New paintings and regular art updates.
My hubby has just been out in the garden and discovered a large hedgehog eating the mealworms we put out for the blackbirds and Robins.
His nightly parambulation also resulted in him seeing a frog by the pond.
This afternoon we saw a baby robin perched by the pond. I think we really do have a natural garden.
The drawing is an attempt to draw a hedgehog. Bit bald in parts!
X
About six weeks ago the buds were just bursting in the garden. Now they have emerged and the garden is clothed in green. The Walnut tree looks like it’s gained another five or six foot. It towers over the garden. Water seeps out from underneath it. We have had it checked to see if its a split pipe but the workers who looked at it said no, it’s a spring. Whatever it is, we seem to be growing a pond or a lake now. We have put a bird bath in its way, a shallow bowl, so that the birds and animals that frequent the garden can get a drink in the warm weather. I’m now thinking of planting some hostas or iris or bog plants in that area. I would like to pipe it away into a drain if I can.
We have had a bit of heavy rain over the last few days. Dark clouds fly past overhead, dumping rain and hail over us. I’m waiting for the next downpour.
OK so today’s Urban sketchers challenge was to draw snacks. I chose pringles, my favourite apart from salt and vinegar crisps. Its not the most exciting drawing I’m afraid.
This challenge is every other day. Saturdays challenge was to draw red square in Moscow, but I’m afraid I didn’t get round to doing that. I have saved one of the photos so I might have a go later in the week.
Toothache is getting me down at the moment!
X
Since there wasn’t a sketching challenge today I thought I would draw a couple of koi carp and some water lilies.
I sprayed green ink onto the paper first, then outlined the lily pads, fish and flowers with black ink. I coloured in the fish and lilies, and added some blue curves to enhance the water. Then I added some sparkly purple with a brush pen. Finally I put some black contours around each of the elements.
I enjoy Koi!
As part of my coursework I need to come up with a different mark for each letter of the alphabet. The first decision is to choose what tool to use to make these marks. I have used a 0.8 tip unipin ink pen. But I could have chosen charcoal, or a brush, or some other form of mark making. Then I could choose colours as well as shapes. I am not sure if I have chosen the right sort of format. The next step will be to draw something using shapes for a few letters only. Say five or six of them. Maybe my shapes are too small? It’s all like a big puzzle.
Black and white and then coloured in sketch. View from my kitchen window out over the cherry tree in the garden. A few cherries are starting to ripen, but most are still green. The plants on the windowsill have grown up so they seem to merge into the garden. I’ve limited the palette of the pots and ornaments so that it is not overpowering the bottom of the drawing. My sanctuary away from the rain…
X
I’m drawing so much, I had to go and buy some new drawing pens today. Six thin to thick pens. I look forward to using them for new projects. I will start using them over the next few days. They contain pigmented India ink whick which has maximum light fastness, they are waterproof, odourless, permanent and have other attributes that seem to make them ideal for drawing with.
X
Mature tree in the park, today’s #uskstoke challenge was Nature.
This was the first time I had been out to a park in ten weeks (well longer as I don’t generally go to them). The weather was lovely, and no one came near to me and two friends. We didn’t get close. At one point I started to fill up with tears at the immense feeling of freedom. It suddenly hit me that I was with two people whose company I enjoy and who I haven’t been able to have a proper talk with for months.
I get on with my hubby, but this was a real release. I did go out wearing a mask and gloves like I do when I’m shopping. I was offered a fold up chair, but I declined because I’m still very nervous of touching anything outside the house. When I came home I washed my hands and face. I’m going to find it difficult to accept things when they get back to normal.
X
Contours. I’ve always liked them. On maps, on artworks. I used to have an etch a sketch and I got good at drawing mazes on it. I would draw lines, round and round from the centre, build in dead ends, and spend hours creating structure. That’s basically what this is, not that there are any dead ends, apart from where I made mistakes.
Hope you like x
Urban sketchers Stoke-on-Trent has started a new challenge from another artist. Today’s prompt was headgear, so I drew three hats over the other side of the room. A crotchet hat, a straw hat and a caving or climbing helmet. The washing and clothes airer are there so it’s a bit of a jumble and needs tidying. But there you go.. Headgear.
Mallaband-Brown