Chewed stuff 1 - for Jana

In January, I read that Jana of JanasJournal had rescued a 5 month old pup. Since then she's been posting regularly on the things Millie chews, both allowed and not, and I have been sharing Degas stories in my comments. The other day she wrote "(it) would definitely be fun to see Degas’ finds, destructed bits and favorite chews as sketched by you".

So last night, I started to sketch Degas' purple Teddy. She has several as I bought them cheaply in the local supermarket. She always chews off the eyes and noses before either eating an ear or leg. Unfortunately, Degas came and took it away before I finished and had a quick chew at it, which is when I took this photo (I think the flash was on, so bleached it). Later, I went into the incomplete sketch with a waterbrush (top).

More use of inktense pencils, but I'm not sure about this Stillman & Birn sketchbook. I have been hearing and seeing many rave reviews of it, but the grain surprised me yesterday. I am used to sketching on smooth surfaces. Obviously as this is only page 2 of 124, I will have many times to either get used to it and/or find a way to work on this surface.

Previous drawn chewed items include Degas' blue teddy from the December post Catch up: A month of sketches.

This box is from the September post Boxes Beware.

 Finally, a teabag from May, in the post Snow in Oman (check out the post for why there was snow.)

Degas favourite things to chew are the plants in the garden. I haven't drawn any as I usually just evict them from the house, where Degas has brought them in through her dogflap.

Degas' favourite chew things are my plants.

Degas came into my life on April 1st 2013. The year has been fraught at times as she has grown large (and is still growing) and is both boisterous and wilful. I have replaced all my bedding as it's got holed through chewing. Degas continues to steal clothing: last night alone she has chewed through the straps of a T-shirt and has been chased this morning for a dropped item of laundry (although these events are rarer now). Despite training, she chooses when to return to me on walks and tows me down the beach to see her friends.

However, for every little negative she has enriched my life a hundredfold. I return from work to big greetings and cuddles, and regardless of my day all problems are forgotten as we step onto the beach. I may find it hard to work on my drawings as she gets bored and demands attention, but she is also inspiration for sketches from these chewed things to her beautiful face. I have watched her grow from a timid pup on the street, into a beautiful young dog who likes nothing better than running down the beach.

 I am truly blessed she chose to come home with me.

The end

Another strange shell. Inktense 21/3/14

Of another sketchbook.

Unusually, I've been using a lot of coloured pencils recently. Maybe because they give me the flexibility of graphite but without the option to rub out errors, as with ink.

Next, I am moving out of my normal comfort zone and not starting another Daler Ebony A5, but the A5 Stillman & Birn I got given at last year's Urban Sketchers' Symposium. I'll let you know how I get on.

Mine 14.3.14

Degas' 14.3.14

 ******

Have you entered my competition? Check out this post for details:

woo hoo it's back giveaway

Poison?

Leucocoprinus birnbaumii Watercolour in A5 sketchbook.

What do you do when you find potentially poisonous funghi in the garden? 

Carefully pull them up, then paint them of course.

*****

Have you entered my competition? Check out this post for details:

woo hoo it's back giveaway

woo hoo it's back giveaway

To celebrate my website being back up I am going to give away TWO limited edition Fine Art Giclée prints complete with Fine Art Trade Guild logo.

1. You need to sign up to my newsletter on the site: suepownallartist.co.uk

2. You have to like my facebook page: facebook.com/suepownallartist

The first print will go to the 1000th liker of my page.

To be fair to those who already like my page, a random number generator will draw the 2nd from existing page likers.

BUT to win you must like my page and be signed up for my newsletter.

Degas is a star!

Fishing shed & boat hoist.

This morning, Degas allowed me to sit for 15 minutes on this non-waterproof ink & watercolour sketch on our village's beach. My first urban(ish) sketch with my young dog. 

Below is the photographic proof :)

 Can you sketch with your pets?

A few from February

Inktense pencil in A5 sketchbook

 As well as sketching at the karting event, I have managed to do a few other sketches this month.

First up, some sketches of Pound, who I was dogsitting for the weekend and sits stiller than Degas, but not much. 

Then a rainday watercolour when we had torrential rain here in Oman. I tried to capture the atmosphere in this quick sketch (that took ages to dry). I was helped by Degas with the finishing touches - a muddy nose print. There are some photos at the end of this post.

Rain day.

 Finally, I used Inktense pencils and water, to try to capture the shape of a shell I found on the beach (top). Strangly, it reminds me a seaglass in the way the rest of the shell has been worn away.

Under all this is the road to the beach.

Soggy Degas using her ears as umbrellas

View from the beach

A lull in the storms.

Karting

Pencil & watercolour in A4 Daler sketchbook.

Last week, I felt excited at an opportunity to sketch somewhere new and in the day-job's time...

....at a team building karting event.

I was there to support (aka chaperone) the only female trainee at the event.

Steve spectating before his race. Ink & watercolour in A4

The photo proof of sketching trackside :)

Where have you sketched in work's time? Why not tell me in a comment below?

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)

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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.