A few hours drawn

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In the first lockdown , Urban Sketchers was doing a daily drawing. On dat 30 we did a chronicle of the day. This was mine on 17.4.2020. I seem to have spent the day on chores, cooking, eating, drinking watching cats and drawing.

How little we knew then of how long Covid19 would last, everything seemed new and unusual, a challenge, not a problem. An opportunity to be involved in something creative. And all the clapping for the NHS on a Thursday night seemed appropriate. We didn’t know one lockdown would end, and despite people’s efforts we would go into another one this Autumn. I wonder if I should do another Covid diary?

Crumpled/ twisted

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Crumpled newspaper, twisted handbag strap. Bit early for today’s #bandofsketchers prompt, because I’m still up watching films. I didn’t have to look far for something to draw, this was yesterday’s Guardian newspaper. Both that and the handbag are on top of a cardboard box… I really need to tidy up!

Cactus pot

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A cheerful, colourful, square pot I have a Christmas cactus in. It was outside earlier in the year, but I noticed the glaze was coming off the other one so I bought it in (I think frost and rain got to them). This one’s a bit messy round the back, but then I just have the good side facing out. You can make anything nice if you position it well, even if its cheap and cheerful.

Sleeping like a baby

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He’s coming in at night more and more, he’s finding comfort and warmth. My cats are being tolerant (probably because they were rescue cats where there were twenty cats in the house). They sniff each other and then find somewhere to rest. This cat stays in longer ever night, we are his safe space. After an hour or two he goes to the back door and yowls, asks to be released. One day he might stay the whole night, but I understand he wants his freedom. In the meantime I’m getting him flea and worming treatments so he doesn’t pass anything on to my two. I’m glad he’s befriended us. X

Abstract sky

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I went a bit psychedelic when I created this. The bare branches and twigs of the bushes in this photo created cells that I used a flood fill on. There are about three birds on the twigs, you might be able to see them.. The buildings are a line of terraced houses over the road from the hedge. It’s a combination of analogue and digital. It reminds me of stained glass.

Using dots for shading.

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Sometimes hatching won’t do, so I use dots to shade things. It still creates a slightly darker tone than white. It fools the eye into thinking there is grey there (a bit like half tone in newspapers). I love the 1960’s pop art paintings where they used half tone dots to emphasise the graphic design style of them. Black felt pen on cartridge paper.

Not a swimming pool

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Through the door of the warehouse looking out over lock forty of the Trent and Mersey canal. Steps lead up from the depths of the deep lock, picked out in white paint amidst the concrete sides of the canal. Behind me on the other side of the warehouse the Cauldon canal flows. It is higher up than the Trent and Mersey canal until lock forty raises it to the same level. The warehouse is slightly damp inside which may be to do with its position between the two arms of the canal. I like ‘views through’ things, like views into windows and through foliage.

Too many books?

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Featuring a painting by my artist friend Charlie Walker. The other, little yellow rose, is one of mine.

Who needs insulation when you have lots of books? Well I only have them lining one wall so I guess we do. I did start counting them once, but when I got to 1000 I gave up. Some of them are unreachable because they are too high up. I sometimes get the step ladders out if I notice one I’d like to read again. I have my favourites, including sci-fi and fantasy, biography and science books. I’m about to start a book about the history of Jodrell Bank Radio telescope.

There are books by Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke that I like. I also enjoy books by Terry Pratchett. I think that’s because I read some them when I was at school so I have that memory ingrained in me. I remember reading Arthur C Clarke Dolphin Island when I was young. It enthralled me. I read it again recently but it had lost some of its magic. I guess some of the fantastic things he talked about dont seem as amazing in the modern world….