What’s on my drawing board, June 24 2017
Lots of leaves This weeks drawing board is full of tropical leaves as part of my Palm House series of watercolour paintings, sketches and large acrylic works, inspired by the architecture and exotic tropical vegetation of the Sefton Park Palm House – a three tier dome shaped Victorian iron glasshouse in Liverpool, England. Top row: Sketch book with practice … Read More
What’s on my drawing board, May 26 2017
Practice makes perfect This weeks drawing board centres on an A3 size inked drawing of an ironwork spiral staircase surrounded by tropical vegetation in a glasshouse, part of my current Hot House Palms theme of artworks and designs. For this type of artwork I like to undertake quite a bit of preparation work practising colours and techniques, helping me … Read More
using Inktense pencils with an airbrush
I have been experimenting with my Derwent Inktense water-soluble colour pencils again. I’m obsessed with their luminosity and intensity, but must admit am finding it hard to maintain those attributes across a large area of work without things getting diluted on every stroke of my watercolour brush. Inktense pencils are easy to use, but I find when activating the … Read More
knitting in the winter
On my morning walk today I felt the first chill of winter, so I came straight home and dug my bag of knitting out of the cupboard. I only knit in the winter, I think its something to do with creating cosiness, and also doing something creative in the dark evenings when I don’t have natural daylight to help me paint or draw.… Read More
What’s on my drawing board, March 17 2017
I’m mostly experimenting Top row: Sketchbook with studies of houses for large pen and ink study currently under way. Cow parsley & daisy small watercolour experiments using household candles as a wax resist – it works surprisingly well – I just need to work out the sequence of masking items in the composition. Far top right – my small … Read More
What’s on my drawing board, March 02 2017
I’m mostly experimenting Top row: Sketchbook with studies of houses for large pen and ink study currently under way. Cow parsley & daisy small watercolour experiments using household candles as a wax resist – it works surprisingly well – I just need to work out the sequence of masking items in the composition. Far top right – my small … Read More
How to sew a felt ornament
This tutorial includes a materials list and easy to follow instructions so you can make a padded felt sun ornament. The finished sun measures 9cm in diameter, and is approx 1.5cm thick, and hangs by a length of embroidery thread / floss. If you have bought one of my Happy Sun Sewing Kits, then you will already have all the … Read More
What’s on my drawing board, Feb 07 2017
I’m mostly experimenting Top row: Sketchbook with studies of houses for large pen and ink study currently under way. Cow parsley & daisy small watercolour experiments using household candles as a wax resist – it works surprisingly well – I just need to work out the sequence of masking items in the composition. Far top right – my small … Read More
What’s on my drawing board, Jan 09 2017
Sea to sky Top row: Sketchbook with studies of houses (Looe, a coastal village – Cornwall, UK) for planned large pen and ink study. Set of Inktense pencils by Derwent (a Christmas present) and colour swatches in sketchbook; Inktense pencils can be activated with water to deposit vibrant ink colours onto the paper.Middle row: Strip picture experiments, depicting sea … Read More