New paintings and regular art updates.
Fenton Cenotaph. Fallen soldier, from the 1914-1918 first world War. I was out with Stoke Urban sketchers today. We were outside Fenton Town Hall. A very cold wind was blowing so I just did a small sketch. I chose to use pale blue and yellow because of what is happening in Ukraine. The news continues to be terrible. The Russians had offered a ceasefire and escape corridor for civilians to get out of Mariapol but they haven’t stopped shelling the city.
Just a filtered version of the vintage dress I drew yesterday. Trying to keep my mind off Ukraine 🇺🇦 and what is happening there. Russians fired on a huge nuclear power station and set part of it on fire. It made me think of nuclear chain reactions if it blows up. It could be worse than Chernobyl in 1986. Funny how a pattern can spark ideas. I pray for peace.
Today’s #bandofsketchers prompt was vintage. OK, so I looked up vintage dress on my phone then made up a pattern. I think I’ll call it ‘molecules’. I was aiming at one of those 50’s/60’s patterns I remember from my childhood. The background was just to try and make it stand out.
Doodle in ArtRage oils free app. I’m so busy drawing with felt pens that I forgot that I have it on my phone. I’m sort of sticking with blue and yellow as my main colours. Why, because Ukraine is on my mind. I guess this isn’t brilliant but finger painting with smudgy drawing tools can be difficult. I don’t know what made me draw this, but it was fun..
When I was young I used to practice drawing perspective using one or two vanishing points. When our #bandofsketchers prompt came up as construction I thought I would do something along those lines. Then thinking of Ukraine and how it will need rebuilding I decided to colour it blue and yellow.
Sunset, watercolour, February 2021.
I had been for a walk with a good friend and walked a lot further than I thought I could. Oh what a difference a year makes. I couldn’t walk a third of that distance now. Every time I think I’m going to go for a walk something seems to stop me. For instance this weekend was lovely, but I had an upset stomach (too much information?), so I stayed home. I’m getting increasingly frustrated by this. I want to be out there, walking, painting, being back to normal. Instead I’m just burbling away here. Spinning out my old memories into a web of comfort that doesn’t equate to doing things for real.
I went to our Orme Art group today and as I only had limited time I decided to draw from one of my photos from yesterday. It had to be a patch of snowdrops. So evocative of winter. It’s a felt pen sketch. I drew the light areas first then filled in around them. Probably took 90 minute’s.
Reflections, I see you
Like a glass of fizz
Blown bubbles
Or looking through a window
And paperweights can be glass
Bottles may pop
Alchemy of sand
Melts into liquid beauty.
Since todays prompt is beautiful I decided to draw a beautiful view of the Ukraine. So sad about what is happening. Felt pen drawing, #bandofsketchers. I love the mist coming down over the hills obscuring the pine trees.
Run to me
Race across the fields
Rush like the wind
Raise dust with your hooves.
Gallop fast
Gather your strength
Give your heart to the world
Gentle and strong.
Fly like a bird
Full of excitement
From steepest of mountains
Farthest shores.
Horse, men call you
Held in esteem
Highest quality of beauty
Happy to see you.
Mallaband-Brown