Sketchmeet: Concert in the park.

Impression of the bandstand and The Band of The Parachute Regiment

Last Sunday, I arranged for the Colchester Sketchers to sketch at the bandstand in Colchester Castle Park where The Band of the Parachute Regiment were playing. The concert was great, the sun was out for the majority of the afternoon, and there was a good turn out of sketchers. The only negative has to be my wonky perspective and roof on my watercolour.

People in the audience

The band leader

After doing the watercolour sketch, I did the two quick pencil sketches above.

What do you think of them? The band liked my watercolour.

*****

Next Sunday, if you are in the Colchester area, you will find me at the Farmers Market at Bourne Mill, where I have a table showing sketches, paintings and selling prints and cards. Pop by and say hello :)

Have a lovely week everyone.

Folk & coffee

Carys, direct watercolour.

 Yesterday, I arranged for the Colchester Sketchers to meet at the monthly folk session of SlackFolk. We had a great turn out, but due to venue limitations didn't manage a group shot at the end.

First sketches underway

 The music and atmosphere was great, so I spent a lot of time just listening. As usual, I also did a lot of chatting to the other sketchers too... 

2 acts in pencil

I still managed several sketches, of which I think the direct watercolour ones are the best. Do you agree?
What did you sketch this weekend?

Bex & Freda, direct watercolour

Tiptree Sings at Christmas

First, an apology as the autoposting to this blog hasn't worked for the last few posts. You can check out the missing ones here: Blog posts.

I love going to see choirs sing at Christmas, so last night I went back to Tiptree to see a friend sing in the choir she belongs to. The setting was St Lukes church, which I have only drawn from the outside, so made sure I had coloured pencils alongside my sketchbook.

My first sketch was of some of the female choristers chatting before the concert. They were very animated and seemed quite excited which I hope I captured in the sketch. What do you think?

Listening to the lovely singing, I sketched the top drawing showing a section of the choir and the church.

I forgot to take the proof of on-location sketching shot until the choir was about to start singing in the second half of the concert, but hopefully gives a little idea of my view.




Other news: I was very flattered when Simone Ridyard asked me to contribute to her architectural sketching book, Archisketcher. Yesterday, I received my copy and the whole book is fabulous! I would thoroughly recommend buying it for your shelves because of the fabulous content, not because of my contribution :)

Finally, due to logistics the Essex&Suffolk Sketchers have renamed themselves Colchester Sketchers. 

The FB group is here: Colchester Sketchers

Have a good week everyone.

A Perfect Day?!

Spindle Drilling Machine

This weekend is Heritage Weekend in UK with many interesting places open for free. Yesterday, taking advantage of the lack of entrance fee, I went to the Museum of Power, Langford.

In situ in Museum of Power

The sound and sight of The 'Simpson' Belt Driven Workshop attracted my attention, so I decided to sketch there. With so many machines, belts, and interesting things I chose a small section to focus on and the above sketch is the result. Here is the in-situ photo. This sketch was done with a sepia Derwent pencil in A4 Monologue sketchbook. Whilst the afternoon sketch was Winsor & newton watercolours, Staedtlar Pigment liner in Daler A5 sketchbook.

After lunch, Degas and I went to Goldhanger for their Gala Weekend. With a karate demo going on in the churchyard, I took Degas down the road and walked her around the sea wall before heading into the village. As musicians were setting up in the Salty Dogs Tea Room, we headed there. It was the perfect afternoon: What's better than drinking tea (and eating carrot cake), in a beautiful garden, listening to live music, with your dog lying at your feet as you sketch?

Music, tea & cakes in a beautiful garden.

 It was a lovely day. What would make your perfect day?

A Sketcher at Tavistock Edge

A small section of the flash choir.

As mentioned in my previous post, we were down in Devon to sketch the new Tavistock Edge event. My assistant was an absolute star, so we spent virtually all day at the event.

My assistant and I

First up was a flash choir in the Pannier Market. Naturally, I knew where and when this was occurring and found a bench to sit on, although hadn't planned on the huge crowd blocking my view. The sound was lovely and Degas was happy as long as she had her pig's ear and no-one stood on her paws or tail.

Next up, we wandered to the Buskstop, and sketched The Diggurz, who list the genre as roots/redneck/celtic. Degas was fantastic even having a little dance at one point. There is one sketch below, to see the rest please head over here.

Guitarist of the Diggurz.

From the Buskstop, we wandered down the road to see the Lodestone Border Morris group. Degas found the stick bashing a problem, yet still stayed for a couple of dances. I'm really pleased with the sketch as I tried to focus on the colour and movement. What do you think?

Lodestone Border Morris

 Finally, we wandered to St Eustachius' churchyard where there was a whole afternoon of entertainment. My favourite was Miss Von Trapp who describes herself as "Murderously Quirky Dark Cello Cabaret: Morbidly Vaudeville Songs, Cabaret Numb...ers and Performance Poetry to revolt and entertain..." and I thought she was brilliant.

My assistant checks out Mis Von Trapp

I certainly hope the festival will continue next year as we had a great time. To see all the sketches please go here.What do you think of my sketches? Have you sketched somewhere similar? Please leave a comment as I love to receive them.

Manchester sketchcrawl

Sketching the River Irwell sat on Calatrava's Trinity Bridge

 Yesterday,  I joined the Manchester,  Yorkshire,  and Society of Architectural Illustrators (SAI) for a sketchcrawl in Manchester. It was a surprisingly blue skied sunny day, but with an icy wind, which made outdoor sketching a challenge. As you can see from my sketches below, I alternated between outside and inside locations.

River Irwell from Trinity bridge. Sketch 1

I accidently bought a scone when I went for a warm up cuppa. Sketch 2.

Piano practice in Manchester Central Library's music library. Sketch 3.

Shivering and sketching at the end of the day. Sketch 4.

It was lovely to meet so many sketchers from all over (40+ at the interim lunch meeting) and hope to get up to Manchester and sketch again... albeit in a warmer month.

Show and tell social at the end of the day. Photo by Hakym.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig

Waiting to dance. Pen & watercolour in A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall

I hate going to pubs on my own and very, very rarely do it. In fact, I can honestly not remember the last time it happened. Friday was an exception. The new Irish bar, O'Malley's at the Radisson Blu, was having Irish dancers perform in the bar so I gathered sketchbooks, pens and watercolours, took a deep breath and went in.

Just one more, Pen & watercolour in A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall

I bought a drink (not Guinness as I don't drink beer in any form), found out where the dancers would perform, then sat down at a table.  First up was a sketch of two guys sat at the bar. They ordered "just one more" when I arrived and had 2 or 3 "one mores" before they left, which I think accounts for the slump of the guy on the right.

Irish dancers, Watercolour

Next, I sketched one of the dancers with amazing black, long, wavy hair and long legs sat on a bar stool waiting to dance. She was dressed in black shorts, tights, and under Tshirt with a green top, and I chose to add green to that. (Top sketch)

Dinner for the band. Pen & watercolour in A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall

Using a paintbrush I then tried to capture the dancers, but it was a bit dark and I soon gave up to watch. However, after they finished I then sketched the band whilst they ate their dinner (the green was added at home from memory). That completed my A5 sketchbook, which was started on November 24th.

Boxty Band. Pen & watercolour in A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall

I moved seats to the bar, feeling very conspicuous, in order to watch the band play. Luckily, my mum posted me out a new A5 Daler Ebony sketchbook that arrived a couple of weeks ago and after a little hesitation, I sketched the band members. They were not stood in this order and there were only 4 of them, but one guy played 2 instruments to I sketched him twice. I should have had 6 figures, but had put my sketchbook away when the accordion player played a short piece on a flute.

Happy St Patrick's Day everyone.

*****

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Sketching Muscat Festival 2012

Drummers, pen in A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2012

Muscat Festival, a month long annual event, started this weekend. These sketches were done on the Qurum Park site, at the festival's Heritage Village. This is my favourite area at the festival as I enjoy the different groups with their traditional dances and music.

Preparing wool, pen in A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2012

I also really like seeing the traditional method of producing things such as the ladies who were preparing wool prior to spinning.

Painting the women preparing wool.

WIP Drummers.

It's funny as I went to get these images of Omanis, but I ended up with as much interest  as some of the performers. I had guys taking photographs of me painting the performers, with both professional cameras and iphones, as well as crowds of onlookers watching my every brushstroke.

Despite the spotlights, I only stayed a couple of hours as I found it hard to focus and draw in that light. In that time I had 2 pages of people sketches in ink and these 3 watercolours, so I had been productive. I plan to return on Monday and have already chosen a few traditional activities I want to draw.

*****

Edit: 1 Feb slightly better colour scans from a local printer.

Performers waiting to enter the Heritage Village ©Sue Pownall 2012

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

Sketching Trinidad in Cuba

 Iglesia de Santa Ana © Sue Pownall 2011

The other town I visited in Cuba was Trinidad, where I ended up spending 10 very relaxed days. Apart from having a sketchbook in some form always with me, I was not actually very disciplined with my art whilst I was there. The first morning, after a downpour, I walked through the steaming and rapidly drying streets to the ruined church of Santa Ana, with the thoughts it could be a potential subject. It was, as you can see above, however I ended up with the very difficult perspective due to it being the only available bench in the shade. That evening I went for dinner at Sol y Son restauran,t which is in a beautiful old colonial building. Whilst waiting for my delicious meal, I sketched some of the eclectic objects and plants, such as an angel, adding colour later back at my accommodation. So that was 2 drawings on my first full day.

Sol y Son restaurant. A6 sketchbook. © Sue Pownall 2011

The next morning after another heavy morning downpour, I stopped at the Pelanque de Los Congas Reales to see a group that play rumba, African rhythms, and have a troupe of dancers too. Unfortunately, I planned the page to have musicians top left then dancers below bottom right, but got too distracted by watching the show that I didn't draw the dancers.

Tonadas Trinitarias. Pencil in A3 © Sue Pownall 2011

© Sue Pownall 2011

The following day was the fiesta for the official end of summer and I went to the beach to see how the Cubans did it. The answer with lots of live music, dancing, beers, rum and laughter.

On the beach. © Sue Pownall 2011

Having skipped another day of drawing in order to have a dance class, I went out the next two consecutive mornings to draw. On the first I did a painting of the main square, which was dreadful, and then the following morning I wandered to the outskirts of town and inked and painted these dwellings (above) taking about an hour and a half. As this was a poorer part of town I did have several people begging for money, pencils or soap, however most people just said a cheerful hello asked who I was and what I was doing.

Near Ermita de la Popa. A3 pen & watercolour. © Sue Pownall 2011

Out of the handbag III (UK)

Across the river. Ink in A6 sketchbook© Sue Pownall 2011

Here are a few sketches from my A6 handbag sketchbook drawn over the last couple of weeks. Last Saturday, my parents & I went up to the Royal Academy to see their Summer exhibition, so I sketched on the train up.

© Sue Pownall 2011

© Sue Pownall 2011

 We then went over to Sadler's Wells to see the amazing show Fela!. First I sketched the musicians on stage and then the audience listening to them before the show started.

© Sue Pownall 2011

Fela! Pen & ink and watercolour in A6 sketchbook.© Sue Pownall 2011

I didn't think the sketchbook took watercolour as the pages are thin, but couldn't resist adding colour to the stage of Fela! after I returned from watching the fabulous show. It took quite well, luckily.

© Sue Pownall 2011

Wednesday I went back up to London to see the Watercolour exhibition at Tate Britain. Fantastic exhibition and very inspirational! I drew the woman doing the crossword on the train up. After the exhibition, I caught the water taxi to the Tate Modern, where I went to my favourite cafe on the 7th floor and, inspired by the watercolour exhibition, drew the view across the river. (Posted at top of this post). It took 30 minutes, which for those who know me, is a long time for me on a single sketch.

Doha SketchCrawl plus.

Pencil in A5 sketchbook. © Sue Pownall 2011

Last Saturday I arranged another Doha SketchCrawl. On the day we lost four sketchers; one due to a flood in their apartment, the other had to work, one was in hospital (get well soon Maria), and one got time/places confused. However, two new women turned up, plus a friend and myself, at the meeting point - Museum of Islamic Art (MIA). Note to self, catch up with friends before I'm due to start sketching, as my friend and I did a big catch up and little drawing.We wandered around the upper-galleries, which I hadn't visited before, then stopped in the last gallery to draw this example of armour.

View from MIA.

Abandoned view

Going back downstairs I wanted to draw the heavy machinery working on the new museum park. Not concentrating and feeling bad after the physio I'd had earlier, I didn't scale nor compose it properly and gave up. Meeting up with the other ladies for a show and tell, they put my friend and I to shame with the number of sketches they had done. ho hum

Thank you everyone for showing concern over my health. So far I have had 3 physio sessions, but they are not offering any relief, in fact seem to be aggravating things. Currently, I'm on sick leave (again) trying to rest and see if that helps things. However, when I was in physio, I sketched the pillows in front of me - all I could see while strapped to a machine.

On the 1st, I went to a fabulous concert by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra with the conductor/violinist Salvatore Accardo playing Beethoven, Vivaldi & Rossini. Magical. I sketched a little but it was too dark and the music too good to do anything but listen.

Pen & ink in A6 sketchbook. © Sue Pownall 2011

Finally, another musical sketch from when I was the first to arrive to meet some friends, so drew the piano.

Pen & ink in A6 sketchbook. © Sue Pownall 2011