Art Every Day Month (AEDM)

 Having done quite well on #Inktober, I thought I would continue the momentum by joining in Art Every Day Month (AEDM). AEDM is hosted by Leah at creativeeveryday.com throughout the month of November. She states: "Art is loosely defined here... anything creative, whether that be painting, drawing, knitting, sewing, cooking, decorating, writing, photography, clay, jewelry-making." 

As with Inktober, I've set up an album on Facebook (#aedm2014) but am posting here at the end of each week, I hope, so here are my results for week 1.

 1st November

 Art in the form of a photo of this evening's striped sky. 

Quote from Shelley's Hymn to Intellectual Beauty, st. 3. (1816).

2nd November

On All Souls' Day (2nd Nov) the Roman Catholic Church remembers all those who have died - not just the great and the good, but ordinary man-in-the-street. Before the Reformation, in Britain, it was customary for poor Christians to offer prayers for the dead, in return for money or food (soul cakes), from their wealthier neighbours. On that day, I prayed for my dad, who loved cakes, although I think these would have been too plain for him.

3rd

Watercolour pencil in A4 Daler sketchbook

daysoftheyear.com state that the 3rd of November is both Jellyfish Day and Sandwich Day, so that's what I chose to draw. Jellyfish source: www.sciencebuzz.org

4th

Photo taken that morning, I hope the saying is wrong.

5th

In 1605, thirteen young men planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Among them was Guy Fawkes, Britain's most notorious traitor. The Plot was foiled in the night between the 4th and 5th of November. Already on the 5th, agitated Londoners who knew little more than that their King had been saved, joyfully lit bonfires in thanksgiving. As years progressed, however, the ritual became more elaborate. (Source: www.bonfirenight.net) I took this photo in Italy a few years back and added the traditional rhyme on the 5th.

6th & 7th

I'm not sure if painting the kitchen ceiling really counts as being either artistic or creative, but it was certainly productive. Then last night, I went to a product promotion and I creatively completed the order form with a sketch of the ladies opposite.

 

  #aedm2014 seems to be turning out into a mini investigation into British rhymes and traditions, so I shall do more over the next week.

What do you think so far?

A week of sketches

 First, 23rd April and trying to paint the stormy sunset with Degas on the lead on Qantab beach looking west to the mountains.

Next, 24th April, Sultan Qaboos Highway & Ministries District from NTI building in Al Khuwair. It is unfinished, there are buildings missing in the background, as I had to go to a meeting. 

Then that evening, I drew the peel of an Egyptian clementine.

Finally, today 1st May, and the first of the EDiM (Everyday in May) challenges: a window. This is my kitchen window through the kitchen door.

All in my Stillman & Birn, Gamma series, A5 sketchbook. A free gift at last year's USk Symposium.

If you want to join in EDiM, the facebook group is here.
The flickr group is here.

Continuing the momentum

La Sagrada Familia, ©Sue Pownall

 Several of us wanted to see the Sketching Barcelona exhibition (by Miguel Herranz, Lapin, Sagar Fornies, Òscar Julve, and others) and to sketch in Bari Gòtic or El Born and so met up the next morning. After the exhibition, which was amazing and inspiring, we went to Granja Dulcinea a xocolateria. Shantele and her partner ordered churros with their chocolate. Kindly they didn't eat them whilst I drew them. I couldn't draw my chocolate as I drank it. I was very impressed as Shantele didn't have her sketchbook with her but soon adopted the suggestion of drawing on a serviette.

Churros. A5 sketchbook ink & watercolour

The above photo was taken by Chris, the only non-sketcher whilst he was waiting to eat the churros. It shows Alissa, Chris H, Shantele with napkin, myself, Dave Black, & Yvonne sketching.

Reflections. Watercolour moleskin ©Sue Pownall

 Afterwards, Chris, Alissa & I walked into El Born district looking for subjects. I left Alissa sketching a door and Chris found an alley she wanted to do. I wandered around a while longer before I saw a distinctive window in a plaza. Luckily, there was a bench across the way and I took out my new watercolour moleskin (given on Virginia Hein's workshop) and tried to capture it. I'm quite pleased with the results and it is not as wonky as the scan implies - my bad photoshop stitching is partially to blame. I can't believe I tackled something so challenging; I think it's partially due to confidence gained from the symposium and a big improvement on how I felt at La Sagrada at the beginning of the trip. Unfortunately, intimidation reset-in later in the day when a lot of us met at CCCB'd cafe and everyone was drawing everyone else. It did make me smile when I asked to see the amazing Luis Ruiz's sketchbook and he said "it's only workshop drawings", just like I had done moments earlier to someone else.

Tapas. A5 sketchbook. Ink & watercolour

When I finished the window it was lunchtime, so I went to a tapas bar I have visited before. It's slightly expensive but very tasty. I sat at the counter and ate a tapas whilst drawing another. Not liking stuffed peppers, I was able to draw that from the plate near me.

La Sagrada Familia moleskin sketchbook.

The next day, before checking out of my hotel, I went back to La Sagrada Familia. As it was only 9am, there were very few people about and I found a bench with a great view. There's a very heavy influence from Norberto Dorantes as I experimented more with non-waterproof ink. It's also inspired by the work of others on the symposium. I am very pleased with this sketch, so it was a good way to end. All too soon, it was time to head to the airport for a week in UK, and to start planning my return to Barcelona.

Sketching Muscat Festival V

Serving food to the masses A5 sketchbook ©Sue Pownall 2012

I went to the Festival on Friday for an hour, but like long-weekends anywhere in the world, everyone and his granny was there. I completed the above sketch in an area next to the Heritage Village. This is where I normally grab a pancake-type Omani snack food smothered in date syrup (like strong honey). In the huge saucepans the ladies have traditional Omani dishes like harees which get served in small plastic containers and eaten with spoons, unlike the pancake thing which dribbles syrup all over the place, namely fingers and clothes. I sat on a wall at the end of the  cooking area and did a pied-piper of Hamlin, gathering a huge group of children around me. One girl did a good job of keeping my view clear, however I had to ask another one a couple of times not to lean on my arm - you can spot the wonky lines as it, naturally, was my drawing side.

The women where I buy my pancakes & date syrup.

In case you are wondering, I can afford to pop in and out of the Festival, not because I have a pass or masses of money, but because it costs only 0.200 bz per adult. As 1 Omani Rial is £1.64 or $2.59 that's a massive 32p, 39€ or 51c! How's that for good value?!

Today, was my first non-sketching visit. I arrived from work after 5pm and realised the temperature had dropped and there was a chilly wind. I had taken my scarf out of the car on the weekend and so was only in shirtsleeves. It was also grey and overcast making it seem kinda gloomy. I walked around and found a group of musicians to sketch but... my worse nightmare... I couldn't find my pen. I turned my bag inside out and back again, by which time the musicians had wandered off and was left clutching a biro, which along with a yellow highlighter (no idea how that got there) were the only pens in my bag. Thoroughly chilled and upset at the loss, I went for a pancake to eat on my way back to the car. There I found my pen tucked down the back of the passenger seat along with my eye drops and lipsalve. phew As there's no sketch for today, here's a photo of group of musicians and dancers, complete with bagpipe player, in the Heritage Village.

My next planned visit is on Tuesday, which is the first day of the Oman Food Festival, which is in the area where the Embassies Bazaar was held.

Who needs a tv? aka Sketching Muscat Festival III

Into the arena, A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2012

I'm having the BEST time at Muscat Festival. Apart from the cultural things, what can beat a nighttime performance of fountains dancing to classical music complete with lasers and pyrotechnics? Or what about an Arabic drama complete with a two-headed bad guy, who every time he entered the stage is accompanied by red lighting and fog?

Sword men, A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2012

I dashed straight to the Festival from work yesterday afternoon and went to the Heritage Village. Gasping for a cup of tea I bought one, sat on the bench and looked around to see what I could draw. Due the beginning of a long weekend, I think, the crowds were large and my view kept getting blocked, but I quite like the final result of the sword men. A young boy who was watching me snapped a shot on his iphone before wandering off.

As I had arrived straight from work the next stop was outside the village area to get a falafal sandwich. Food is an important part of the festival, so I sketched the food stand, despite the fact it was almost dark and I could hardly see my sketchbook. I'd have loved to add some colour, but my eyes hurt, so I'll add food stands to my have-to-sketch-at-festival list.

Burgers, shwarmas & falafal ,A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2012

After watching the fountains and snapping with my phone (chose not to take DSLR but found I'd also left compact camera at home) as I tried to capture some of it, I headed back to the Heritage Village and sketched the men with their swords and guns as they waited to parade past the tv cameras resplendent with their swords shaking, guns held aloft, chanting, and drumming accompaniment. (top drawing)

Snapped with my smart phone after I wasn't so smart by forgetting my camera.

I then took a walk around the park enjoying the atmosphere. I discovered that there is a whole section sponsored by embassies based in Oman, so tomorrow I plan to head back there to draw. The Palestinian dancers were great fun, but I think moving too fast for me to capture. Check back here later to see if I sketched them or not.

Just before the two-headed baddie appeared engulfed in smoke.

 Then finally, I went to see some of the Arabic play, which was staged in the auditorium. It was good fun and, please note I do not speak or understand Arabic, so this is purely guesswork, seemed to be set in old Turkey and was sort of a pantomime style play. There was dramatic lighting, smoke, a song - not sure why, and as I mentioned above a two-headed bad guy. The kid in front of me was terrified the first time the baddie came on the stage and clambered over his mum to the protective arms of his dad. Where I was sat, under the stars, it was virtually without light, but I tried to capture the lines anyway. Wished I'd had some fat coloured crayons as I couldn't see the marks I was making with my 0.1 pen. Any way I have posted the result below.

An example of blind sketching.A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2012

*******

NB: All sketches are completed 100% at the Muscat Festival and are drawn from life.

I am using black ink but as usual scanning and photo correction is an issue.

1.1.11

Illustration Friday: Resolution. Pen & Ink 120x120mm

Yesterday's prompt for Illustration Friday was Resolution; very apt for the New Year. Whilst, I personally do not eat burgers many people today will resolve to give up fast food, eat healthily etc. However, the majority of people break their resolutions swiftly.

My art-based resolutions made last year were all more or less achieved (I failed partially on wasting time on the internet) and have not written this year's yet, although I know I want to prioritise my art above everything else. As this first illustration of the year has been completed before breakfast (looking at burgers 1st thing even though it was a photo - ugh ) I think I'm off to a good start.

Happy 2011, may it bring you peace & happiness.

 Finally, to quote urban sketcher Paul Wang 

"Laugh lots and sketch more"

Comfort food on a cold snowy Valentine's / EDM 232 Last thing you bought

 

Here in Turin it's a cold grey day, alternating between sleet & rain. I went out to an antiques morning for a little window/stall shopping and this is what I bought... a huge croissant, which didn't fit the plate. I'm not normally a sweet eater, give me a packet of crisps any day, but recently I've been eating lots of cakes & pastries. Better find some scales soon.