In a hole with London Urban Sketchers

l-r Nathan, Evelyn, myself, & James

What seems like years ago, but was in fact only mid-January, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the London UrbanSketchers for a drink and draw session. James Hobbs, who I met at the Sketching Jack's London event last summer (my blog post's here), chose and arranged for us to meet in The Coal Hole on London's Strand, along with Nathan Brenville and Evelyn Rowland.

Nathan

James using his trademark large marker.

Due to having traveled up to London straight from seeing dad in hospital, my concentration/will to sketch wasn't too high, though I loved chatting to the others. I sometimes think that's the best part of the sketchy gatherings, that and seeing what equipment the others are using. I drew some portraits as a warm-up then drew this couple standing by the bar. I spotted they had a whole bottle of wine, so guessed they would stay there a while, which they did.

Pen & watercolour in A5 sketchbook

Capturing memories.

Dad & I Figueres 2012

DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE & WEEP
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
(Anon) 

Pencil in A5 sketchbook.

On January 12th I flew to UK and on arrival discovered that dad was in hospital. When I got to the ward in the afternoon he was unconscious and never regained consciousness. He died peacefully ten days later.
From the 23rd, whilst staying in his house, I found comfort through sketching. I tried to record details of dad that would be lost in a photo, but are the little things that show his everyday life.

Dad stopped smoking when he was 60, but kept the ashtray as it was given to him by his mother-in-law (my nan). Unlike the stereotype, they had a very good relationship.

I never understood how dad could get his dictionaries and encyclopedias in such a tatty condition. I guess putting them back to front on the shelf didn't help.

When I went to the hospital for the doctor's certificate, I was given dad's things. The following day, I drew his wedding ring, watch and glasses before giving them to mum.

Then, I drew his cufflink box, which contained another watch, minus strap, and his hearing aid - I'd wondered where it was.

Dad loved hats, and throughout the house there are caps, trilbies, straw hats and others. I struggled to sketch over the days after his funeral and this hasn't come out as I wanted, the cold hallway didn't help, but it does show some of dad's many hats.

An in situ shot.

Dad & I in Barcelona 2012

 Rest in Peace dad. Christopher Pownall 1.1.1931 - 22.1.2014

2013 in review and resolutions

2013 was a rollercoaster year with very high highs and very low dips both personally and professionally. The best was rescuing a street pup, Degas, who 8 months later has grown into a beautiful young dog with a lovely friendly temperment. Due to her, I have moved to a house with a garden, 30 seconds from the beach. The low has been seeing my mother after she had a massive stroke in May and helping her move into residential care after a long spell in hospital, whilst making sure my father (along with his dog Nelson) is cared for with his developing dementia.

Al Minsefah Doorway. 2013. SOLD

 For 2013 I had 3 words to guide my art: inspiring, happiness and dream. Plus my resolution, as written in last year's review post was "throughout 2013 my resolution and goal will be on getting my finances in order, so I can move to Barcelona as soon as possible. ... my sketchbook will remain with me throughout 2013, I already have 2 commissions for drawings and further illustrations to do for The Story Shack... obviously my art passion will not be totally neglected." Well, due to having to take 3 trips to UK to help my parents, my finances are still not in order, though they are a little better then a year ago and I am still not in Barcelona. However, my art passion was certainly not neglected.

La Sagrada Familia, 2013. ©Sue Pownall inspired by Norberto Dorantes

Inspiring: The biggest inspiration I found was attending the Urban Sketchers' Symposium in Barcelona. Four days of sketching and talking about sketching with amazing arty people. I met artists there who I have been in awe of and following for years like Luiz Ruiz and Norberto Dorantes. I was especially pleased to finally meet Pete Scully , Omar, and Liz Steel and to sketch with Alissa. I got to catch up with the Barcelona sketchers and Nina Johansson who I'd sketched with in 2012.  Then, there were all the new artists I had the pleasure to meet and sketch with such as Simone and Chris, who I can't wait to sketch with again.

Burj Al Arab from Souq Madinate Jumeriah, UAE. 2013

Other inspiration came from attending Art Dubai and the Global Art Forums in UAE, in March. It was great to see the contemporary art and attend the talks.

Illustrations and drawings from 2013.

Happiness: Whilst Degas has brought love, laughter and fun in my life, happiness within my art is hard to measure:- my biggest year end profit, 3 commissions, only half as many drawings 6 compared with 2012's 14, illustration work, or a solo exhibition - which brings me to ...

The Blind House. 2013 SOLD. One of my favourite drawings from the year.

  
Dream: I'm not sure when the dream to have my first solo show became more than a dream, but it was realised in December where I exhibited 30 pieces at the Beach House, Seeb. The exhibition exceeded all my expectations when I sold 12 of  the 28 available for sale.

A wall of portraits. Another dot was later added to Still Celebrating by Mary (left)

*****

Resolutions for 2014

The last three years, I have used three words to guide my life throughout the year, but cannot fix on any this year. 

• I wish to be single-minded with my art by which I mean I will be selfish with my art time and not let people nor events cut into it. The obvious exception is Degas. 
• I still want to move Degas and I to Barcelona, so will continue to organise my finances, whilst helping my parents.

One of my first sketches of 2014: Degas

 In order for these to be goals rather than wishes, I have an amount to achieve by October. Also, I am setting aside a minimum 8 hours each weekend for art production. Finally, I want to produce a minimum of 6 ink drawings within the year.

*****

May 2014 see you produce lots of art, laughter, and bring peace & happiness.

What do you think? Please leave me a comment. Thank you.

Red, White & Blue

I've just had a short break as a birthday treat. It involved lots of tennis, treats, and catching up with friends. Looking at my sketches I seem to have had a red, white and blue theme running through my head/drawings. They were all done in my A5 Daler Ebony sketchbook. Hope you like them.

Red: Sat waiting for my flight to Abu Dhabi, a lopsided Christmas tree caught my eye. After inking the scene I then added red watercolour before the flight was called.

Pencil and watercolour

Blue: Once in Abu Dhabi, I went to the hotel, checked in, left my bag with the concierge and dashed straight to the Mubadala World Tennis Championship as play had already started. I normally sketch people at the tennis, so I thought I'd have a change whilst waiting for the second match. This is in pencil with watercolour and I'm not really happy with it, luckily the tennis made up for it.

Morgan's Converse. Ink & watercolour.

Red & blue: Having travelled to Doha my next sketch was of my friend's son's abandoned Converses. Followed by a sketch of her cat, Blue.

Come back I haven't finished. Pencil sketch

As the photo shows, despite being fast asleep, she suddenly got up and I was left with an unfinished sketch.

Blue: I bought myself some beads, blue of course, then drew them. Another sketch abandoned as my friend sat post shower and was a fabulous opportunity to do some life drawing.  Why blue? Because she got cold and would have turned blue if she'd sat too long.

Pencil

White: 1st January My friend and I sat in the MIA (Museum of Islamic Art) Café, which has been designed by Philippe Starck, and is a beautiful complement of black and white within the off-white of the building's atrium. Lounging on white sofas with a slab of lemon cake and a huge pot of tea, I found the architecture intimidating so chose my default sketching subject; the people around. I love the Qatari's white gutrahs (scarves) and captured a few of those.

 

Blue: The final sketch of my trip was of a blueberry cheesecake whilst I waited for my delayed flight home from Doha.

Ink and watercolour

Proof of on-location painting

I will be posting my annual review and arty resolutions in a few days time.
Happy New Year everyone. Here's wishing 2014 brings peace and happiness.

Catch up: A month of sketches

Degas' headless bear. Inktense pencils. 17th December.

 Whilst I have managed to do some sketching in the run up to my exhibition, I failed to find the time to scan anything. Consequently, I'm writing this long post to catch up on sharing them. They are all from my A5 sketchbook and I seem to be using my Inktense coloured pencils a lot.

Back on the 13th November, The RAF Red Arrows came to Muscat, and I had an invitation to view their display from the Hotel Intercontinental. I took the afternoon off work, and arrived early to avoid the traffic and by coincidence had time to "draw" a cheesecake in their Majlis café, of course I ate it too. The sketch doesn't do it justice - It was yummy.

Red Arrows. Pen & coloured pencil 13/11/13

In the gardens, I sketched some of the spectators prior to the display, which was awesome. I've seen them several times over the years and this display was possibly the best. I added colour (& the planes) later in order to add context for the groups of people.

Inktense pencils 22 Nov.

22nd saw me drawing socks, which I'd put on due to  the heavy rains and drop in temperature. Degas thinks socks are the funniest things and always tries to either remove them and/or chew them whilst they are on my feet.

An action shot of Degas and my sock :(

I am a huge Dr Who fan, so the following day saw me streaming the BBC's 50th Anniversary edition. I had intended to sketch during the programme and drew my laptop/tv connected through the HDMI, doodled some logos before the start and then... got engrossed in the story. Below is the incomplete sketch, again in Inktense pencil and here is a previous Dr Who sketch from March 2012.

Two days later, I had a whole day of presentations to sit through with the day job. I took my sketchbook and pencils and proceeded to sketch throughout the day. Here are some of the pages I did complete with my notes.

 

 

On the 11th December, being 11.12.13 for us with UK date system, I had to draw soemthing. I looked around and saw this shell, which Degas had left in the lounge.

Degas's shell. Pencil

 Finally, the bear at the top of this post was sketched on the 17th. Degas loves soft toys, especially destuffing them. The bear caught my eye when she left it face down, so I had to draw it. If you want to see beautiful bear paintings, please check out my friend Sandra Busby's amazing paintings here: sketch-mad.com.

So that's it, a month of sketches.

 

Degas and I wish you all a Merry Christmas. 
Sue

Art of a Nomad Exhibition

With my amazing host, Tess.

Friday, brought the vernissage for my first solo exhibition. Hung were 30 pieces, which included the drawing of the venue that I had been commissioned to draw (above) and some of my sketches. The venue is a hub of events here in Muscat and is a fabulous exhibition space. (Next weekend is a charity gig for a family in the Philippines whose homes have been destroyed in the typhoon. I'm donating 10% of any sales made on the evening).

My first red dot!

A wall of portraits. Another dot was later added to Still Celebrating by Mary (left)

My final dot of the evening #6 as Elena bought Al Minsefah Doorway

 The following morning, we held a coffee morning, which was well attended and resulted in 2 more sales. I was very pleased to have Omanis visiting and even buying my work, which was a lovely surprise as I view my market as being expatriates.

Omanis looking at my Omani portraits.

Both the vernissage and the coffee morning exceeded my expectations and, as I said on facebook, but it needs repeating THANK YOU to everyone who made it a success. BIG THANKS to my host Tess for everything she did, I am truly blessed to have Tess as a friend. To Marek who helped set up and gave me lovely roses on the night. To Jon who sorted out the drinks and music and Stephen who did the photos all evening. Lastly, but not any less in importance, a thank you to all my friends who came to support me

Back in the mists of time

Tilly  Watercolour 29 x40 cm. ©Sue Pownall

As I am saving the unveiling of new work until my exhibition, which is less than a scary 3 weeks away, I haven't had much to post recently. There are some sketches to come, when I get a chance to scan them, so in the meantime, I thought I would share this portrait I painted ways-back in the mists of time whilst I was at Plymouth College of Art & Design. The reason I was looking at it, as I'm sure you can guess, is that when the exhibition is over I intend to paint a portrait of Degas. 

To finish don't you think this is the cutest photo? Degas was on our roof watching the sunset.