Happy Christmas 2016

Christmas Tree 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

Wishing You Peace and Happiness for Christmas and the New Year

November 2016 Sketches

Not even Advent
21 November 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
20.3cm x 14.0cm (8.0" x 5.5")

My festive indulgences have started earlier than ever this year - I normally wait until at least December before starting on the mince pies.

Merryteaser
27 November 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

This wasn’t my fault. Someone left it for Elaine at work and she doesn’t like Maltesers - who else was going to try it.

Elaine with a Sling
2 November 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

Elaine had carpal tunnel release surgery on October 31 and had to keep her arm in a sling for 2 days. She’s not a very patient patient and wanted to be back to normal straightaway.

After the Operation
9 November 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

She was heartbroken when the dressing came off. The scar was very red and angry. She had visions of ending up with scars like Brenda, but they are already disappearing. (Brenda is a character in a series of books by Paul Magrs http://lifeonmagrs.blogspot.co.uk/)

We Buy Flowers Too
17 November 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

This vase is a favourite subject, but I only seem to post the results when Sally has bought flowers for Elaine (see September 2015 Sketches). Note to self – Buy more flowers. Note to Sally – Thank you for the flowers.

Two-Layer Geometric Sketch

St Peter's For Bob
Two-Layer Geometric Sketch
Watercolour On Paper
26cm x 18cm (10" x 7")

The two-layer geometric sketch is the second “exercise” in Watercolor Painting by Tom Hoffmann. It is another study that helps to reveal how much detail is needed in a painting. The five-value monochrome study explored the importance of tone. The two-layer geometric sketch introduces colour in a simplified form, so we can evaluate where more detail is needed.

The instructions for the exercise are to simplify each of the major shapes into a basic geometric form and assign it a colour. Paint each shape with a simple wash representing its lightest value and add a second layer where needed - primarily to indicate shadows.

Tom suggests using a limited palette of 3 colours – a red, a yellow and a blue. You can mix them, to create a green or purple, but if they don’t make a good green or a good purple, too bad. The intention is to ignore details and to treat colour simply. The result is supposed to look like a collage made from coloured paper.

I used the same subject as for the five-value monochrome study. Once again I failed to simplify things as much as Tom suggested - I did not reduce the subject to simple geometric shapes because the drawing is one of the challenges I’m trying to sort out.

The exercise helped to clarify some problems in the composition, but it also reassured me that my objectives for the painting are possible. I want the church and memorial to appear imposing, but the overall atmosphere to be positive and full of light.

I can see the background buildings and the church porch do not require much detail, but the foliage, even in the background, will need more texture. The church and the monument needed to be taller and darker.

My next steps are to finalise the drawing and use some thumbnail sketches to explore options for colours.

October 2016 Sketches

Cod & Lobster, Staithes
16 October 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
20.3cm x 14.0cm (8.0" x 5.5")

Elaine and I spent a weekend in Staithes as part of Elaine’s extended birthday celebrations. Staithes was full of artists with easels painting every vista. On the Sunday morning, I couldn’t find a quiet place to sketch, but a heavy rain shower drove most people away. When the sun came out I had my choice of subject. I picked the Cod & Lobster because of their magnificently overfilled crab sandwiches.

In October, I participated in the InkTober challenge to draw (in ink) on every day of the month. I didn’t quite make it, but it’s a long time since I’ve had the pick of 27 sketches for a blog post.

COLLECT
3 October 2016
Ink
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

There was a prompt for each day of the month - which I didn’t always use. The prompt for the third was COLLECT. I’ve never been much of a collector - I collected stamps for about a week as a child and that’s probably about it, but since starting painting I’ve built up a massive collection of brushes - this is a very small part of the collection.

LITTLE
21 October 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
20.3cm x 14.0cm (8.0" x 5.5")

I couldn’t resist adding some colour to the iPod. I thought I’d worked out the route through the tangle of wire from the iPod to the headphones, but there are some disconnects - if you want to look for them.

SLOWly Infusing Sloe Gin
23 October 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

Kilner jars are one my favourite challenging subjects. There are multiple ellipses and the complicated clasp. This is sloe gin that Elaine has been preparing since 15 June.

I Only Wanted My Lunch
27 October 2016
Ink
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

The can opener gave up the ghost instead of opening a can of soup for my lunch, at least I got a sketch out of it.

You can find all my InkTober 2016 sketches here https://www.flickr.com/photos/125850908@N07/albums/72157676208277075.

Five-Value Monochrome Study

St Peter's For Bob
Five-Value Monochrome Study
Watercolour On Paper
26cm x 18cm (10" x 7")

Liz Steel recently recommended Watercolor Painting by Tom Hoffmann.

The subtitle of the book is “A Comprehensive Approach to Mastering the Medium”. It contains an interesting mixture of guidance, exercises and experiments. In the introduction Tom says:

The focus in this book is on awareness rather than technique. it is important to know how to make a warm, neutral, graded wash, but it takes a different set of skills to know when that particular technique is called for.

I want to spend more time learning to paint in watercolour and this book provides exactly the sort of structure I need.

The first exercise is to create a Five-Value Monochrome Study. Tom recommends this as the ideal initial study for a new subject because it helps to explore the role that value plays in the relationship between the major shapes.

He stresses the purpose of the exercise is not to create a carefully observed monochrome painting. The result is supposed to look too simple because the best way to find out if something needs to be in the picture is to leave it out.

I tried the exercise on a relatively unpromising photograph.

St Peter's For Bob - Source Photo

The first instruction is to break the subject down into at most 10 shapes. This turned into a challenge and I resorted to printing the picture and drawing shapes on it, but still couldn’t get below 14. I will try harder next time, but bent the rules just this once.

St Peter's For Bob - Sorting Out The Shapes

The study was a sequence of disasters. I mixed the first pale wash too dark and didn’t make enough of it, so I ended up with some blooms and a quite unpleasant looking result. I didn’t leave it to dry sufficiently, so when I applied the second wash, it just bloomed into the first. Making everything look even more unpleasant and not leaving much differentiation between the lighter tones.

With all these difficulties, the study is still a success because I’ve learnt a lot from it – the obvious lessons about mixing enough paint and leaving washes to dry, but also some subtler ones about how I want to paint the subject.

My intention for the picture is for the church and memorial to appear imposing, but the overall atmosphere to be positive and full of light - early on a bright summer morning.

The simple study indicates both of these objectives are possible. The church is commanding and there is a sense of space and light around it.

The shaft of sunlight in front of the church joining with the highlight on the right-hand bushes and trees is an important part of the picture. This is something I need to emphasise in the final work along with the light spilling around the edge of the church.

One of my biggest concerns for the picture is the copper beech on the left. Will the tree be believable without including its trunk in the picture? I think it is going to be ok.

Perhaps the most important result is the study has enthused me to paint the picture. The second exercise is a two-layer geometric sketch which I’m looking forward to trying next.

September 2016 Sketches

Hedge Fruit
18 September 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
20.3cm x 14.0cm (8.0" x 5.5")

I didn’t sketch as much as usual in September. There were lots of distractions - the most important of which was Elaine starting a new job.

Statue of St Peter
11 September 2016
Graphite Pencil
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

The only sketch I managed in the first half of the month was the drawing of the statue above the doorway of our local church. Fortunately, I managed to sketch each day towards the end of the month when Elaine and I were on holiday.

Condor
17 September 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
20.3cm x 14.0cm (8.0" x 5.5")

We rented the canal boat “Condor” with Paul, Wendy and Alfie from the excellent Brecon Park Boats.The sketch at the top of the post are some lovely tomatoes that Paul and Wendy brought from their garden.

Brecon - Canalside Cottage
19 September 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
20.3cm x 14.0cm (8.0" x 5.5")

I had to consider the cottage sketch finished when it was time to pick up our dinner from the Chinese takeaway.

Bethany
20 September 2016
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

The barge Bethany was moored close to us at Talybont on Usk. Almost inevitably, when I was 20 minutes into the drawing, another boat moored and blocked my view. I had to shift my position along the towpath and adjust the details of the scene as though I was still sitting in my original position.

I am hoping to get more sketching done in October by participating in the InkTober drawing challenge to complete an ink drawing a day for the entire month.

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.