Sunday 24 May 2015

Woodland Stream


Stream Through the Woods - Small
Mixed Media on Paper
14cm x 19cm (5.5" x 7.5")

These are my latest experiments with techniques from Ann Blockley’s Experimental Landscapes in Watercolour. The subject matter was inspired by a recent video workshop by David Dunlop (Studio Workshop 1 - Into the-Woods).

Stream Through the Woods - Large
Mixed Media on Paper
19cm x 28cm (7.5" x 11")

The scene is an amalgamation of five different photos of streams and footpaths through woodland. I worked on both pictures at the same time, but I am still quite surprised how similar they look because a lot of the scene is imaginary and I was not focusing on accuracy. My intention for these experiments is not to create finished paintings. They are trials of different techniques I may want to use in the future.

Sunday 3 May 2015

April 2015 Sketches

Kerria Japonica in a Jar
21 April 2015
Graphite Pencil
Daler Rowney A5 Graduate Sketchbook
149mm x 210mm (5.9" x 8.3")


These are my favourite sketches from April.

Nuts in a Tricky Jar
13 April 2015
Graphite Pencil
Daler Rowney A6 Graduate Sketchbook
10.5cm x 14.9cm (4.1" x 5.9")

I am still drawing every day. Sometimes it is an event I look forward to, but occasionally its a challenge to summon up the enthusiasm.

Purple Tulip
23 April 2015
Graphite Pencil
Daler Rowney A5 Graduate Sketchbook
210mm x 149mm (8.3" x 5.9")

Plants and flowers continue to feature as subjects. It is a challenge to show their delicacy - it is all too easy to make them look as though they are carved from wood..

Paul and Wendy's Log Burner
18 April 2015
Graphite Pencil
Daler Rowney A6 Graduate Sketchbook
10.5cm x 14.9cm (4.1" x 5.9")

I'm not shying away from difficult subjects. If I pick something difficult, I accept the results may not be great and I may not share them with anyone - except for Elaine.

Rosemary
20 April 2015
Graphite Pencil
Daler Rowney A5 Graduate Sketchbook
210mm x 149mm (8.3" x 5.9")

A lot of my drawings take about 45 minutes, but some days I mix things up by drawing a few five minute sketches instead of one long drawing.

Kerria Japonica
22 April 2015
Graphite Pencil
Daler Rowney A5 Graduate Sketchbook
149mm x 210mm (5.9" x 8.3")

I'm not sure whether the first and last pictures really are Kerria Japonica, but it's my best guess. The yellow flowers come from a large bush in our back garden.