A winter industrial view.

 

My new apartment in Turin has a view of the mountains, over the rooftops of several factories. In my view, I actually have two cranes, which are on the other side of the river, alongside a gas container. On the mountain tops are power and satellite pylons. What a difference from my mountain view in Muscat. At least today the sun was out, although it's not in my picture. 

Inspired by Jana

Inspired by Jana's fabulous watercolours of organic carrots (check them out here), when I was at the market yesterday I hunted for some to paint myself. I couldn't find any organic ones, nor any with their tops still on, so I bought the ones that looked home grown. I especially like the one in front which has a dent in its side. As with the ink drawing I did earlier today, I discovered that my sketch book has a low water-threshold and the surface has damaged. Oh well, third time lucky?

IF - Focus

 

For this week's Illustration Friday's theme of focus, I should have focused more on my initial drawing as the top part is wrong. Like a good craftsman, I shall also blame my tools for the poor quality of my first contribution of 2010 to Illustration Friday: I do not have my usual paper here in Italy and this one soaked up the ink too much. 

I am posting the illustration to remind myself that the initial drawing is all important, along with the right paper, but also I need to focus and practice pen & ink, which is my favourite medium to draw in.

Indoor Sketching

After Oman, Europe is COLD and sketching outside is impossible, at least for me. Combined with settling into a new city, in a new country, and a new job all at the same time, I have plenty of excuses not to draw, but I will!

During my first full week, I sketched the view from my temporary accommodation (I moved out today). This was the first time I had used a brush pen to add colour.

Whilst last Sunday I went to the Galleria Civica D'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (GAM), where I sketched of an aluminium sculpture by the artist Marisa Merz. The New Year's resolution to concentrate on my preferred medium of pen & ink is, I think, off to a fairly good to start .

  Now, I am looking for some inspiration  for this week's IF theme, which is clumsy, and for which I have no ideas at all.

IF - Confined /First drawings from Turin

This is a sketch I did in the Pasticceria Tamborini in Turin.

I thought the cashier looked very confined behind her till.

 

I am currently lodging with a very nice Italian lady, Didi. I sketched her cat whilst having breakfast yesterday. I think you can tell I'm not a cat lover as it's not too good.

 The plant is in the kitchen and I drew it for USK theme of Urban Flora. I decided to use colour only on the plant in order to highlight it.

Art-based resolutions

I'm starting off the year quite well despite the difficult weather conditions by drawing mum & Nelson inside on the 2nd & 3rd. Then on the 4th I attended another life drawing class. I was not to happy with the results, my proportions kept going wrong, so switched to my favourite pen and gave up on the pencil to produce the piece above. I walked around the model trying different viewpoints and details, and ended up fairly happy with the results.

Reading Cathy of asketchintime I thought I would steal some of her ideas for art-based resolutions. Checkout her blog for some great illustrations.

"Manage my time better - far too much time is spent on the internet, which is perfectly entralling but doesn't get any painting or sketching done". I think that's a great place to start, although I will still blog my results, but maybe not spend so much time on Facebook, and reading various blogs. 
 
"Do what I love, love what I do ...- I’m not about to throw out all other mediums, but I would like to focus on getting better at... ". in my case I'm going to concentrate on my pen & ink. I've had lots of fun since September, when I started this blog, painting, drawing in pencil etc., but I want to develop and complete more ink drawings.

"I am also so enjoying sketching, the quick, immediate and spontaneous act which I’d never really considered an art form in its own right until I was exposed to wonderful work on Urban Sketchers". Me too, and I resolve to do lots more this year.

I left the UK on the 7th, so my future posts will be from Italy, I hope you like them and I look forward to reading your comments.

HAPPY 2010, MAY IT BRING YOU PEACE & HAPPINESS.

Sketching indoors throughout the festive period

My scanner & I have been reunited so here are most of my sketches from the Christmas holiday period. Due to the cold I've drawn the view through the window...

Some sketches of the family indoors...

and me watching tv.

Drawn on trains...

From a waiting room...

Also, in Sadler's Wells theatre whilst waiting for the ballet to start.

All in all, I am happy that I have not neglected my sketching too much during this time. I have just bought a new sketch book so roll on 2010 and continued creativity.

Life drawing class

For the first time in a very long time, on Monday morning I attended a drop-in life drawing class. I was quite pleased with the results, especially on the quick poses, but reverted to drawing "as-you-are-supposed-to" rather than like me for the final long pose :(    It was the first time I had drawn in pencil for a while too, and loved using the 5B for the strong bold strokes, at least until the end when I got all tight and precious about my drawing. Oh well, it was a learning experience.

Above are 2 of the drawings from the morning, the first a 20 minute pose and the bottom one a 35 minute pose, which I moved around to get the three viewpoints.

On the Friday before, after writing in Pompeii that it was to cold to draw outside here in Europe, it was a beautiful morning when I got to Napoli airport, so I stood outside sketching the smokers and phone users.  Then, whilst waiting to board, I drew the man with his laptop (Bottom right).

Too cold to sketch outside...

for longer than 5 mins. Today I took out my sketchbook for the first time this week; last time was in transit in Dubai International airport. Here is one of the three drawings; it's not my trolley.

This afternoon, I was in the archaeological site of Pompeii. Being December, Europe, and late afternoon, after 5 minutes sketching I had to stop and start walking as I felt my hands were going numb, consequently I only did two quick sketches. I think this photo captures the essence of the afternoon.

After walking around Pompeii for an hour and half I had to find a cafe for a warming hot chocolate. Here are my 2 five minute sketches, unfinished.

Here is one of my favourite photos - stepping stones over wheel ruts.

Finally, photos of the Christmas lights in Pompeii's main square.

Eid holiday - a week of sketching...

Saturday 28th November.

I went to put my rubbish in the bin on the way to the car, and spotted this stray dog trying to find food in the bins. I whipped out my sketchbook, which since Sept is always in my bag, and drew these couple of sketches before a car scared him off.

Later that evening, I just had to finish up the delicious lemon liquor I'd bought in South Africa. The bottle was hand decorated, as I'd bought it in a little delicatessen, so worthy of drawing. The glass was added as an after-thought for scale, and I think the drink made me put the lines in the wrong place. 

Sunday 29th November.

After I got home from drawing the fort (posted earlier this week here), I went to an expats' haunt, Darcys, for lunch. Preferring the prawn sandwich, which is only served in MQ branch, I went there. The sandwich was unavailable, no prawns, but as I sat outside I drew the plant and lamp in front of me, so prawns or not it was a good lunch.

Monday 30th November.

I was not feeling 100%, but noticing my Aloe plant, which I have nursed since a young plant for 3.5 years, had produced a flower, I did this 5 minute colour sketch.

Tuesday December 1st.

This morning I don't feel well, a cold, headache, sickness BAH. What shall I draw??? Nothing, going back to bed.

After procrastinating for several hours, feeling sorry for myself, I finally drew the view from the lounge, as I liked the colours on the washing line. 

Wednesday December 2nd.

Spent the day sightseeing with a friend, who decided to come for a last-chance visit to Oman. I started sketching this in the Al Bustan Palace Hotel over a cup of tea. I do not remember seeing this instrument played before. Unfortunately, he took a break before I had finished drawing.

Thursday December 3rd.

I had a very difficult day with a mile long to-do list, so I did a quick sketch sitting outside at the Lazy Lizard bar, whilst my friend was away from the table.

Friday December 4th.
I made it, a week of sketching! What a long way I have come since starting this blog in September (3 months ago) and writing that I hoped to draw or sketch at least once or twice a month. 

Today, noticing how much the flower on the aloe has grown this week, and with the IF theme Entangled about to expire, I thought I would draw the whole plant. The plant has both got entangled in itself and within the gazebo. The complete drawing is here. I intend to either continue in pen later, or to colour it. I have not decided yet.

In the afternoon, my visiting friend and I went to Al Bustan Palace Hotel again, this time to have their afternoon tea, which was fabulous. My friend was nearing the end of her book, so whilst she read I did some sketches. First, various bits and pieces from the tea.

Then I drew the violinist, which I found difficult as she kept changing the angle of the violin, moving her arms and hands.
Finally, some orchids in a vase near our table.

I miss my scanner, which is in transit, so I've had to take photos of all these sketches. Hopefully, we will be reunited late Dec or beginning of the new year. Until then, I'm sorry for the quality of reproductions on this blog.