Technology Outdoors. Week 3 : Wild Writing.

I was a little unsure how this week would work with my teaching and my adult students as well as my own art practice. Having completed it, I was inspired by the 3rd unit. This unit started off with looking at British artist Richard Long's work Two straight twelve mile walks on Dartmoor England. Then, the unit's activity is to encourage learners to observe and notice detail outdoors and record it by speaking or writing. It was encouraged to set a rule or parameter to guide their walking and observation.

In order to teach something like this, you need to try it, as I have with the previous weeks. Whilst I do like to write, I was inspired by one of the organisers to take photos on my walk. My rule was to note, using my phone's camera, where my dog stopped on our short mid-morning walk. Here's the result :

I like this response to it "... the poem made me feel like I can read your dogs thoughts".

****** 

If you are looking for my art, you will find it here: www.suepownallartist.co.uk 

Focusing on something different.

Spring greenhouse ©Sue Pownall 2015

It's been a busy couple of weeks. I had a weekend away and my poor assistant has been in Queen's Veterinary School Hospital, Cambridge for surgery on her elbows. She now needs lots of love and cuddles to help her recover.

My assistant is feeling sorry for herself.

I have mainly been creative in a photographic way, apart from a couple of sketches. The above one was drawn at my friend's house in Cheltenham over the course of 2 cups of tea, finishing just in time for breakfast. (sorry the scan has lost some of the watercolour details and turned it pink too). We have had surprisingly clear blue skies, which has made the UK spring look prettier. Here's a few examples... and a fire as the nights are still cold.

Cheltenham ©Sue Pownall 2015

Reflections in yellow, Cambridge. ©Sue Pownall 2015

Bath. ©Sue Pownall 2015

A single stem. ©Sue Pownall 2015

Abingdon. ©Sue Pownall 2015

 What have you done this week?

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?

It's my 3rd Blogoversary!

 Wow it's been 3 years since I started this blog! 

It started here with An idea of my work  and included drawings like this one, which was sketched in Jordan's Wadi Rum:

A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2005

Sketching and final artwork have dominated the posts, although some of my photography has crept in too, such as this one from Sharjah, UAE:

© Sue Pownall 2009

 The post with the most views was artbased resolutions back in January 2011.

One of the drawings I included in that post was this urban sketch drawn in Torino. It was influenced by the amazing sketches I see on the Urban Sketchers' site and in their flickr group.

At Fiat, Torino © Sue Pownall 2010

 Lots has happened in the last 3 years... little things such as my giving up the pseudonym Travelingsuep... Exciting things have occurred like having drawings exhibited...

Hung at CAS Winter exhibition.

... and 2 books of my sketches & photos published.

Portraits of Khartoum

Cuban Scenes

...As well as interviews in magazines, newspapers and on the radio.

Qatar's Woman Today magazine 2011.

  In the last 3 years, I have followed my nomadic inclination and worked and lived in: Oman, Italy, Sudan, and Qatar. By coincidence, I started the blog in Oman and I'm back in Oman again. I also travelled a little (Beirut, Istanbul, Spain, UAE, Italy, UK, South Africa), with the highlight being my trip to Cuba last year. These countries have influenced all my artwork and sketching a lot. For example, my latest personal work being portraits of Omanis in my Festival Faces  series.

The Grandfather. 240 x 330mm, Pen & ink. ©Sue Pownall 2012

  However, a big influence has come from the people I interact with on the internet through blogs, groups like the Urban Sketchers, and the artists I have met over the last 3 years as a consequence. I always appreciate your comments, thoughts, and advice when you stop by.

Thank you for all your support over the last 3 years
& I hope you continue to stop by.

Escape from responsibilities **Editted**

Hajar Mountain View, Watercolour & pen A5 sketchbook ©Sue Pownall

Last weekend, I took a break from drawing, studying, and worrying about the day job and took a weekend trip with the fabulous The Guide Oman. Their tagline is "A Tour Company that provides one-of-a-kind adventure and fun" and they certainly do - check them out at The Guide Oman.

Of course, whilst on a break I still sketched, took lots of photos, and did the painting above. The photo below, taken at a lunchstop in the mountains, shows me with sketchbook out. hmm addicted???

Lunchstop by © Rebecca Mayston

So warm paint dried on the brush

As you may have guessed from the top sketch, the trip was up into the mountains to escape the summer heat, which has now arrived in the city. It was especially beautiful as there's been a lot of rain recently so we got to see and play in the wadis (valleys/rivers). Below are some of my favourite photos from the trip.

Overflowing Falaj, Wadi Taiyyin ©Sue Pownall

Hajar Ash Sharqi ©Sue Pownall

Looking up ©Sue Pownall

Boo ©Sue Pownall

Wadi Taiyyin ©Sue Pownall

Maybe you can come and draw there with me next time?

*****

EDIT: Sandra commented on this post earlier "I wonder if you were to go sky-diving if you would still have your sketchbook out on the way down, lol!". The answer is ~ not on the way down, but these were drawn whilst waiting to go up and afterwards.

Pen & ink ©Sue Pownall 1987

Pencil ©Sue Pownall 1987

 The answer to the next question is -

 24 jumps, over a minute of freefall, and I worked as a rigger packing the shoots.

Sketching Muscat Festival XI

Waiting

Muscat Festival was extended a week, now closing this weekend, but there were not any more performances in the Heritage Village by the various villages. I am sad as I miss seeing my new photographer friends and all the lovely people working at the festival.

Tuesday night (21st) was the area of Wadi Bani Khalid and it was sooo colourful and I think everyone from there was in the Heritage Village as there were so many performers. After a couple of walk rounds, mouth open at the colours, but lacking suitable places to lean or sit, I stopped at a wall to sketch some ladies in beautiful outfits preparing a table of food. Unfortunately, I was distracted, see below, and the women moved to much so I abandonded the sketch.

1st drawing of the day

The distraction: whilst drawing I looked up and found myself surrounded by these lovely cute girls. I grabbed a passer-by to take the photo of us.

Sketching with girls from Wadi Bani Khalid.

I then drew a woman sitting very still, the perfect subject, BUT people came and sat blocking her from view, prior to her wandering off. I took photos as she needs to have colour added... she was wearing bright reds and greens as my top sketch, with gold around her ankles, purple strips, black... maybe I will complete it and post here.

This cries out for colour

Two more Where's Wally shots (Don't know what I'm talking about? then check out Festival X post) from my new friend and great photographer Ahmed Al-Harthy. You can see one of the ladies with an orange cloth on her head on the left. Yes, the man next to me is drawing. He drew a deer from his imagination.

20th February By Ahmed Al-Harthy

This one is by Waleed Mohammed taken on Tuesday. I have a very serious expression in this one, but it could be because I haven't got my glasses on.

Photo by Waleed Mohammed

The next day was my last sketching the festival, and I was more motivated to take photos than sketch. I did this watercolour early on, but they wandered off. 

Then, stood in the dark in the Qurum Park site I sketched these dancers without actually being able to see either pen nor paper. 

Totals for my Muscat Festival 2012

48      A5 sketchbook pages with drawings on (not often completed)

1        A4 sketchbook page with a pen & watercolour sketch

708   photographs, after deletingthe really bad ones.

Whilst on numbers this is my 300th post. I wonder what the next 100 will bring?

 *****

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The spring newsletter will be out soon.

Sketching Muscat Festival IX

Wednesday, feeling a little lazy after a long week working on a portrait, and as the performers arrived late, I just sketched people whilst watching and enjoying the evening. Stood by the tea stand, I sketched the men performing and standing around (below). Then I went and sketched the ladies with their wool and weaving (above).

Sketching the drawing above. Photo by Nasser Al-Jabri

Very embarrassing, one photographer Nasser, asked if he could take my photo as I drew the ladies. Then the swarm descended and I think there were about 6 photographers taking my pic. This one by Nasser is the only one I've seen, so i'm curious about the others.

Friday, I went to meet Omani artist Yousuf Ali Al-Nahwi. I didn't want to draw as I had spent the whole weekend working on the portrait and the detailed work had made my head and eyes ache. We had a fun afternoon and evening taking lots and lots of reference photos, discussing painting, ideas etc. We watched the show at 6.30 near the tv presenters (see last post) and photo below.

The presenters

Then after getting something to eat we discovered a show by Chinese acrobats, which was fantastic. Here are a few of my photos:

Qurayatt boy © Sue Pownall 2012

Casual © Sue Pownall 2012

Happy © Sue Pownall 2012

Qurayatt drummers © Sue Pownall 2012

Here I am © Sue Pownall 2012

 Twirl © Sue Pownall 2012

There are more photos in my Oman set on flickr.