Wall painting project - Unveiled

The finished wall painting. Photo courtesy of Ghalya's Museum of Modern Art.

As I mentioned in my post Wall Painting Collaboration, I was part of a large wall painting project initiated by Ghalya's Museum of Modern Art. The unveiling was on Tuesday and was cleverly done through having lights dimmed and smoke pumped in front of the wall, which then cleared to show the painting. 

Museum director Murtadha Al Lawati unveiling the wall.

Nearly a 100 artists, both Omani and internationals, took part to complete the 100 sections. As an artist living in Oman, it was a great honour to be asked to participate. The collaboration and friendship between artists working on the project was fantastic. To be able to add my small part to the project, working alongside great Omani artists, is something I will always remember.

Some of the particpating artists. Photo courtesy of Reehan Hoosein.

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The overall theme of the project was to celebrate Oman's 42nd National Day. My section represents the role of Omani women in the successful reign of HM Sultan Qaboos. Women have been a fundamental part in Oman's renaissance and I have tried to symbolically show that with my painting of veils.

 Don't forget you can see a slideshow of the day I painted here. If you are in Oman in the next 3 months, you can see the actual painting on Ghalya's museum wall.

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Look out for more news and events on my facebook page: www.facebook.com/suepownallartist

A published illustration

Yesterday, an illustration I drew on The Story Shack appeared online for the short story Pottering About in Thailand.

To see the illustration onsite and read the story please click this link:
The Story Shack.

  If you like my drawing and/or the story, the writer and I would appreciate your vote on the page.

IF: Tree

The President's Tree, pen & ink, 160 x 230mm © Sue Pownall 2011

This week's topic for Illustration Friday is tree and I thought I would share this old drawing from 2011. Limited edition giclée prints are available through my website shop and would make a great Christmas gift. 

My shop is here.

Wall painting collaboration

Participating in Ghalya's wall painting event. 9th November

 Through an Omani contact, I got invited to participate in Ghalya's Museum of Modern Art's wall painting project. Over 80 artists, both Omani and International are involved in painting a mural on the theme: the successful 42 year reign of HM Sultan Qaboos.

Yesterday morning saw me painting my segment, which represents the importance of Omani women's roles throughout the time.  I have a slideshow of photos from the morning here on my site, please check it out. It is just a single morning's snapshot of the project, which is due to be finished in time for its unveiling on 20th November, taken as I added my contribution.

On the cover

Earlier in the year I was approached by Diana Strinati Baur to illustrate the book cover of her forthcoming novel True Vines. This was the secret project I mentioned on my facebook page back in March. It is due to be published in paperback and eformats on the 1st November by Gemelli Press.

Here is my original illustration and how it was used for the cover.

On the walls.

 A selection of my drawings are on display and for sale now at 

Bait Muzna Gallery, Muscat, Oman.

If you are in the country, please visit the gallery. Thank you.

Anti-Portraits

Detail. © Sue Pownall 2012

Anyone who has followed my work for a while knows I don't like doing portraits. By portraits I mean the family portrait in pencil or watercolour. They are easy enough, but I find them a trial and unenjoyable. However, periodically I get a commission that I can't refuse. Before the summer I was commissioned to draw a man's wife for her birthday. I completed the drawing last month, but as her birthday is in October I waited to post it. Not only is this a pencil portrait, but it was drawn far larger than I would normally do, 50x70cm, eeek. 

© Sue Pownall 2012

Close up of finished drawing © Sue Pownall 2012

© Sue Pownall 2012

Please don't ask me to do one for you, but you can commission me to draw landscapes and buildings.

Pink ladies

WGO Pink Party A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2012

On Tuesday the Women's Guild Oman held a Pink Party, a breast cancer awareness coffee morning, with profits going to both the cancer charities MacMillian, which I believe is a UK based charity, and a donation to NACA here in Oman. Not being someone who likes pink, I bought a pink scarf to wear & joined the other ladies dressed in pink for the occassion.

My scarf and invite.

No cameras are allowed in the British Ambassador's residence, which wasn't a problem for me as I sketched the ladies with my new Inktense pink pencil and new waterbrush. For some reason, as I was using a coloured pencil for the pink, I also drew in pencil when I was there. This is doubly strange as I started the first page in ink through drawing my scarf before leaving home.

Scenes from the morning A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2012

 My favourite part of the morning was a poetry reading by Penny Destro from her book Frothy Coffee. Her poems are written for women and are very funny. After the reading I bought a copy as she donates 100% of the profits to NACA.

Sketch Muscat 3

SketchMuscat 3 at Costa's Shatti   A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2012

I'm slowly generating interest in sketching here in Muscat and I arranged another event for yesterday. It was the most successful so far with over 30 people attending, and more turning up after we had stopped due to poor light (it was actually too dark too see).

People of all ages joined in; Mr Shakil brought his whole family along and everyone from mother-in-law down to his youngest child drew. I was especially pleased that quite a few Omanis joined us as, like sport, I think art can join communities. The enthusiasm of the children was the best part as they ran around showing what they had drawn.

Grandmother & grandchildren on SketchMuscat 3

I arrived nearly an hour early as I anticipated lack of sketching time for me due to over 70 people saying they would attend via the facebook event page. I grabbed a couple of tables under the shade and drew my snack. I finally tested the waterbrush that my Barcelona friends had said to buy along with Intense pencils (bought this week as I need a pink pencil for a breast-cancer awareness charity event) and later shared these new toys with others. I did sketch a few people on the beach after people started arriving, but spent most of the 2.5 hours talking to the participants.

Grandmother proudly showing off her sketch.

An amazing young talent. Photo by Kavitha.

I think everyone had fun and I was especially pleased to keep getting asked "When is the next one?". About a month's time is the answer.

Beach scenes A5 sketchbook © Sue Pownall 2012

There was a crooked man (IF crooked)

Crooked Stile: A study. 18x18cm ©Sue Pownall 2012

The theme for Illustration Friday was Crooked. Luckily for me although here in Muscat it is Friday, and a new theme is due, it's still Thursday in USA and I can post this last minute submission. I was thinking of using Cathy's idea of a crooked tree (see her lovely entry here) when I remembered this poem and I produced this drawing. The stile is actually an element in a idea for a drawing I've been toying with for a couple of years, so maybe now I will start on it.

There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile,
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.
He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse.
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.

“The origin of the nursery rhyme "There was a crooked man" is in British history. The origin of this poem originates from the English Stuart history of King Charles 1. The crooked man is reputed to be the Scottish General Sir Alexander Leslie. The General signed a covenant securing religious and political freedom for Scotland. The 'crooked stile' referred to… being the border between England and Scotland. 'They all lived together in a little crooked house' refers to the fact that the English and Scots had at last come to an agreement. The words reflect the times when there was great animosity between the English and the Scots.” (Source: http://www.rhymes.org.uk)