ta da working again

WIP: Secret Garden.

WIP: Storm over Beirut II

Despite arranging the Doha WorldWide SketchCrawl (this Friday 15th), meeting journalists for interviews, arranging to see potential clients for commissions and everything else that has to be done, I have started drawing again. ta da 

The three WIP on the wall are progressing and I have decided that comfort eating doesn't help, but drawing gnarly trees is perfect.

btw on a technical note: I have gone back to using Rotring pens after buying some in Beirut last month. Let's see if they replace my favourite Staedtler Pigment Liners. So far, the ink is definitely blacker but the 0.1 nib is wider, why?

THREE WIPs with Secret Garden in the centre.

IF Duet

End of a cycle. Pen & watercolour 190 x 130 mm. ©Sue Pownall 2011

I know, I know, you are wondering how I got from this week's Illustration Friday prompt of duet to an illustration of dead roses. Well, the thought process went something like this...

Duet - oh cool - music, singers, dancers, flamenco, er.... pause. Then I saw Susan Sorrell Hill's duet entry where she wrote about renewal, spring, cycle of life. Here we don't get the obvious signs of spring, and my thoughts went to the end of the cycle - death, dying, dead flowers.

Perfectly sensible entry now that's clear, isn't it?

I apologise for the blueish cast, I can't get the colour correction right.

31st WW SketchCrawl Doha - raising funds for Japan

Due to some people only having Friday off in Qatar, I'm planning this event to start after Friday prayers. We are meeting in the Atrium Lounge, Sheraton Hotel and will sketch our way along the Corniche to the Museum of Islamic Arts' coffee shop. However, you can join us at any point. A suggested minimum donation per artist/photographer/watcher is 20QR, but you can donate as much as you like. All money will be donated through Artists Help Japan through http://give2asia.org/artistshelp . I have set up a FB event if you would like to contact me.

I'm a winner.

I've just heard that I have won Susan Sorrell Hill's anniversary give away, which is a print of her beautiful painting Inner Vision. woo hoo.

The post with the painting is on Susan's blog Dream & Vision here.
Susan's website with more of her fabulous work can be found at www.susansorrellhill.com

Thank you Susan for having the competition and choosing my name from the hat.

Slumped

WIP: Secret garden 2nd April

Works in NON progress for last 2 weeks.

The struggle continues, I've not even been sketching, however today I forced myself to work on Secret Garden. Bored now. Unmotivated.

A positive: I have updated my book Portraits of Khartoum with new improved cleaner pictures AND a price reduction. Why not order yourself a copy?

IF Toy

Bear on a chair. Pen & ink. A5 sketchbook ©Sue Pownall 2010

I'm reposting a drawing from last summer for this week's Illustration Friday as it is one of my favourite drawings I have done.

In a rut

Light sticks ©Sue Pownall 2011

I am currently in a rut. I know what I want to draw and have 2 drawings with their pencil outlines started and tacked to the wall, but do not have the motivation to continue either of them. I'm blaming being sick this last week, although I'm feeling 90% better now. As a motivator, and because the weather is perfect at the moment, I took a late afternoon walk along the length of the Corniche, which I haven't done before. My sketchbook remained in my bag, but I took lots of photos. Here are some of them:

Contemplation ©Sue Pownall 2011

Fishing reflections ©Sue Pownall 2011

Dusk on the Corniche ©Sue Pownall 2011

Think ©Sue Pownall 2011

Realise ©Sue Pownall 2011

"D" ©Sue Pownall 2011

©Sue Pownall 2011

Water reflections red ©Sue Pownall 2011

Water reflections blue ©Sue Pownall 2011

©Sue Pownall 2011

CBD ©Sue Pownall 2011

Icebergs

Storm over Beirut I. watercolour. 320x240mm.©Sue Pownall 2011

Things have been going well recently from my fabulous featured artist spot on art is fun, to my inclusion in the Blog Art Exhibition (see below), and an upcoming interview for a Qatari magazine, which wishes to feature me and my art. Luckily, I have a friend who grounds me. Thursday, I worked on the study above and left it after putting in the sky and the first tones of the sea, leaving rocks unpainted. Friday, said friend pops round and asks "What's this... icebergs?".

That aside, I don't normally need to do studies for the pen & ink work I do as I can see the finished drawing in my head and know how to execute it (although of course it goes through revision as I work on it). However, painting is another matter. I knew I wanted to paint this scene and I have at least two more versions floating around my head. This one has not come out as I intended due to several factors, wrong weight paper being one - I know a poor workwoman blames her tools, but mainly due to my lack of practice and a preference for acrylics, which are unfortunately in Italy. I do like the painterly style, but... I apologise for the poor quality of the copy, I have been ill and didn't want to walk down to the copyshop to scan it.

My part in the Blog Art Exhibition started Friday over on Trade your Talent. It is another focus on my Africa work and sketches, so I guess I need to go back soon as it has been so lucky for me. I'd like to thank Martin of Kalafull for having the faith in my work to invite me to participate in the Muscat exhibition, which led to the finished pieces. Please pop over and check out the exhibition. Thanks Susanna for organising it.

Finally, if you want to receive regular updates on my art, why not like my facebook page? It's here.

Trade Your Talent's blog exhibition spring 2011

This is a great exhibition opportunity being hosted by Trade Your Talent.  It’s worth checking out if you’d like to have your work seen by an international audience, so just click the link to view the exhibition information. I'm in, so keep an eye out for my work there soon.

Thanks to Susan Sorrell Hill of Dream & Vision for sharing this information.

Is sketching an addiction?

Sketching in Le Rouge, Beirut a photo by travelingsuep on Flickr.

In Le Rouge, my friends chatted and I sketched the Lebanese customers whilst we waited for our food.. Got to love paper place mats!