More random stuff

 SQ Grand Mosque © Sue Pownall 2012

It's that time of year when I hit exhausted, which here in the Gulf is not helped by the heat - officially 48c as I type. It can't 'officially' go over 50 because work has to stop, this crazy temperature is NOT the reality. Feels like 41? No way more like feels like 51!!!!

Anyway it's been a strange few weeks. After the radio interview, which I shared in my last post, I was interviewed about my sketching for Y Magazine. The edition came out last Tuesday and below is the double page spread. The Pdf is here: http://www.y-oman.com/issues/224.pdf

With both the radio and the magazine interviews focusing on my sketching I thought I should do some, so on Sunday I went to Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. I was meeting a friend there who had never been. I arrived early in order to do the outside scene; sat in my car out of the heat of course. Top and below.

© Sue Pownall 2012

Whilst my friend wandered around, I found a spot to sit on the carpet and tried to capture some of the beauty of the mosque. However a quick sketch can hardly do it justice, so I must return with a whole morning to spare.

© Sue Pownall 2012

Finally, as my friend listened to a man talk about the mosque and Islam, I spent a couple of minutes trying to get an impression of the chandelier.

© Sue Pownall 2012

Drawing in an A5 sketchbook can only begin to capture it because:

The largest chandelier known in the world, weighs 8.5 tons. Made of Swarovski crystal, has gold plated metalwork, and hangs down for a length of 14 meters.  Source Ministry of Information & Swarovski Architecture.

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My interview at Merge Radio

Mini Artist-in-residence 2

Rajastan scarf © Sue Pownall 2012

mmmm so I turn up at Merge 104.8 for my 2nd morning sketching there, and Chris interviews me live on air. I'm sure I sounded like a complete idiot although a friend texted "SKETCH SUE! U ROCK MATE! :-D just heard yr intrview w chris on merge! " Later at an event I attended, I got "Oh that was YOU". Wasn't sure how to take that! :D 
Chris has promised me a mp3 file of it, so I may put it with a slideshow, depending how dippy I sound.

A guest in Al Wisal's studio © Sue Pownall

I was feeling tired and headachy, so I used a pencil in A5 sketchbook, but I'm not sure the 2 facts are connected especially as my default is pen. I warmed up with a couple of sketches of Chris. Then I sketched the guy being interviewed by Madiha in Al-Wisal's studio. I liked how his musar & face stood out through the maze of mike stands, hence the application of watercolour. For my penultimate sketch, it was again the flash of colour that attracted me to the sketch, in this case the beautiful Rajastani scarf. (top).

Reading the news. © Sue Pownall

The final sketch, below, was of Chris interviewing a guest and I think is the best likeness so far. I have a 3rd opportunity to sketch the station as I have been invited to their 1st birthday celebration, but it's next Thursday. I need to work out a few logistical hiccups, but I'm supposed to be going up a mountain then, so won't be able to attend the birthday bash.

Interviewing a guest © Sue Pownall

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Please can I remind everyone that all my images are copyrighted and if you want to use them for anything, on facebook, a blog, profile pic on... etc. you must have my written permission and link back to me. The link should either be my site www.suepownallartist.co.uk or facebook www.facebook.com/SuePownallArtist

Mini Artist-in-residence

Al Wisal studio, A4 sketchbook, © Sue Pownall 2012

I first met Chris Fisher, presenter & programme director at Merge radio, at the St Patrick Day celebrations where I was drawing dancers. Our paths crossed again earlier this month and Chris invited me into his studio to sketch: a mini artist-in-residence albeit only for a morning. I went in on Tuesday, whilst Chris was doing the morning show.

Through the studio window I could see the presenter of Al Wisal, an Arabic station, and her two guests. Even though this was to be my first sketch of the morning I decided to draw that. I hadn't realised how difficult it is to draw faces blocked by microphones as both this, and my next sketch show.

Chris & studio guest, A4 sketchbook, © Sue Pownall 2012

I added the colour to both sketches whilst in Chris' studio. Despite the first one not being a good likeness of Madiha, she took a picture with her ipad and posted it to facebook whilst I was still there.

After the show,  Chris made a cup of tea and I tried to capture his portrait, however he is very active as he speaks leaving me with only flashes of the position I started drawing.

Chris, A5 sketch in pencil © Sue Pownall 2012

I may be going back for a 2nd sketching session next week, so I really will be their artist in residence.

The proof I was sketching on site.