Watching skyportraitartistoftheyear Canada

I just watched a grand final, not sure what year, but it was a lovely landscape in Canada. Lake trees and sky. In the middle of the artists time a thunderstorm blew up. There was a wide range of styles from strongly impressionistic and expressionist, to bead work and realism. Also mixed media. I won’t say who won but I enjoyed it.

While watching #skylandscapeartistoftheyearcanada I just decided to try and sketch for ten minutes as you only get glimpses of the landscape… This was difficult but I had a go….

Old felt pen and coloured pencils A6 sketchpad

Red dragon

Two years ago we were visiting the Gladstone Pottery museum in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. I saw this design for a red dragon and took a photo. I think it was a panel explaining the glazing techniques for getting the red colouration. I believe reds are quite difficult to produce?

Red dragons are the symbol for 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales, but this does not look like it. At the moment I’m trying to create a map for a maze/garden and this is another possibility to base it on. We will see…

Celtic cross

Tried to do a celtic cross (wonky). Sponged black paint. Black ink, then watercolour and finally a bit more black ink on top…
#bandofsketchers prompt today is Easter. I did try and copy this from a photo, but my left hand and arm wobble and shake so much its affecting my right arm. Very fed up. Would love to do something more accurate. I think I’d better try and get in the doctors.

Idea for a map?

Blurry old photo based on celtic art. I’m trying to decide what patterns and textures I can use to create a map for college. I’m thinking of using photoshop to turn something like this into a maze / map?

Next step will be to upload it and try and change the colours and sharpness. Also to work out a route and decide if there will be celtic or saxon patterns. Will there be a treasure trove of coins or ornamental armour?

Repurposing

I am doing another challenge. Its all about recycling or using old things and repurposing them. I tried wrapping an old gerkin jar in cardboard. My sticky tape wasn’t very good and wouldn’t hold it in place well. I used the labels on the cardboard as decoration. Then I looked for something else to add pattern (was thinking of collage) and I found a wax soaked drawing that was from a batik workshop with an artist called Belinda Latimer. I wrapped that over the top of the cardboard. Stuck on with the not very sticky tape. My hubby would only let me have a few tiny daffs from the garden. I put water in the jar but as the covering is not waterproof and the tape is not good I don’t think it will last very long!

Blossom at Etruria

Yesterday’s walk was past trees coming into blossom on the Cauldon arm of the canal. The white bridge over it is in the background. I decided to make a collage if it, post it notes cut up for the blossom and leaves. I used some black monoprint for the tree bark. Then I added black ink and graphite. This was for the #bandofsketchers prompt regeneration. I’m afraid the blossom looks more like butterflies.. But I tried!