Signs and signifiers

Today we were looking at the meanings of illustrations and signs, whether they are iconic (cat mug) a symbol (swimming badge?) or another option that I can’t remember! I get a bit tied up with these ideas, I will get it, I know, but just trying to explain it makes my head hurt.

Anyway it’s surprising how much illustration there is around us. My favourite is the Ludford Ginger bottle. What had the train got to do with it?

On the easel?

Forty years ago at college. I liked painting objects that were not necessarily beautiful. I did a series of oil paintings on board of tin cans. Sometimes on the desk, even propped on an easel.

I think I might have these stored upstairs somewhere. I still have old folders of drawings too. Being an artist is not just about selling things, or fame, it’s about trying to understand your mind. The trouble is, being a mind, it can change. One day I will think about a subject. The next I will have a new idea (or two or three or four?!). I can’t help it. I love it

#30daysketchbookchallenge (monthly)

February starts with a continuation of the #30daysketchbookchallenge. Instead of a daily challenge we are being asked to do something on a monthly basis. I could have spent far more time on this. The whole month in fact. But I just decided to draw a simple daisy design. Perhaps the centre is reminiscent of a covid19 particle. You decide….

painting of wet walk

Todays #bandofsketchersprompt was signage, and as I was walking home after a long, wet, cold walk I decided to take a photo with my very soggy camera, of the view. Since my college course has me doing observational images every day this fit the bill for both prompts.

Felt pens for the signs, a bit of underdrawing with a felt pen thats running out, and watercolours to give it a “wet” feel.

Observation

Had a couple of zoom meetings tonight. I decided to draw the second one as it was a choir practice. Partly because it was another Zoom meeting and partly because it looked slightly different because there were song lyrics showing up sometimes. The words are made up or from the song I sang because they only showed up when we were singing the songs.

The characters are representative but not exact portraits. In black and white ink on cartridge paper.