, couldn't risk standing in the cold watching Harry play rugby so kept myself busy by baking a cake for him on his return.

My Hand - Limited Palette

27-10-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Trying out skin tones with my new limited colours

Limited Palette

25-10-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

A while back Cathy Johnson began working with a limited palette and invited others to join her. As you know, I love a challenge!
The limited palette consists of primaries +2. I have chosen
Antwerp Blue,
Cad Yellow,
Perm Rose
Indigo
Burnt Sienna
I have mostly finished off some old W&N tubes and used a tiny plastic fly fishing hook container. The mixing space is extremely small compared to my 'Compact' palette I use daily, so in a way it's a double challenge. I have worked with the same 'Compact' palette & Daniel Smith colours for a couple of years now so this will feel very strange to me.

Loss

23-10-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Loss of a good friend and loss of breath in the form of bronchitis...Not a good day!
I have managed to keep up the ciggarette rationing and have already hit a daily 15 which was my goal for the end of November...Aiming to be on 10 a day by Christmas, keeping my goals realistic to avoid panic! LOL! It seems to be working though!

Barns

01-10-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Drawing from imagination/memory I played with markers first and then pen and wash in my Sillman & Birn Alpha series sketchbook, testing paper boundaries. Only the darkest marker came through the paper and only slightly on the third layer! That's pretty good. Nicle wet washes on the watercolour, that took a while to dry, but no buckling.
This paper is really nice!

Final Spread

25-09-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

This is my final spread in the Gerstaecker sketchbook I have been using since May....Yes, May!!! My sketching has not been as regular as it used to be this Summer, partly perhaps due to the fact that we barely had a Summer at all....So much rain this year...and partly because my inspiration has been at an all time low. I have had the urge to sketch daily but felt generally uninspired by my surroundings and found myself in a position with sketchbook open, pen in hand and NOTHING happening on many an occasion.
I feel it was probably part of my healing process, my mind just closing down for a while, taking time to rest maybe?...I don't fully understand but it has not had maximum effect due to the fact that I fought it ALOT and drove myself crazy! What can I say...I'm a fighter!
I have never had problems with inspiration before and was scared I would never sketch anything again!!!
I think it's lifting now - Thank God!

I managed to journal my break in spain, new surroundings helped to inspire. Unfortunately, I have had this flu bug thing since my return so I've not been up to much at all but I hope to start scanning this weekend.
I also have the added excitement of facing the rest of October with a new journal, now this one is finally complete, and I've chosen a Stillman & Birn Alpha. I did a couple of spreads in it before leaving for Spain and really enjoyed the paper, so I am looking forward to pushing on with that.

The Gerstaecker has been a fabulous journal to work with for the money (approx £1) but I am so very pleased to have finished it, it has taken so long and marks a period in my sketching that has been agonising at times.

So, [raising cough mixture bottle into the air] ...Here's to Winter 2012, Stillman & Birn and oodles of inspiration!!!

Proud Mum Moment

24-09-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Harry, my youngest, made County rugby!!! So proud of him, not even one season in and he's already into County!
A quick sketch of my nail box, getting my hands ready for Spain!