Isabella

Isabella, pencil, 160 x 245 mm.©Sue Pownall 2011

I was recently commissioned to do a portrait of six-year old Isabella. Isabella is full of character and I think her father had fun taking a range of reference photos for me. I chose this one as it shows her beautiful eyes and the charming gap in her teeth.

btw this drawing has a Scottish connection too: Isabella is half-Scots on her paternal side.

Scottish connections

Low tide at Plockton. Pen &  ink. 245 x 165 mm.©Sue Pownall 2011

My Scottish great-grandmother, I'm sure, would be interested in all my latest work. Over the last few months I have drawn 3 Scottish ruins, donated a drawing to the Scottish charity Trees for Life exhibition. Now, I have completed this drawing of Plockton as a donation for a raffle for "The Clan", who are cycling on behalf of the charity CLAN Cancer Support. Mr Flanagan explained about the event and the charity:

CLAN (www.clanhouse.org) is an independent charity based in Scotland that provides support to those affected by Cancer. We have been truly touched by the work of these amazing people who everyday devote themselves to helping others. We felt, whole heartedly, that it was time for us to do something for them.

So, in September 2011, our team of brave biking soles know as "The Clan"will set out from Aberdeen on the East Coast of Scotland and pedal off towards Plockton on the Atlantic Coast. Between us and our destination lay the Scottish Highlands and 280 kilometres.

Our goal: To raise awareness and much needed funds to help support CLAN and the life changing work they do. For this we need your help.

Please checkout their facebook page: "The Clan" We cycle for CLAN Cancer Support and their webpage: justgiving.com/Scotland-Coast2Coast and see how you can help or take part.

Original photo by and used with permission from:  Ian Cameron www.transientlight.co.uk

Putrescence

Refuge, Pen & ink. 320 x 200mm. © Sue Pownall 2011

Ruin III has been named - Refuge. Thank you Linda for the suggestion.

As you can see from the picture, it has been sold! It has been bought by the man who bought Darragh's House ~  my first collector ~ and he's talking about having the third in the series too.

If you are wondering about the title, I was in Thesaurus.com looking for synonyms of decay, and this one jumped out.

My seven links.

Khalifa's Gate, Omdurman.Pen & ink 400x200mm ©Sue Pownall 2010

The My 7 Links Project was generated by TripBase to "unite bloggers (from all sectors) in a joint endeavour to share lessons learned and create a bank of long but not forgotten blog posts that deserve to see the light of day again." Bloggers list their Top 7 Links in the following categories and then tag others and so it goes on.

I was tagged for this project by Lisa, who does a fabulous job as a travel concierge, and arranging travel reservations, weddings and more, at Wanderlust Women Travel.  Please pop over to her website.  

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Here are a selection of my past posts, which I think deserve this trip back in time:

My most beautiful post:

For me has to be the featuring of the first of my new Decay Series drawings, which has subsequently sold. Decay.

Darragh's House. Pen & ink. 320 x 200mm. © Sue Pownall 2011

My most popular post:

My art based resolutions for 2011 had the most hits, still continues to get regular hits, and had one of the highest number of comments.

My most controversial post:

I don't really do controversy, but at the beginning of this year my stats showed that someone had searched for Cute Eritrean Guys and landed on my art. Consequently, I used that as my next blog title to show my sketches & photos of the ATP tennis final.

My most helpful post &

a post I felt didn’t get the attention it deserved:

I am trying to use my art for good so two posts that mean a lot to me. 

First, the 31st WW Sketchcrawl Doha-Japan benefit, which I organised in Doha to raise funds for Japan following this year's earthquakes. This is the post which I wish had got more attention, so I could have raised more money.

Second, the post for the current exhibition for Scottish charity Trees for Life for which I donated a drawing. Please go to the website and you can buy my original drawing, or one of the others that have been submitted, for only £45 and 100% of profits will go to the charity.

The President's Tree, pen & ink, 160 x 230mm © Sue Pownall 2011

NB: A friend is organising a charity cycle ride for the end of September for CLAN cancer support and I will be donating towards their raffle too. Please look out for news here / on twitter /  facebook page: "The Clan" We cycle for CLAN Cancer Support / and the event website justgiving.com/Scotland-Coast2Coast . Clan's website is clanhouse.org if you want more information on the charity itself.

A post whose success surprised me:

Bear on a chair was a sketch I posted in August 2010 and then reposted for Illustration Friday as IF: Toy.

Bear on a chair. Pen & ink. A5 sketchbook ©Sue Pownall 2010

The post that I am most proud of:

This has been the hardest one to think of, but I think it has to be my first ever post here back in September '09, as it was the first time I really put my work out there for all to see. An idea of my work.

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Finally, my 5 nominations/tags to take part are:

Writer, ceramists, advocate of simple living, owner of a gorgeous boutique B&B, and my friend: Diana of A Certain Simplicity.

Fabulous photographer & Italy correspondent: LindyLou at News from Italy.

Artist: Sandra of Sandraws.

American expats in Calabria: Doug & Di of Il Terrazzo Italiano.

New twitter pal, artist and jeweller: The Hyper Monkey

Decay series: Ruins 2 & 3

Ruin III, Pen & ink. 320 x 200mm. © Sue Pownall 2011

I have spent all day finishing these two drawings, however I cannot think of a title for Ruin 3. Any suggestions?

Both drawings will now sit for a couple of days, and may receive the odd tweek here and there, but I'm calling them finished now.

 Dunottar castle. Pen & ink. 320 x 200mm. © Sue Pownall 2011

Both original reference photographs by and used with permission from: D Flanagan.Thank you.

Celebrating my sale.

Propping up the bar. A6 sketchbook. Pen & ink. © Sue Pownall 2011

To celebrate the purchase of my latest finished piece (see this post if you missed the news) and collect the money from the buyer, 3 of us arranged to meet in our favourite bar. The others were delayed due to meetings, so whilst I sipped my drink slowly and waited, I did these sketches.

Friends. A6 sketchbook. Pen & ink. © Sue Pownall 2011

Roses on the table. A6 sketchbook. © Sue Pownall 2011

The vase of roses also count as my first Everyday Matters challenges in a while: No. 76 draw some flowers with No.293 draw something made of glass.