Wednesday 30 January 2013

Before the melt


Just wanted to share some photos taken before the snow melted - this seems like a distant memory now, but was only last week!



this is a cricket pavilion....on open forest and has to be fenced off during the cricket season to stop the animals roaming all over it!



Looks like a lot of people have enjoyed the slope here down from the trees.  I remember sledging here myself as a kid....very paintful too, as my dad had made a wooden sledge with the rungs the wrong way round....ouch!









Sunday 27 January 2013

Collecting shells


I still haven't lost that childish enthusiasm for picking up shells on a beach!...Go on, admit it, I bet some of you still do that as well.....

here's a part of the collection I gathered up the other day






and predictably and inevitably I sketched them!







and no, I can't name them except to say they are Shells!    I do know that the long thin one complete with occupant can be raised from the sand.  (please note I have never done this myself  BUT apparently when you find a small hole in the wet sand near the sea and pour salt down it, this shell (and occupant) rise up out of the sand!   Now there's a useless piece of information for you.


Have a lovely day everyone

(Linking to Sunday Sketches today -
do pop over and enjoy seeing all the blogs
that join in)





Thursday 24 January 2013

Photo and some drawings

I'm doing a few drawings in another sketchbook, not just the one I made recently. The problem with this other sketchbook (manufactured variety) is that the paper is slightly yellow. I much prefer drawing on crisp clear white paper....but hey ho, sometimes you have to give these other products a go.

I've sketched Corfe Castle (there's a photo of it too) ...why they call it a Castle I don't know...it is more of a ruin! Well, it IS a ruin let's be honest. The thing is, and obviously this is how I see it, when and for how long is a ruin actually a ruin. This one gets 'repaired' regularly, so surely and eventually it won't actually be the Original ruin any more but a 'reproduction' of the original!

On another occasion I sketched down at the beach. One I have painted, but not sure if I'll paint the rest, sometimes it is nice to just leave things as a pencil or pen sketch.

The house is one we came across that is sitting virtually in the middle of a car park! We assume the owners didn't want to sell to developers, so there it sits looking rather out of place.

That's it so far for this sketchbook, but I'll keep it in my bag and if an opportunity comes along to sketch the 'different and unusual' I'll hope I remembered to pack my pens and pencils too.














Tuesday 22 January 2013

Starting to draw in my sketchbook

As you see I am putting a few drawings in. For starters I have added a small locket on the inside cover. This was kindly given to me by a friend who makes jewellery, the charm was broken so she thought I could make use of it.....and I have. Thank you Angela.

The page with the brads is useful as the page is long ....with the brads it folds back within the book.











Friday 18 January 2013

Sketchbook



Made my own sketchbook again!  This time a pizza box formed the Cover.  I haven't shown the painting of that, but I just flattened it out and poured the blue acrylic paint directly on to it and then scrapped it over with an old store card (they make great scrapers by the way, but need to be slightly flexible, the not too floppy sort).





having painted both sides, once dry I then made some inner pages to fit.  Bear in mind the overall size of this is only about 5" x 5" .


I attached the pages by threading through some blue ribbon, which I left hanging on the outside with some extra ribbon and beads (the beads were actually a left over from Christmas crackers).  I also covered the edges of the book with paper to give it a more Book like appearance





From my button box I used this jewel button - just put a hole in the cover of the book and then used a small piece of wire (the sort you get in packaging) to attach it on the inside




I then covered that with a piece of paper...like a little elastoplast!

on the back I attached a hairband .... found it was a bit short for the job so added a piece of ribbon too...never mind, it still does the job







and that does it!
 one sketchbook ready to pop in my bag 
and take out and about 
for a spot of sketching and journalling!    



Hope you enjoyed.

I am today Linking
(many thanks to EVA & Kristin)

*****


Have a great weekend everyone

**************










Monday 14 January 2013

Disturbing



You know that sweet little Hamish

who I sketched in the previous post

well 

I have received this photo of him!






Scary or What!


 





Friday 11 January 2013

Old Discarded sketchbook


Having found an old sketchbook (that had hardly been used), thought it was about time I did something with it.   It's one of those with very cheap paper - Rubbish actually, but I didn't want to just chuck it out!  It will at least be good for notes, ideas, reminders and on this occasion I just wanted to play....no serious art.  Very relaxing not having the pressure of serious art isn't it....

anyway, this is what I played with - a sketch of little Hamish, from this pic




I literally just loaded the brush with Burnt Sienna and drew
the overall shape....

when that had dried

I used a darker mix and put in some of the darker tones..




and using clean water on a damp brush, just eased some of the edges out...
then left that stage to dry..


Whilst waiting for the above to dry, I mixed an
even darker mix for the Very Darks

 I realised his head was too high - so I used a clean damp brush and
 tissue to take that part out

and then added the Very Darks

I think at this stage it has actually started to be defined...
it was the Very Darks that did that...
                                                                                      
 I left that to completely dry

and

then

used Chinese White, straight from the tube on a very fine brush
to put in the eye lights, top of nose and a bit on the chin



and that's it

I have found a way of using a discarded sketchbook, due to its poor quality paper!
basically use it for Playing out Ideas and having Fun
 
 ***

I am Linking to
Paint Party Friday today
(thanks to EVA & Kristin)

and do
have a great weekend everyone
************



Tuesday 8 January 2013

Sketchbook Project 2013


Part Two - Sketchbook Project



Here is the rest of my book, following on from the other day when I posted Part One





















      
    






 .....and that about winds it up for another Sketchbook Project.

Hope you have enjoyed

seeing my contribution.

Now to pop it in the post

and send it on its way!


********