July challenge...

Although not mentioned here, I gave myself the challenge to do a figure drawing a day for the month of July. 

I love people watching, and quite enjoy the challenge of drawing really quickly - just to try and capture a snapshot of them going about their business. These sketches are not very accurate nor detailed, nor (sadly) very flattering. 

From a window in my house I can see a stretch of pavement and can watch people walking down it - or only about 15 seconds (I'm going to time this to check how long it actually is - it certainly doesn't feel very long). If I look at the page for too long I miss someone appearing. If they are jogging it's a huge challenge. If they are cycling it's almost impossible (but I still occasionally have a go). My favourites are those that stop to think about crossing the road, but that rarely happens. 

On Friday, I sat there from about 8-9 and tried to draw as many people as I could. Their frequency increased as it got nearer to 9 and so the pictures get faster and faster. 

There have been some days when I've not drawn a member of the public... three days that feature the manikin as it had got too dark to draw anyone out of the window and no one was walking down the road anyway.

The July people sketchbook also includes 2 tennis players (from television footage), 3 unflattering pictures of members of my family (they are used to it), 7 of friends that I dance with while we were away earlier in the month, 2 pictures of my feet (always a rather desperate sign when these are my topic - they are the very last resort and appear infrequently in the drawing a day books). 2 cyclists, 2 people in front of me in the cinema, 1 picture of Meg Ryan from a film I watched and one incredibly rare self portrait! Just a few days to go, so I'll try and draw some more people from the window, or venture to the park as these are my favourite to do.

Sketchbook

Day 20 | #MarchMeetTheMaker is #Sketchbook (See also Day 5- my 'can't live without'!).

 

I do a drawing a day ...everyday. Mostly these are directly observed.

 

Here are some of the archives. As today is also the first day of spring I've opened a couple of books to pages featuring daffodils or sheep / lambs.

 

Drawing everyday means I am 'Sketching The Seasons', something I plan to focus even more heavily on in the future. These are in effect diaries- I sketch where I go, or what I see, and always have a sketchbook with me.

 

People seen here are people walking down my road, a band at a bluegrass festival and a quick sketch from Good Life Experience last year. Eagle eyed will also spot the food and drink...

 

This is my comfort zone (rather than technology), moving these to the product and the shop is my next focus.

 

On your marks, get set... MAKE!

I had a wonderful long weekend with one of my best friends and chief motivator- Louise of  Louise Mary Designs ... a talented Jeweller and Silversmith based in South Derbyshire.

We spent a lovely long time in her fab studio (that she runs Jewellery making workshops in, which is the best fun!). We were both busy making, she in beautiful silver and gold and I with pen and ink. Often we were both silent and engrossed, but so nice to have each other's company. 

Louise has taken some fantastic product photos for me that you can see in my shop!

It seemed only right that I should do one of my Drawing A Day sketches of her hard at work at her desk, from sitting at mine! 

Louise Mary Designs working on her beautiful Love Grows collection

Drawing at the Good Life Experience

I'm slowly getting braver at drawing in public. This weekend was the perfect type of set up for this, relaxed crowds, places to sit and sketch, out of the way or sitting in a talk, in lovely company at The Good Life Experience. 

The picture on the left was done quickly of another member of the large crowd that were listening to Ben Fogle talk. On the right I had to draw Charlie Gladstone (one of the founders of the Good Life Experience) super quickly as he introduced Tristan Gooley and his talk on Natural Navigation as he was only there for a matter of seconds. I rushed to paint Tristan and so the ink ran a bit but learnt my lesson and managed to let the ink dry before painting next time...

It then seemed only right that I should try and draw Jennie Maizels as she did her talk about sketching and her sketchbook club.

Such a fun weekend.

Digging

A few weeks ago I popped home and while I was there Dad was doing some digging. We put a few potatoes in (I was allowed to help in my sisters absence!).

Over Easter both my sister and I were at home and so she resumed her role and I resumed mine - supervising with my sketchbook!

Behind the scenes...

This is my sister and her co-conspirator, in their detective themed fancy dress, frantically texting whodunnit clues from their public house headquarters a few weekends ago. The case-busting text recipients were (merrily) working their way from one secret location to another, celebrating the 30th birthday of my brother-in-law.

People watching...

... is one of my favourite things!

I like to watch how people walk - slowly, purposefully, scuttling, urgently, thoughtfully, happily, sadly, excitedly, routinely... on their own or with friends, relations, loved ones

I like to see what they are wearing - is it related to the weather, where they are going, or coming from... school, work, dog walk...

I like to wonder where it is they are going to and what is on the agenda for today... briefcase, instrument case, handbag...

I've recently re-discovered speedy people sketches. On a small stretch of pavement that I can see I've been trying to capture those that go by in the short amount of time they are there for. The pavement is only about 30 metres long, and so it is under a minute that it takes people to cover it - coming into and going out of view.