Another One Bites The Dust

These are the last pages of my second Canson watercolour sketchbook, which means I can now begin my handmade journal 'Flo', made by Kala.


Those of you that requested a Canson journal from me will be pleased to hear they are now in stock and on their way to me.

Sun Lounging

The weather has taken a turn for the better here in the UK the past couple of weeks and I managed to fit a spot of sun worship into my days, with my sketchbook of course!


I picked one of the flowers from my garden with every intention of sketching it until I noticed the amazing shadows it cast onto my journal in the bright sun light, so I traced the shadows with a pencil and simply coloured the shapes with my juicy, new Daniel Smith watercolours.


The Summer essentials; sun factor and a cooling spray with the fresh aroma of watermelon for my hot, tired feet.

Staedtler Triplus and Stabilo Point 88

I was recently reminded of my set of Staedtler Triplus pens by Nina Johansson, who informed me that they are NOT waterproof. I didn't know this, so I grabbed them from the studio and decided to play around with them and a waterbrush.
The result (above) is a little mucky to say the least but they were a lot of fun. A limited palette of just 10 colours proved a challenge too.

I had another bash in the garden, trying to keep the colours from merging for a cleaner look but ended up with a rather pale, colourless result.


Finally I took my efforts inside and sketched the lounge from the sofa, using the pens dry this time.

While grocery shopping last week I noticed a wallet of mini Stabilo point 88 pens, they are almost identical in colour and use but just 11.5 cms in length making them an ideal location buddy!

Complex Simplicity

Every Wednesday night I encourage my art class to 'think shapes' and 'simplify' when a subject has a complex structure.
Last weekend I tackled a tiny garden chair in my journal while sunbathing. Just a quick loose sketch was all I had in mind but I found the leg structure MOST demanding. So I filled a second page in my journal reminding myself of my own advice...A little nudge to 'Practice what I preach'!

Daniel Smith Watercolours

My Daniel Smith watercolours finally arrived from the USA on Friday...Woohoo!
Sadly the empty pan palette I ordered is yet to arrive so I'm making do with a plastic palette for now.
The hardest part I'm finding about having 29 new tubes of delicious colour is remembering what they all are once squeezed into the palette but for now the choice is so much fun that I am willing to overlook it.

Margaret you were right, the quin colours are just beautiful...so juicy!

More Grids

Sunday Grid

A journal page from the weekend.

I'm finding it easier to use grids with small sketches in for my journal entries since signing up to the Everyday in May project and choosing a theme. That and the 'Close to Home' project take up a good part of my art time and the grid format allows me to make small studies throughout my day of anything I choose to sketch

...A little freedom in a month full of themes!

Pride and Joy

PRIDE
Saturday night, wearing his new suit, my eldest Son Jake attended his first presentation with the Ely Tigers Rugby Club. He has been with them for just half a season and picked up the 'Most improved player' trophy and plaque.
The design for the background of this sketch was taken from his snazzy pinstripe suit.




JOY
Every now and then I get an idea for a story pop into my head like a lightning bolt. I am currently working at making one of these 'bolts' into an illustrated childrens book...A long process that I am in no hurry with and enjoying very much.
The sketch here shows my recent idea, I thought if I scribbled a rough down on paper I may be able to make something of it some time in the future, detailed notes of storyline and characters are on the facing page for reference when that time comes.

*A big thank you to Katherine Tyrrell of 'Making a Mark' who selected my blog as one of her 'Who's made a mark this week?' entries.

Noodlers and Lamy

On Thursday I spent the day with a couple of favourites of mine, Noodler's Red/Black ink and my bright yellow Lamy Safari fountain pen.

I love working with these tools, sketching randomly without a care in the world and a thought for error. I've been sketching in a contour style for a while now, with black waterproof ink adding watercolour washes and it was so good to leave that controlled style for the day and let rip!




Although we spent the day together my sketches were fast, grabbing at spare moments throughout my day and making the most of them by clearing my mind of expectation and simply enjoying the way the Lamy nib glided across the Canson paper in my journal.




I finished each by manipulating the soluble ink with a water brush, creating a feeling of dimension and values to bring them to life.

Back To Canson

After finishing my April Birthday journal a couple of days early I am back with the Canson sketchbook I left at the beginning of the month.
I spotted the ballerina keyring in one of those 2p machines at the seaside arcades and just had to win her.
Degas' ballerinas are my first real memory of art appreciation so having her look after the keys to my studio seemed perfect.

I'm Back

Harry - 15 minute pose, from life - watercolour in journal.

Back home with my boys, feeling exhausted from my busy weekend but...Oh, what a weekend!

Great to be home though.
The boys had decorated the whole drove and the house with balloons and banners for my return, making me feel very missed and loved. I finished my Chinese meal with the family some time ago and had cuddles from Harry for dessert - Perfect!
Jake smothered a perfectly good chocolate cake in candles and almost set the fire alarms off. Rising to the challenge, I cut through them all in just one blow...Still steam in the old girl yet! LOL!

I managed to do everything I planned while away so I have heaps to scan and photograph. Not tonight though, tonight I rest my bones, sip on my sparkly and enjoy the part of my life I couldn't possibly live without - My Family.

*I'd like to thank everyone for their Birthday wishes and I just found this beautiful post from Margaret...Thank you so much Margaret!

Birthday Plans

I spent yesterday making plans for my Birthday.
On Saturday I will be 40 and I wanted to mark the occasion in a bespoke and memorable way. So....
In the morning I shall set off for Clarice House Spa retreat in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, where I plan to fill my day sketching and hopefully plein air painting, weather permitting. I shall of course stop for the odd latte and 3 course lunch.
I may take a plunge in the whirlpool or swimming pool with it's wonderful waterfall feature and I may suffer the heat of the sauna or steam room for a while before returning to my luxury room to freshen up and dress for the 3 course dinner. After coffee on the huge, deep comfortable sofas that welcome tired limbs in the reception area I may grab my sketchbooks or even set up my easel back in my room. Then, when everyone is tucked up in bed, I shall as I usually do, sketch my way through the house for a while before retiring.
On Saturday (my Birthday) I shall rise alone and pack my things into my truck before tasting the range of foods offered in the restaurant, check out and head towards Sudbury: Destination - Thomas Gainsbouroughs house. There I will spend six wonderful hours with a life model and a suitcase full of art materials before driving home to have a Chinese meal and a celebration glass or two of something sparkly with my family.
Bring it on!

A Strange Pair

After a short trip on Tuesday I stopped in the drove to sketch the derelict house, a character I've been meaning to sketch for some time. Then later in the evening I spotted a lonesome pear in the fruit bowl and took pity on it.
Two rather solitude subjects, resulting in a very strange pair on my journal page!

Aniseed Balls

click image to enlarge

I brought this gorgeous jar home from the gift shop at Burghley House for my Son Jake, he loves aniseed balls and has already crunched his way through half the jar since my sketch...Yes, crunched! He has much stronger teeth than his Mum.

Sketching With Joannie

My dear friend Joannie arrived on Thursday to stay for a few days.
We've spent our time, as art friends do, sketching, painting and talking ...and talking ...and talking!



Last night we managed a painting session in the studio, where we used sketches from previous life studies to produce fun works in acrylic on canvas. After squeezing white acrylic ink onto the bottom of mine, for an effect I was after, I found myself with nothing to do while it dried, so I grabbed my sketchbook and made a quick study of Joannie, still busy working on hers.

A Day With Ellie

I spent Wednesday looking after Ellie. She, Harry and I had the whole day together!
We spent a wonderful day chasing her around the floorboards, I'd forgotten how quickly a baby can move!
The two short naps she had presented perfect sketching opportunities, so I filled a page in my journal before moving onto the life book I am building for her.

Europa

Dry watercolour pencil and ink

One of the items on this week's scavenger hunt list at Wet Canvas is to sketch a sculpture. This prompted me to sketch my figurine called Europa, made by the Enesco Gallery. I love everything about this beautiful piece, especially the fact that my boys gifted her to me.

Breakfast At Midnight

I never have been much of a breakfast person, a strong black coffee is about all I can face until late morning/noon. Perhaps it has something to do with my unusual sleep pattern?
However, pour me a bowl of muesli with extra nuts around midnight and if you're lucky I'll paint the last mouthful for you...but only because it's my second helping!

Celebration Hunt

Managed a couple of pages for the 79th Scavenger Hunt over at Wet Canvas over the weekend.
I decided to stick the list into my journal before drawing the items over it on the first page because I always tend to loose it and have to print several throughout each hunt. So far, it's working a treat, even though my sketching has made it a little difficult to read in places.


Monday was my Son's 10th Birthday. We had a great day and the champers and the toys Harry purchased allowed me to tick another couple of items of the scavenger hunt list!

Easter HUNT

Hope you all had a relaxing, long, Easter weekend filled with love and plenty of chocolate!

This sketch was created using my new Hunt Crow Quill holder with a size 107 nib, 'Nut Brown' ink by W&N and a little dry watercolour pencil.
The Hunt 107 is a very fine nib that seems to hold alot of ink and spreads across the page like butter over hot toast.
I purchased the holder and nib from Scribblers.