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”

Lots of lines

In the middle of this roundabout in Radstock you can make out a sculpture of an NHS worker with face mask, stethoscope and Croc shoes – holding a heart. In the background you can also make out another sculpture with the words ‘Thank you NHS’. It might have been a pragmatic decision that was theContinue reading “Lots of lines”

On the double

What happens if you take not-quite complementary colour pens, hold them a finger apart and at the same time, and draw anything!? Something a bit 3D ! The third picture here, of the pepper grinder, was drawn with complementary colours and doesn’t have quite the same effect. Fun though! Although the effect was accidental whenContinue reading “On the double”

Contrasting pencil

I wanted to do a precise drawing, to take the time to look closely and draw what I observed. I had a lovely stalk of wheat, quite small and very pale, but close up there were lovely shapes and beautiful detail. I took a photo of it, cropped the image to the shape I wanted,Continue reading “Contrasting pencil”

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”

Gallery Pig

I came across a delightful charcoal drawing of pigs, made by the artist and professor, Allen William Seaby, which he sketched one camping holiday in the New Forest. I was at the St Barbe’s Gallery, Lymington, and although you can’t take pictures of the exhibits, they support you sketching any image. So I did aContinue reading “Gallery Pig”

Look Out!

What to do with line? I thought I would have a go at using pencil rather than a fibre-tipped pen to draw with, and I found a portrait photo by Trish Morrissey to be the subject. I really enjoyed using just one pencil, 2B, and trying out many different effects it can give: smudging, sharpContinue reading “Look Out!”