August 2016 Sketches

Off Springdale Lane
21 August 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
20.3cm x 14.0cm (8.0" x 5.5")

In August I completed Liz Steel’s SketchingNow Foundations course. Since then I’ve been incorporating the lessons into my regular sketching practice.

In the Kitchen
1 August 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

Lesson 11 of Liz’s course is about starting with the focus of the sketch. I started this sketch by drawing the fruit bowl and cereal packet and working away from them.

EB Garden Centre Cafe
7 August 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
20.3cm x 14.0cm (8.0" x 5.5")

The last exercise in the course was a cafe scene. I procrastinated over this for a couple of weeks. I set out to do the sketch 3 or 4 times and on each occasion found a different excuse not to do it, but the underlying reason is I felt self-conscious. I enjoy drawing outside, but feel like I’m on show in a cafe.

This time I set out with the intention of completing the exercise, come what may and it turned out to be enjoyable rather than a teeth clenching experience.  I must have a look of unapproachable concentration when I’m drawing because no one ever seems to bother me or maybe I’m just not aware of them.

I was intending to do some setup work in watercolour pencil, but the most striking part of the scene was the barista’s hair and shirt - she wasn’t going to hang around in front of the coffee machine forever, so I went for it in ink.

Gargoyles – St Peter’s
13 August 2016
Graphite Pencil
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

The gargoyles are my first sketch after completing the course. I’d mainly used ink and watercolour during the course, so I had an urge to do some pencil sketches.

Flowery Pot
22 August 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
20.3cm x 14.0cm (8.0" x 5.5")

The pretty little Emma Bridgwater pot is a gift to Elaine from her friend Tracey.

St Peter and St Paul, Shelford
30 August 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
20.3cm x 14.0cm (8.0" x 5.5")

When sketching Shelford's church I didn’t have time to let the first wash dry, so I recklessly added more paint as it was drying (It wasn’t really that risky because I made sure I was adding a richer mix to the drying wash). I painted this using a water brush - which isn’t my tool of choice. I seem to be more careless with water brushes than I am with conventional brushes, but maybe that’s not always a bad thing.