Category Archives: Illustrations
Live line sketching
What fun it is making some quick sketches in real time, and with subjects who keep moving! A Mum had taken her two little children to catch crabs at a quay side. I was high above, sipping coffee, and got out my sketch book! Looking for the main shape and drawing it quickly was required,Continue reading “Live line sketching”
Lunchtime
The most basic element of art is line. Using a bold fibre-tipped ink pen I sketched a few items on the table in the cafe and applied ink wash later. I had in mind John Minton’s cook book illustrations in which he fills the whole space. Sketching in situ like this means you don’t setContinue reading “Lunchtime”
Unblocked
Ever had artistic block? Me too! So I went to a coffee shop- Thirsty Bird – got out my fibre tipped pen and drew big circles, around and again. Thought they looked like picture frames, so I drew inside them- a plant on a table next to me, a decorative birdcage hanging from the beams.Continue reading “Unblocked”
Mama doodles
Mama Cormier blogged a great idea earlier in the week- so I had a go! Swirls of colour first, then ink patterns on top- they took ages to do, but it was a lot of fun!
Space and Substance
John Minton’s illustrations are very striking! I wanted to see more of them, so I bought Elizabeth David’s book Mediterranean Food published in 1950, in which we find Minton’s illustrations that accompany the recipes. Then I decided to draw one of his illustrations – the frontispiece for the chapter on “Substantial Dishes”. Minton confines himselfContinue reading “Space and Substance”
Time Was Away
It was the simplicity of line that drew me to this illustration on a book cover of a travel book, published soon after WWII, with drawings by John Minton. I loved the way he builds up the picture with layers of lines – and no better way to get to know a person’s style thanContinue reading “Time Was Away”
Happy Inktober!
Negative Space
Space is one of the seven basic elements of art an artist uses in their work to create particular effects – either to create an illusion of distance on the flat surface of the page/canvas, or to intentionally maintain the flatness of the medium of the page. What I love about this illustration by CliffordContinue reading “Negative Space”
Wildsmith’s Lines
I have pretty much always loved books, but this summer I became entranced by the illustrations you find on book jackets. Beginning with the marvellous book The Illustrated Dust Jacket 1920-1970, by Martin Salisbury I have really started noticing what wonderful works of art there are on the front covers of books. So I haveContinue reading “Wildsmith’s Lines”
How to Write About Art 