Alphabet?

DSC_2679

Part of my study is to come up with patterns or shapes to indicate individual letters. You are supposed to use shapes you sketch with or others that fit into a usable vocabulary of marks. I shade a lot but also use dots and dashes. I have added straight lines and spirals. Some squiggles. I wonder if I should have added curves or ellipses. It’s hard to decide what shapes to use. I wanted things to be quite organic, and I’ve used various pens to see how each would look.

I may have completely got the wrong end of the stick, but I’m hoping this is what they want. Perhaps I should have made it neater. Not sure.

X

A-Z

_20200604_204531

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.

New pens to draw with..

DSC_2669

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

Nature was today’s prompt

_20200602_214923

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

Artrage and photodirector

IMG_20200528_015014_306

Drawn in artrage oils and edited in photodirector changing the colours and style.

This is what I mean about playing with are, yes this is a scrappy sketch, but it’s my scrappy sketch, amended and changed how I want. I would love to illustrate a book using a style like this. I could imagine creating pictures about a crazy cat in a children’s book.

I was once offered the opportunity to illustrate a book but the publishers woukd only allow the author to use an in house illustrator. I was very disappointed as I think I could have created a different atmosphere by working with her. Oh well….

Brand new challenge

FB_IMG_1590598568241

I am still sketching, a new person is posting challenges for Stoke-on-Trent urban sketchers and it is great to be inspired by them. The challenge was locality.

I did a drawing of the view through my window, locality…near a pottery. This is a digital drawing done on my tablet.

The sun has been shining all day and I went out in the garden and pruned back some of the trees that are growing over the summerhouse. The cherry trees are still covered in a large crop which is gradually ripening. No doubt the birds will get them first.

More later.

X

Last day of this challenge.

_20200526_214733

Ariel birds! These were visiting our bird feeder today. I only got a glimpse so I added the flying one from a photo. Can’t tell you what these are they are all I could draw, but the one on the feeder was a bluetit. But I couldn’t get the details quick enough….. This is the last of this challenge. This was day 38. The last of the current challenge. We may be moving on to a list of prompts every other day to keep going….

I have to say this has made me look at things differently and made me realise I can draw a lot of things, although my straight lines are a bit wobbly!

Day 37. #uskstoke

_20200525_195611

Today’s theme was doorway, this is inside the summerhouse looking out into the very green and bushy garden. Unipen black ink pen, size 0.2 because I found it and the other ones are running out. The garden smells lovely, but lots of things in pots are drying out, so they are wilting a bit. We need to get the hose out. Another beautiful sunny day. A few clouds.

Tomorrow is the last day of this challenge. I’m hoping people will come up with new ideas. It would be good to have a few days off. As I’ve been posting the challenges it would be good tobe led by someone else’s perspective.

See you later.

Today’s #uskstoke, day 36.

IMG_20200524_164424_154

Day 36. Today’s challenge was to draw a reflection or mirrored image. This is a 6b pencil drawing, selfie in a spoon. It’s been a while since I drew hands, I think I may have made the thumb too big. Interesting how my head appears upside down, because the inner surface of the spoon is concave. Turn it round and on the back the image is the right way up because its convex.

The image on the back of your eye is upside down. The only reason why you see things the right way up is because your brain compensates for it!

X

Day 33, what does quarantine mean to you?

_20200521_195600

After several weeks, I’m a bit fed up, and my hair is the longest it’s ever been… But we are coping, I was going to draw my mostly empty fridge. I don’t have much veg….

I enjoy drawing with charcoal pencil. What you lose in definition you gain in character I think. I wasn’t trying for accuracy, but I wanted to depict my mood.

Five more days to go, then I may start doing something else.

X