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.

Nautical nonsense

Preparing to fish. Pen & ink. 360 x 220mm. © Sue Pownall 2012

This is the finished boat from my last post Not Working. I think it's come out okay. 

Bandar Al Khairan. Watercolour in A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2012

Last Thursday, I went on a boat trip. Regular visitors know I do this once in a while always with camera and sketchbook in my bag. Here's last May's post Off to Sea and October 2010 DTFF & Dhow Trip. I'm not really good with being somewhere, doing nothing, for a long time...
I love going on boats, just not good with being ashore for a long time. 

Shaded view Watercolour in A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2012

 Thursday was fun with fabulous food, company, lots of swimming, and playing in the sea. Towards the end I snuck off and did these 2 watercolour sketches.

Heading home from our private beach.© Sue Pownall 2012

On route back to Muscat. © Sue Pownall 2012

Not working.

I have been struggling despite the break I gave myself 2 weeks ago when I went camping. The picture below is the reason. I was asked, amongst other things to draw more boats similar to Low Tide at Plockton, so I chose a reference from several I had taken in the Muscat area and then...stopped. I don't like drawing curves! It's been tacked to the wall since I did the pencil outline. I did one line on Sunday, then have tried working on it this morning, it's got this far.

WIP © Sue Pownall 2012

In between, I have done some sketching (mainly my feet and a few people) and had a play with my acrylics. The under painting ended like this.

WIPs © Sue Pownall 2012

I'm not sure how/why, but the blue one on the left is now purple and currently looks like this (below). Obviously it will be another veil painting. The green one reminds me of summer meadows so may gain red poppies etc.

WIP © Sue Pownall 2012

Hopefully, my next post will be the completed boat picture.

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?

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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.

Fanja revisited

Fanja Revisited, 330 x 240 mm, Pen & ink.© Sue Pownall 2012

I was asked to produce a new drawing of this by Bait Muzna Gallery when I took them my portfolio. As I've drawn this subject before and from the same reference photo I had to make some changes to the new version. It was initially quite a challenge, but then I realised my drawing style has altered, developed since the first drawing in 2008 (below), and I am more interpretive rather than literal of my subjects now. Once I had the basic drawing done and the light source decided the tonal work was done without the reference. I think it has worked well. I was a bit reluctant to draw more ruins, especially as my head (and reference folder) is full of portraits I want to do, however I enjoyed this one more than On Guard.

Fanja Fort, Pen & ink.© Sue Pownall 2008

Conference Notes

With Yuthar Al Rawahy, founder and chair of NACA

Last week I went to a conference to help with my day job. Think I didn't pay that much attention as here are my notes for the 2 days.

Delegates pre-conference at SQU. A6 sketchbook

J Harmer's plenary at SQU

The top photo was taken yesterday, as I gave the NACA the money raised at Sketch Muscat. I'm very embarrassed as I just wanted to give them the donation.

On Guard

On Guard. 330 x 240 mm, Pen & ink.© Sue Pownall 2012

As a break from the Scottish ruins, here's one from Oman. 

I don't think it's one of my best drawings. What do you think?

Sketch Muscat for NACA

Merchant House on Mutrah Corniche, A5 sketchbook ©Sue Pownall 2012

After arranging to raise funds for Japan's Tsunami relief last year, I decided to do something annually choosing a different charity each time. So this year, I organised Sketch Muscat in order to raise funds for Oman's National Association of Cancer Awareness. I chose a cancer charity as I have a friend who is going through treatment for breast cancer and it is partially due to her awareness and quick action (& good medical treatment) that she has recently received an all-clear.

Sketch Muscat took place on Thursday, a week before the 35th Worldwide SketchCrawl as I have to go to a work conference then, but was based on the SketchCrawl concept. You can read more about SketchCrawl here. The meeting point was the Cornich Cafe next to Mutrah Souq and after drawing in and around the souq area, we then worked our way along the Corniche. Our final sketches were made near the Al Rasood Al-Azam mosque. It is something I have always wanted to draw, but after an unsuccessful morning (drawing-wise) I chose to draw the old French merchant building next to it. I will return another day to attempt it.

After starting this post with my last sketch, here are the others. 

First a 5 minute sketch whilst waiting for hte Cornich Cafe to open, drawn from the stairs.

A5 sketchbook ©Sue Pownall 2012

 Then I drew the view from the table. My perspective and scale was diabolical, so I added strong watercolours in an attempt to disguise it.

A5 sketchbook ©Sue Pownall 2012

 Feeling disheartened with my beloved pen, I switched to pencil for this portrait of Ibrahim working on his first sketch.

A5 sketchbook ©Sue Pownall 2012

 Next, I drew inside the souq. Aziz, one of the sketchcrawling photographers (3 joined us at various times) took some photos, mainly of me sketching. I think I'll add colour to this sketch one day, although I'm concerned the shoe salesman may fall over backwards.

A5 sketchbook ©Sue Pownall 2012

Me by Aziz

 As we left the souq, our two youngest sketchers joined us, brought by their father of course, who is the photographer Ahmed S Al-Harthy.  Here is his website.

The young sketchers hard at work.

Sulaiman and his flying fish.

Finally, four of us posed with our sketchbooks before heading out of the heat and treating ourselves to a well-deserved juice.

 I'm still hoping to collect a few more rials, but this morning's total was 166 Omani Rials/ $431 /£270, which I shall take the the NACA office in a few days time.

Thank you everyone who turned up and to those who contributed too.

Finally, this was in the Omani press yesterday saying I was the organiser, a member of OSFA, and other stuff.

I was interviewed for the Times of Oman too, so hope to see that tomorrow.

Still Celebrating

Still celebrating. 240 x 330mm, Pen & ink. ©Sue Pownall 2012

On November 18th, 2010 Omanis celebrated the 40th National Day of HM Sultan Qaboos rule. HM Sultan Qaboos came to power on July 23 1970, but the Oman National Day is celebrated on 

November 18, which is his birthday. 

I took the reference shot for this portrait at this year's Muscat Festival, 

however the musar (head-dress) was sewn for the 40th commeration. 

The Arabic for forty is ٤٠ The numbers are upside down due to the way he has tied it.

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Something else that is still being celebrated:

Last Wednesday I met the art director of Bait Muzna Gallery here in Oman as she requested to see my portfolio. I expected some guidance on my drawings and what I should do, but instead I am to be one of the gallery's artists!!! All four of my Festival Faces portraits along with 6 other drawings are now for sale through them. Plus, I have a list of drawings they want me to do. 

I think I will be celebrating this success a while longer.