253. Manchester Art and Jazz - Thankful and Pear

Pilot G-Tec C4 pen and Neocolour II wax pastels in

a re-cased Seawhite sketchbook, 7.5" x 7.5" (x2)

Love pears and these didn't disappoint. A juicy pear each morning followed by a couple of jazz concerts - great menu!

178. 'Art Materials' Challenge

Pilot G-Tec-C4, Neocolour II wax pastels,

Faber Castell and Kuretake Brushables in

Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5" (x2)

This is No. 8 - 'Draw your art materials'. I chose to draw my beloved soft pastel travel box which is full of broken-off pieces from Schmincke and Unison pastel sets.

170. Beach View 1 at Westcliffe-on-Sea

Staedtler 0.05 Pigment Liner,
Tombow brushpen, Neocolour II and Uni Pin 0.5 Fineliner pen

in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5" (x2)

What a lovely day - fabulous friends, fabulous scenery, fabulous weather. Grateful!! This is sketch number one of two I did earlier today. The tide had gone out and left behind wonderful colours and patterns in the sand. I haven't quite captured the depth though - that is an oil refinery in the background. Why did all the poles have green hats on top?

160. Potential

Derwent Graphic 9B pencil then Staedtler 0.05 Pigment Liner,
Tombow brushpens, Neocolour II and Uni Pin 0.5 Fineliner pen

in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5" (x2)

Even the seemingly mundane holds bags of potential. (You can tell my writing as it suddenly takes off uphill - LOL!)  Happy sketching and painting everyone.

Work in progress images…

157. Ocean Bottle Gift

Faber Castell 0.7 HB pencil then Staedtler 0.05 Pigment Liner,
Tombow brushpens, Neocolour II and Uni Pin 0.5 Fineliner pen

in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5" (x2)

Our pre-school children's group made 'ocean bottles' yesterday and I was thrilled to be given one as a gift - it's a fascinating object containing two types of gel, sea creatures, rocks, etc. I should add that the bottles were taped tightly and securely (mine in red). I had to start with pencil as it was a little complex. The WIP images are below.

Thank you Helen and your lovely crew!

I achieve straight lines by running my hand along the edge of the pages using my little finger as a 'clip'. (This only works for me on A4 or smaller sketchbooks.) A tutor once refused to believe that I hadn't used a ruler but it's quite easy once you get the hang of it.

(Move the bulldog clips first though.)

Bubbles, rocks and creatures added.

Pen added with tiny dots to remind me of where the highlights and reflections need to be.

Pencil removed with putty eraser.

Two Tombow brushpens used to add the tonal values.

(Forgot to include the shadows before photographing it.)

Water-soluble wax pastel added.

All done!

154. Vits!

Faber Castell 0.7 HB pencil then Staedtler Pigment Liner 0.05 pen,

Tombow Brushpen (x2) and Caran d'Ache Neocolour II

in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5" (x2)

Happy Monday!

153. Post-Op Park

Faber Castell 0.7 HB pencil then Staedtler Pigment Liner 0.05 pen,
Tombow Brushpen (x2) and Caran d'Ache Neocolour II
in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5" (x1.3)

Sometimes you just have to perform surgery on your artwork if it isn't right. You can see from the initial line drawing below how much I sliced off. I'm happier with it now.

Before surgery…

152. Inside the Pink Gallery at the RA Summer Exhibition

Faber Castell 0.7 HB pencil then Staedtler Pigment Liner 0.05 pen,
Tombow Brushpen (x2) and Caran d'Ache Neocolour II
in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5" (x2)

Yesterday, inside the Pink Gallery at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. (Academicians' works shown here are by J McFadyen, F Bowling, H Ocean, I McKever, J Camp, T Jaray and Michael Craig-Martin - the Exhibition's Chief Co-ordinator.)

We were allowed to take photographs of most of the exhibition and of course they include lots of people. I was especially intrigued by this dear elderly gentleman standing by these paintings and was compelled to sketch him when I got home.

Thank you so much to my dear friend Azra for inviting me along to this super exhibition and for such a lovely day. Congratulations on the sale of your wonderful painting (and so quickly)!

149. Sketchcrawl - Opposite the Flask Pub

Pilot G-Tec C4 Watersoluble pen, Staedtler 0.1 Pigment Liner,
Tombow Brush Pen and Caran d'Ache Neocolour II

in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5" (x2)

Lots of errors being corrected here, as you can see, but that's the beauty of the sketchbook - try and try and try again until it's right then be honest enough to share for the encouragement of others. See, Azra, Julie and Rolina - I'm learning!!! Thanks to each of you for your very kind words that changed my thinking and helped me to see sense.

145. Gerbera and Rocket Fuel (Oats with Cranberries)

Pilot G-Tec C4 and 

Caran d'Ache Neocolour II 

in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5" (x2)

Started this before work then came home late and very tired so it has become overworked. If it were a painting, I probably would not have posted but it's in my sketchbook so here it is. I promise to do better tomorrow!

144. Pink Lady Yumminess

Pilot G-Tec C4 and 

Caran d'Ache Neocolour II 

in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5"

Before diluting with water

140. Geranium Buds

Pilot G-Tec C4 and 

Caran d'Ache Neocolour II 

in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5"

There are also some red ones which I may post up tomorrow. I'm really enjoying doing these sketches but I can definitely hear the oil paint calling...

139. Blue Vase with Roses and Freesias

Pilot G-Tec C4 and Caran d'Ache Neocolour II 

in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5"

(after diluting with water then adding another layer of blue)

Below,

this is before adding water…

138. Disappearing Celery

HB Pencil, Pilot G-Tec C4 and Caran d'Ache Neocolour II 

in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5"

(after diluting with water)

Below,

this is before adding water…

137. Sketchy Beetroot

Pilot G-Tec C4 and 

Caran d'Ache Neocolour II 

in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5" (x2)

Cats are so funny! Just watching Countryfile and a fat piglet strayed onto a kitten's territory; the kitten beat off the piglet who scuttled away in shock! They run as if they are wearing high heels! Anyway, here's another type of beet - three actually. Why are the surrounding rubber bands always blue? Nice colour though...

135. The Pagoda at Kew

HB Pencil, Pilot G-Tec C4 and 

Caran d'Ache Neocolour II 

in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5"

Again, this was drawn and painted after the fact and I started using pencil so I could get the slightly increasing bulge of the structure right. I then applied pen and ink, wax pastels and this time applied a wash of just water.

Other sketches in a Daler Rowney cartridge paper sketchbook

before and after applying a wash

133. Kew Gardens: King William's Temple

Pilot G-Tec C4 and Caran d'Ache Neocolour II 

in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5"

Here is another sketch done at Kew. Actually, in reality there are not quite that many steps. I drew my foreground flower pots too low down on the page but, because the drawing was done entirely in ink, I couldn't erase them so just added more steps to meet them. I then added the water-soluble pastel but only added water to the door as I wanted to intensify the colour there.

132. Yesterday at Kew - Poppies (not the Flux Capacitor)

Pilot G-Tec C4 and Caran d'Ache Neocolour II 

in Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5"

The name of these poppies reminded me of the Back to the Future series and made me laugh!

Yesterday we joined the Urban Sketchers London group at Kew Gardens for what turned out to be a fabulous day. I say "we" because I took my husband who is not an artist but can draw a wee bit. I just pulled out a new sketchbook and gave it to him and he did quite a few nice attempts. Artists are great: always sharing, encouraging and helping each other so my husband was able to fit in and have a good time and we met some great new people too.

As you can imagine, there was more to sketch than can be fit into a day - architecture, plants, trees, birds, water, people, sculpture - so I've already got more sketches for you to view. Watch this space!

130. Yellow Freesias

Pilot G-Tec C4 and Neocolour II in

Handbook Travelogue Journal, 5" x 5"

129. Oliver's Card

Neocolour II Watersoluble Wax Pastels,

 Staedtler Fineliner and UniPin Waterproof Pens

on Saunders Waterford Watercolour Paper

(with an 80gsm paper insert for the greeting)

My godson celebrated his 16th birthday a few weeks ago. I wanted to design a card that was specific to him and spent quite a few weeks thinking about it. This year, he is into maths and the sciences, particularly physics and biochemistry; previously he wanted to be a vet. Anyway, two of my husband's degrees are in biochemistry so he was (again) a very valuable resource. I'd spent too much time trying to work out how to write his name when I suddenly hit upon the idea of spelling it out using the Periodic Table! I did enjoy doing it - all that measuring fed the OCD(!) - and, as I was off, I had plenty of time to think about it. He sent me a lovely message after he received it so I'm completely happy.

A view of some of my sketchbook ideas

(On the back is hand-written "Designed for Oliver….." but I blurred it out of this photograph as it contains his full name and birthday.)