Have been plenty of these gorgeous summer evenings on the beach with picnics galore and lots of swimming.
Summer bliss....
Showing posts with label sketchbook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sketchbook. Show all posts
Tuesday, 23 July 2013
Beach time!
Have been plenty of these gorgeous summer evenings on the beach with picnics galore and lots of swimming.
Summer bliss....
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
Misty trip to the car boot
The mist was really thick in pockets. It was the coldest morning for ages!
Monday, 3 December 2012
December Brighton Sketchcrawl
Has a mini Brighton Sketchcrawl on 1st Dec.
Outside The Royal Pavillion is an ice rink. Is set up every year around Christmas.
We all met in the adjoining cafe and enjoyed watching the ice rink skaters from the warmth of a cafe! Luxury urban sketching!
Outside The Royal Pavillion is an ice rink. Is set up every year around Christmas.
We all met in the adjoining cafe and enjoyed watching the ice rink skaters from the warmth of a cafe! Luxury urban sketching!
Monday, 12 November 2012
November sketchcrawl, Brighton
A small group of us met at the new Cafe Coho on Queens Road, Brighton (very convenient for the train station!).
I drew the newsagent opposite. Is typical of a newsagents surrounding a station, selling everything from tourist postcards to bottles of wine.
Inspired me to draw some more of the shops along here. Lots of them are rather scruffy and typical of a transit area. But as there are plans afoot to redevelop this part of town, should capture before it all become too gentrified!
I drew the newsagent opposite. Is typical of a newsagents surrounding a station, selling everything from tourist postcards to bottles of wine.
Inspired me to draw some more of the shops along here. Lots of them are rather scruffy and typical of a transit area. But as there are plans afoot to redevelop this part of town, should capture before it all become too gentrified!
Monday, 27 February 2012
February Sketchcrawl, Brighton
Enjoyed another great Brighton Sketchcrawl on Saturday. Is aways such a nice gang of people there - some familiar faces, some new, but always friendly and chatty.
When we arrived, the pier was deserted, so was strange drawing all the rides (accompanied by loud disco music) with nobody around, apart from the ride operators. Soon though people did start to stroll by. The pier was pretty sociable drawing experience for me - lots of children asking to see what I was doing and quite a few elderly couples. Had a chat with a Belfast couple holidaying in Brighton for their golden wedding!
The Dolphin Derby (my favourite attraction as a child) seemed to attract waves of customers. Will make a point of going back there, as was so much to draw and you get these really interesting clusters of people.
Despite the February chill, I really loved drawing around the pier. There is such a huge amount to draw.
Onto 112 Church Street for pub lunch, then Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, where I drew a couple of exhibits.
So after all that drawing, I retreated for a quick coffee and a spot of people watching.
Last stop was The Eagle pub for a post sketchcrawl drink. A great day!
When we arrived, the pier was deserted, so was strange drawing all the rides (accompanied by loud disco music) with nobody around, apart from the ride operators. Soon though people did start to stroll by. The pier was pretty sociable drawing experience for me - lots of children asking to see what I was doing and quite a few elderly couples. Had a chat with a Belfast couple holidaying in Brighton for their golden wedding!
The Dolphin Derby (my favourite attraction as a child) seemed to attract waves of customers. Will make a point of going back there, as was so much to draw and you get these really interesting clusters of people.
Despite the February chill, I really loved drawing around the pier. There is such a huge amount to draw.
Onto 112 Church Street for pub lunch, then Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, where I drew a couple of exhibits.
The Vespa drawing prompted a couple of interesting conversations with older couples reminiscing about the mods and rockers in Brighton during the 1960's.
So after all that drawing, I retreated for a quick coffee and a spot of people watching.
Last stop was The Eagle pub for a post sketchcrawl drink. A great day!
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Looking back at Christmas
Looking back over some Christmas drawings, now I have my new scanner.
Are all imperfect drawings, generally done very quickly and are rather messy, but I love the way they capture those moments so much more accurately than any photo.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Blogging via my phone
Am experimenting with blog posting via my phone. Seems like a fantastic idea - take a quick photo of a drawing, crop it and then post it. Love the spontaneity of it.
This is a page of my visual diary - snippets from my day. Spot the deliberate mistake in this one... Too much looking at typography and not spelling :)
This is a page of my visual diary - snippets from my day. Spot the deliberate mistake in this one... Too much looking at typography and not spelling :)
Friday, 3 February 2012
I know I shouldn't moan....
I am a lucky person who has a million things to be grateful for.
But I am struggling with this ongoing, wintery lack of daylight and the abrupt temperature change. For weeks in the UK, we have all been saying "Isn't this mild weather amazing!" We have even sat outside having a coffee in JANUARY! That changed this week and the temperature dropped and a bitter wind appeared. So I have spent the past week walking around, feeling as if the skin was going to curl off my face and fantasising about whether it would ever be acceptable to wear a balaclava around town? Have concluded no, but do so wish it was yes, though as a full time spectacles wearer, I appreciate that extra element would make the look even more unsettling.
So to cheer me out of this state of moaning and groaning, I bought these bunches of daffs at the car boot for ONE POUND! They have filled the whole basement of the house with a sunny scent for days. I can almost imagine the clocks have changed.....
The drawings are as brash as the flowers and I like them even more for that. The daffs have to be the bargain of the week! Hurray for daffodils! Slices of sunshine in the Winter gloom!
But I am struggling with this ongoing, wintery lack of daylight and the abrupt temperature change. For weeks in the UK, we have all been saying "Isn't this mild weather amazing!" We have even sat outside having a coffee in JANUARY! That changed this week and the temperature dropped and a bitter wind appeared. So I have spent the past week walking around, feeling as if the skin was going to curl off my face and fantasising about whether it would ever be acceptable to wear a balaclava around town? Have concluded no, but do so wish it was yes, though as a full time spectacles wearer, I appreciate that extra element would make the look even more unsettling.
So to cheer me out of this state of moaning and groaning, I bought these bunches of daffs at the car boot for ONE POUND! They have filled the whole basement of the house with a sunny scent for days. I can almost imagine the clocks have changed.....
The drawings are as brash as the flowers and I like them even more for that. The daffs have to be the bargain of the week! Hurray for daffodils! Slices of sunshine in the Winter gloom!
Monday, 30 January 2012
Brighton SketchCrawl, 21 Jan 2012
At last, after a series of catastrophic IT issues: my computer dying, swiftly followed by the printer/scanner refusing to switch on, am back online.
These drawings were done on the latest Brighton SketchCrawl. Was brilliant fun - is always such a friendly, open group of people. And drawing on location, as part of a group, is such an inspiring and rewarding thing to do.
All these drawings were done in Brighton Toy Museum. Even though it is only 10 minutes walk from where I live, I had shamefully never been inside before. And it is amazing! A real drawing paradise. The cabinets are bursting with a huge selection of toys and model trains galore. Of course there were toys that I remember, so that made me feel rather ancient. Would really recommend it as a place to visit.
These punch and judy puppets came complete with a hangman and noose! They date from 1815 and were for a child puppeteer.
These dolls were part of a large cabinet dedicated to Japanese dolls. Some were very delicate and beautiful, others slightly more eerie with pencil drawn strands of hair and staring eyes...
We are going to organise the SketchCrawl once a month, rather than once a quarter. If anyone is interested in joining in, regularly or just occasionally, please join the Facebook group Brighton SketchCrawl, where we'll share future plans and of course, our drawings.
These drawings were done on the latest Brighton SketchCrawl. Was brilliant fun - is always such a friendly, open group of people. And drawing on location, as part of a group, is such an inspiring and rewarding thing to do.
All these drawings were done in Brighton Toy Museum. Even though it is only 10 minutes walk from where I live, I had shamefully never been inside before. And it is amazing! A real drawing paradise. The cabinets are bursting with a huge selection of toys and model trains galore. Of course there were toys that I remember, so that made me feel rather ancient. Would really recommend it as a place to visit.
These punch and judy puppets came complete with a hangman and noose! They date from 1815 and were for a child puppeteer.
These dolls were part of a large cabinet dedicated to Japanese dolls. Some were very delicate and beautiful, others slightly more eerie with pencil drawn strands of hair and staring eyes...
We are going to organise the SketchCrawl once a month, rather than once a quarter. If anyone is interested in joining in, regularly or just occasionally, please join the Facebook group Brighton SketchCrawl, where we'll share future plans and of course, our drawings.
Friday, 18 November 2011
Outside Cafe Coho, Brighton
If you like coffee and haven't yet discovered Cafe Coho in Brighton, would definitely recommend it. Fantastic coffee and a friendly cafe.
We have been so lucky with all this mild weather, so have been enjoying sitting outside much longer than usual. This is the view from one of the Coho's outdoor tables.
We have been so lucky with all this mild weather, so have been enjoying sitting outside much longer than usual. This is the view from one of the Coho's outdoor tables.
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Thinking about Summer
Am suffering again with the Winter glooms. Seem to arrive every year with the change in hour and darker evenings. Have drastically increased my vitamin D intake and upped the exercise, but still like a dormouse, wanting to sleep my days away.
I loved this post on Harika about how in October we need to consciously look for colour amongst the grey.
So have been browsing through some summertime drawings. These were done in Pavillion Gardens, Brighton at the start of the Brighton Festival. Jake from Brighton Drawing came down with one of his Cabinets of Wonder and some willing models. Clear blue sky, coffee, great people and interesting location to draw - a near perfect hour or so.
I loved this post on Harika about how in October we need to consciously look for colour amongst the grey.
So have been browsing through some summertime drawings. These were done in Pavillion Gardens, Brighton at the start of the Brighton Festival. Jake from Brighton Drawing came down with one of his Cabinets of Wonder and some willing models. Clear blue sky, coffee, great people and interesting location to draw - a near perfect hour or so.
Monday, 24 January 2011
Sketchbooks and musing
Some final pages from this sketchbook, which I finished on the weekend.
Had a great time on the Brighton Sketchcrawl last weekend - was the 3rd one I've attended, but the first one where I don't have any drawings to show. In retrospect I joined it too late, as there were only 2 stops left. However had the fantastic opportunity to try life drawing at Brighton Life Drawing, run by Jake Spicer. Was the first time I have ever done life drawing and was great to do it with such a fun, supportive group of people. And I will be going back to do more!
I has a quick chat with Jake in the pub afterwards, that has really got me thinking. It was whether the process of drawing was more important to me or the outcome. And I think it is probably the process. It's the calming effect of drawing, the sitting quietly and really looking and appreciating that I get the most value from. Is like meditating. Sure, am as delighted as anyone when I have a drawing I am pleased with, but is more about the process and marking that moment.
As the others were looking through my sketchbook, one of the sketchcrawlers remarked on the visual diary quality of my sketchbook. I think this is partly because I do tend to draw small domestic moments and scenes, so they naturally form a narrative of your days. But I do also like the idea of paying attention to your days and celebrating them.
I think there will be more to come on this train of thought...in the new sketchbook.
On the train
Farm Cafe, Brighton
Had a great time on the Brighton Sketchcrawl last weekend - was the 3rd one I've attended, but the first one where I don't have any drawings to show. In retrospect I joined it too late, as there were only 2 stops left. However had the fantastic opportunity to try life drawing at Brighton Life Drawing, run by Jake Spicer. Was the first time I have ever done life drawing and was great to do it with such a fun, supportive group of people. And I will be going back to do more!
I has a quick chat with Jake in the pub afterwards, that has really got me thinking. It was whether the process of drawing was more important to me or the outcome. And I think it is probably the process. It's the calming effect of drawing, the sitting quietly and really looking and appreciating that I get the most value from. Is like meditating. Sure, am as delighted as anyone when I have a drawing I am pleased with, but is more about the process and marking that moment.
As the others were looking through my sketchbook, one of the sketchcrawlers remarked on the visual diary quality of my sketchbook. I think this is partly because I do tend to draw small domestic moments and scenes, so they naturally form a narrative of your days. But I do also like the idea of paying attention to your days and celebrating them.
I think there will be more to come on this train of thought...in the new sketchbook.
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