A splash of colour & a competition

First, a splash of colour. At my last night of Muscat Festival, I took a photo of some women clapping and dancing and capturing the movement and as I took it I told a friend I’m going to paint that. Not having brought any acrylics to Oman, they are at my flat in Italy, I did this small study in watercolour and gold leaf. I’ve got some acrylics now thanks to the generousity of artist Yousuf Al Nahwi, who gave me some of his supplies and will be tackling a canvas soon.
My 2nd Festival Face is this half-blind Omani woman. At an earlier stage it looked like Voldemort meets Mother Teresa as I’d only draw the scarf, necessary as it defines the face, and her eyes, my starting point. The title is a problem: as JK Rowlings has copyright on the name Voldemort I can’t use that in the title, and I feel “Blind Omani Woman” is on par with “Untitled”. I received the proposal of calling it “Meskina” which is Arabic for poor woman, but that doesn’t feel right.

Any suggestions? 

Leave your title in the comment box below, then like my facebook page, and you could win a prize. If I like your suggestion the best, you will receive 5 of my Secret Garden greeting cards, but you must like my facebook page as well as comment here. I look forward to receiving the titles. I will post the finished portrait, it's new title and the winner on March 8th, International Women's Day. btw Secret Garden is on the top right of the banner.


This second WIP has been hanging around for a while. It’s part of the Decay Series: Scottish Ruins series, which you can see here. I did the pencil placement in UK back in November. I inked the outline when I moved into this flat mid-Jan and started the initial shading. Then this week, I started on the details of the castle as a counter to the precision of the portrait. Not sure, when I’ll next work on it, so you will have to check back again.

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Don't forget to enter the competition:

Leave your title suggestions here, 

then pop over to my facebook page and click like.

Mini adventure to Scotland

Solitude © Sue Pownall 2011

Taking advantage of being in UK for a little longer than anticipated, I took the opportunity to go to the opening of the brilliantly organised Trees For Life Charity Exhibition at Out of the Blue, Edinburgh. Details of the charity event can be read in my post Trees for life charity fundraiser. I would like to say again a big thank you to Trevor Jones, whose concept and hardwork brought it to fruition.

Newcastle Hotel, Rothbury A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2011

I chose to drive up as I was dogsitting, whilst my parents went on holiday, which meant I got to spend some time in beautiful woods, parks & on beaches as I exercised him. I drove up to Northumberland the first day and stopped about an hour from the border. That evening, we both visited the dog-friendly bar of the Newcastle Hotel where I sketched a few of the locals. The next morning, after a foggy walk on the moors along St Oswald's Way, we crossed into Scotland at Coldstream. We stopped for tea at Hirsel where I outlined the building opposite us, then added watercolour later.

Hirsel. A5 Sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2011

Next, after a drive around Edinburgh, we visited the beach at Portobello, before heading to our hotel. I've mentioned before that Nelson always loves the sea and barks at the waves as they crash on the sand and I took the opportunity of a near empty beach to photograph him. More photos from the trip are on flickr.

© Sue Pownall 2011

That evening, I drove to the gallery for the opening of the exhibition, meeting the harried Trevor Jones briefly, before admiring all the donated work. I was delighted to see that Jeanette Jobson was hung on the adjacent board, as it was her contribution The Gate Keeper, which you can see here, that got me involved. You can still snap up some original pieces of art at the bargain price of £45 each, including  The President's Tree, either at the exhibition, which is open until the 13th November, or on the website here. Below are a few photos from the night.

Opening speech by Trevor Jones

Gentlemen looking at mine & Jeanette's work.

My drawing, The President's Tree, & I

Don't forget to visit the charity's website www.treesforlife.org to see how they aim to restore the Caledonian Forest. Finally a quote from Trevor written last Saturday:

"£5135 and counting  ... We've raised so much money already so thanks again to all of you."

Let's get the remaining pictures sold  and push that total higher!

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.

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.

Decay

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

Here is another of my decay series; this time a house in Scotland. I finished it on Saturday.

Original photo by and used with permission from: D Flanagan.