Autumnal signs

28th Sept

Last weekend, whilst I had a little spare time here in UK, I tried to capture some of the British autumn. Unfortunately, I haven't stopped running around nor touched my sketchbook since. 

Dad's tomato plant 29th Sept

 Let me know if you like these, or would like to see more. Thanks.

On the trail of a nomad.

© Sue Pownall 2011

For those of you kind enough to ask where I am and what I am doing here's a quick update, although these first photos may give a clue...

1st sunset © Sue Pownall 2011

In September I expected to return and stay in Qatar, however as I wrote in October's post WoOZ life sometimes has different ideas for us. A few people thought I was being mysterious about my plans: I wish I had been. The reality was that being left in the lurch without a job, which I must have to pay the mortgage and normal day-to-day expenses, I honestly didn't know what I was going to do or where I was going to do it, other than temporarily return to the UK.

A few days after the Edinburgh trip, I flew out of Heathrow to return to Oman, which I had left end of 2009, returning to work for my first Omani company. This time I am not in the capital, but in the interior in a town called Ibra, working for the A'Sharqiyah University.  I had my first real exploration around today, visiting the souq and one of the older parts of this town - it's actually like a series of villages. 

Watermelon seller © Sue Pownall 2011

So far I have not done any drawing, but picked up a goat's skull today, which I may draw tomorrow. I have damaged it slightly as it was quite fresh, so I used several kettlefuls of boiling water to clean it, then realised some of the very soft nasal bone has fallen away. Still it's better than any left over goat or germs hanging around I think. It is now sitting on the windowsill scaring the neighbours.

EDM 285 - Draw something(s) that love(s) the sun

Drawing in my dad's garden this morning, all of these fruit and vegetables love & need the sun.

L - R cucumber flower (I just loved the way the flower was poking through the amazing leaf shape); apples; & mild pepper plant. All with pen, a micron 0.05), and watercolour.

EDiM - missing vegetable(s) تبولة‎

I still haven't ventured to the fruit & veg stall, but when my dinner was delivered last night, how could I resist drawing the chopped vegetables in the tabouleh??? It was so beautifully presented, (maybe to make up for the chef's inability to cook?) with great colours that I wish I had some watercolour paper left. Anyway, I did the best with the line drawing before I got too hungry and had to eat it.

The photo below is how it arrived, but certainly didn't look like that shortly afterwards as I ate it whilst drawing. Here's the vegetables I got to draw, albeit chopped up, plus cucumber and the olives, which I guess are actually fruit:

Tabbouleh (Arabic: تبولة‎; also tabouleh or tab(b)ouli) is a Levantine salad dish.
Its primary ingredients are finely chopped parsley, bulgur, mint, tomato, spring onion, and other herbs with lemon juice, olive oil and various seasonings, generally including black pepper and sometimes cinnamon and allspice. (source Wikipedia)