Robin

A little Robin hopped over to my bench when I was sketching outside yesterday.

I love their super skinny little legs!

Alice's April Aviary

I decided I needed another monthly challenge following last months March Meet The Maker... and so I've decided on #AlicesAprilAviary - a study of a different bird species each day this month. I'm hoping to draw a bird I've seen that day, ideally with a directly observed sketch to accompany the study, but so far is been studies only apart from this sparrow.

This was initially inspired by the birds seen on holiday last week on the Isle of Mull, Scotland.

I'll have to play catch up and share them here as there are already 10 waiting in the wings (...sorry I know that's dreadful!)

Alice in Action!

Here are links to two short clips of me drawing some Blackthorn this afternoon (both on Instagram)...

Blackthorn Part 1

and...

Blackthorn Part 2 

And this is the end result...

First Ever Sale

Day 12 of #MarchMeetTheMaker is #FirstEverSale

Although not my first sale as Alice Draws The Line, this was the first sale of my work. Sadly I only have a rather grainy image of it - a photo I've taken from a booklet that had a photo of it featured in - so excuse the quality. I drew it as part of my Art A'level but can't quite remember what the brief was. I later had it framed and entered it into an exhibition and sale and it sold - I was thrilled... but do wish I had taken another photo of it before it went.

I remember really enjoying doing the picture, in pen and ink... about 15 years ago. A friend mentioned this picture recently and said it was the style she always associated with me - and one that returned to feature on my 2015 Christmas Cards... Twist and Sprout (see here) and We Three Cones (see here). 

This was called 'Marching Vegetables' - a landscape piece featuring directly observed vegetables, given personalities and limbs. The runner bean was always my favourite - late and having to run to catch up with the procession. I'm quite tempted to revisit this.

I'm working on a bigger piece again at the moment which I'm enjoying. .. more about that soon!