January 2016 Sketches

Tree near Springdale Lane
10 January 2016
Ink
Daler Rowney A6 Ebony Sketchbook
10.5cm x 14.9cm (4.1" x 5.9")

In 2016, I plan to spend more time drawing and painting outside. So far the weather has not been sympathetic to this goal. The tree sketch is my only completed outdoor sketch of 2016 – I've had a couple of false starts when I've given up due to wind, rain or cold or some combination of the three.

The tree is one of my favourites and it has appeared on this blog before in its summer finery (see August 2015 Sketches). Unfortunately, I don’t know what type of tree it is. I suspect it is some kind of oak, but my handbook of British trees relies on leaves to give a definitive identification and so far I've not been close enough to collect one.

New Crockery
18 January 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

These are Elaine’s new plates and bowls - shortly after she excitedly unwrapped them and put them away for the first time. They are a mixture of patterns from Emma Bridgewater. I suppose they’re our new plates and bowls, but I didn't have much to do with their selection or purchase.

Reed Diffuser
25 January 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

The reed diffuser is also courtesy of Emma Bridgewater. I'm not sure whether it arrived in the same box as the crockery, but it was about the same time.

Buddha's Head
28 January 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Winsor & Newton A6 Heavy Weight Sketch Book
14.8cm x 21.0cm (5.9" x 8.25" )

This Buddha’s head is one of my recurring challenges. The face is difficult enough, but the headdress adds an extra dimension. It has appeared twice before (see Outlines and Blind Contour Drawings and Another Modelled Drawing in Ink) and I'm surprised it has not appeared more often.