Trying to work at art…

At the Owen Project

There is a new community project nearby and I went up yesterday to have a chat and try and feel a bit more engaged with people. Various things are happening including knitting and crochet, crafts, painting, and writing. It got me out of the house and helped save money on heating. While I was there I did a sketch of a couple of the attendees.

They called me their resident artist which I thought was rather sweet, although there are lots of other people creating artwork there, so it’d not really an accolade I should accept. But it is giving me the opportunity to maintain my skills. I don’t shake as much when I concentrate.

Today was different, I went to my group meeting for my mental health, it’s another craft group, but after I’d had a bit of breakfast I felt really icky, I ended up coming home early, mostly feeling overwhelmed and tired now. But I must try and continue with art, it’s really the only thing that keeps me going.

Crochet

Not knit one pearl one. Only one crochet needle and a finger and thumb required. Twisting and turning, wrapping the wool round and knotting it.

If you want to learn it have a go. You can make squares to create a blanket, or crochet round and round to make a throw. It’s a craft in the same way as knitting or macrame. There are plenty of patterns out there and you can make clothes too. If you look on line you can find some very strange crocheted trouser suits for men! I realise that it was more popular in the 1970’s…..

Knitted

Today’s #bandofsketchers prompt was knitted. So difficult to draw left handed, but my right hand is still swollen and sore. I tried drawing a knitted pattern. The spiky things at the top are meant to be knitting needles. Not much more I can say except it was hard to draw a continuous line left handed and the writing is with my left hand too.

Souvenir

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Texture and pattern. Today’s Urban sketchers challenge was drawing a souvenir so I drew a Thai woman and baby doll that my friend gave me. As I’m doing textures and symbols on my illustration course I decided to try out different marks to show the knitting on the cushion underneath the doll.

I have been doing a lot of pen and ink drawings lately, not using pencil or charcoal much. Maybe I should try some other techniques?

 

Haberdashery

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My little sewing kit. Today’s usk Stoke-on-Trent challenge was to draw something to do with haberdashery.

As I don’t make clothes, have any clothes patterns, or any fabric, I’m afraid this had to do. The material below the kit is a knitted cushion, a cat blanket, and a teatowel.

Without the kit I wouldn’t have had any subject matter to draw. I don’t know who will try and add to the challenge today. Now I’m off out in the sunshine to plant up some begonias.