Friday 12 August 2011

Off on a break


I am off on a break, exploring a part of UK I haven't seen before.

Since I wrote my post "I seem to have to stopped drawing", something seems to have clicked back into place. Maybe just the announcement itself was enough to jolt me into action - who knows. But the result is I have been drawing more than I have in weeks.

So my travel bag is packed with a dip pen and inks, plus the usual pencils, fibre tips and a tiny watercolour set. I am an avid reader and admirer of Rolf Schroeter's blog and drawings and looking at his recent red lined drawings has inspired me to dust off my dip pen. Will post the results! Also taking 4am by Nina De La Mer as my holiday read - Nina is a friend and another Brighton resident. So that should take care of all my entertainment needs.

I'll leave you with a couple of photos from The Mock Turtle tearoom in Brighton.

Tuesday 9 August 2011

Dogs & camping

On a recent camping trip, we pitched next to a vintage tourer. Inside was a couple and Millie, the best behaved dog on the whole campsite.

Despite all the kids racing around on their bikes, shouting and laughing, Millie was quiet and placid the whole time, calmly watching whatever was going  on.

Couldn't resist a couple of quick drawings of her.


Wednesday 3 August 2011

Birthday trip to London

For my birthday this year, I went to London to see the Tracey Emin exhibition at Hayward Gallery on Southbank, London. Was a brilliant exhibition, huge and curated in such a way that it made me question my previous preconceptions of Emin.

I loved the quilts, embroideries and there was some amazing drawings too. Had never seen much of her film work before and some of those pieces were very powerful too.

Out from the exhibition and into Chowpatty Beach Bar on South Bank for the lunch below





Not a great photo - but the food was delicious! Was also sunny enough to sit outside and enjoy the bustling Southbank.


Are a line of beach huts along the Southbank riverside, with different displays in each and also a seaside garden from Southend on Sea and a small artificial sandy beach, which the kids were absolutely loving.



Was a great birthday trip to the capital and haven't stopped thinking about Tracey Emin's work since, which has got to be the sign of a fantastic exhibition and an artist that touches you.

I seem to have stopped drawing

Wasn't intentional, just somehow have run out of steam.

Have still been drawing at life classes at Brighton Life Drawing. Is just the everyday drawing that seems to have dwindled to nothing.

This has only happened a couple of times in the past. I do go through periods of not painting, but the everyday drawing has been fairly consistent, apart from twice when some radical life changes left me reeling and drawing was the last thing on my mind.

Have a couple of weeks away from the office job soon though and have jaunts planned to new towns and areas of the UK, so am hoping that inspiration and a new sketchbook or two will jump start the drawing.

So in the meantime, as there are no drawings, a photo of Hove Beach from last weekend.