Experiments

Stencil on Gelli plate on old damaged book leaf.

Earlier this week I visited a printmaker friend, Jean Edwards, her work is here, who introduced me to Gelli plates. I really enjoyed it and produced the background above. Once home, I added the stencilled swan. Stencilling is something I have rarely done, but was inspired by Penenlope Dullaghan's homework in Sketchbook Skool.

Ink on watercolour wash.

 Those of you who follow me on Instagram ( @suepownallartist15 ) have seen the work in progress on the above piece before. I finished it yesterday, I think, and would appreciate your thoughts on it. Please leave them in a comment below.

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On another matter, yesterday I got to give a pen & ink demo at Tindalls,a local art suppliers. I got to meet some lovely people and look forward to running a workshop for them in March.

Secrets

My assistant plays in the mud whilst I sketch

I'm finding it hard to write a post, here's why:

1. I have a personal project, which is going well, but it is currently a secret except for those involved;
2. I have an illustration commission, which involves me traveling a little over the next couple of days, but I can't say anything about that at the moment = Another secret;
3. I am trying to set up a small arty business venture, but it's in the planning stages, so that's all I can say about that; and
4. On Wednesday, I was part of a group artist/poets meeting, as I am involved with an Ekphrasis project. Although it's not a secret, there is nothing to share yet;

so what to post is a dilemma.

I guess it's a good time to dip into the sketchbook and share a few recent sketches.

East Mersea, where, despite a cold, blustery wind, I managed a quick sketch.

A perfect excuse for a piece of cake, a new sketchbook to start.

Whilst Degas had her check up at QVSH, I sketched this spaniel in the waiting room.

 Have you any secrets to share? What have you been up to recently? 

Why not leave me a comment below, I love to read them!

Backstage at the Mercury Theatre

Mercury Theatre foyer, pencil in A5 Daler sketchbook. ©Sue Pownall 2016

Yesterday, I managed to get a ticket for a backstage tour of the Mercury Theatre in Colchester. Arriving early, I sketched the foyer as I keep avoiding complex subjects. Before I finished it was time to start the tour, so I added colour at home. The foyer has very clever blue lighting highlighting different planes as well as blue carpet.

We started the tour in the Studio Theatre (continue reading here)

A Minibook

pages 2 and 3 ©Sue Pownall

This year, as part of my personal development, I am taking Sketchbook Skool's Expressing class. Last week's lessons were with illustrator Jill Weber and our homework was to write and illustrate a min-book, which we had to make. Our books had to share something about ourselves, so I chose to tell Degas' story.

Unfolded mini-book

My book is still unfinished, the final drawing to complete and the type to ink in, as I've had to work on a couple of other things. This is something very different from what I would normally do, hence the reason to do the course. I enjoyed the whole process but it's frustrating to have life interfere with getting it finished.

Front cover

p4-5

p6-7

Back cover

What do you think? Have you done anything similar? Why not share the link to your work below so I can see it?

50th WWSketchCrawl: Colchester

Yesterday afternoon, I arranged for the Colchester Sketchers to sketchcrawl at the bottom of the High Street. Tucked down a lane is the Coffee Cube café, which is where we arranged to meet. After a week that saw sleet and rain, we were amazed to have a blue sky and sunshine, so half of us sat outside to sketch the castle.

First sketch underway.

Being the organiser, I spent more time talking than sketching at the meeting point, but did manage to spend half an hour on my sketch of the castle. Luckily, as the sun disappeared behind the clouds, it was time to move on.

My first sketch

 Our second location was Hollytrees Museum, which is a museum of domestic life and childhood. Several of us were attracted by the Alice in Wonderland temporary exhibition.

The Queeen's croquet game.

  Our final location was the new Tiptree Tearoom at the Minories Gallery. I think we were all so interested in each others sketches and having some tea, that nobody sketched there. I plan to return another day as the choice of teas and cakes demand a proper "sketch" visit.

Colchester Sketchers (minus Johnny) show off their sketches.

  Where did you sketch?

A new style, a new series

Over the last year I have been taking reference photos and sketching in woods whilst walking my assistant. Some of those led to some etchings and now those etchings are influencing my drawings. This is, potentially, the first in a series of woodland drawings called Solitary Wanders. Here's number 1, Memories of Summer and number 2 is resting prior to final tweeks.

What do you think of the loser style? Any comments/constructive criticism welcomed.

Memories of Summer, Pen & Ink, ©SuePownall 2016

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On another matter, I apologise to everyone whose blogs I haven't visited recently. I am trying to rectify my neglect. Sorry

Folk & coffee

Carys, direct watercolour.

 Yesterday, I arranged for the Colchester Sketchers to meet at the monthly folk session of SlackFolk. We had a great turn out, but due to venue limitations didn't manage a group shot at the end.

First sketches underway

 The music and atmosphere was great, so I spent a lot of time just listening. As usual, I also did a lot of chatting to the other sketchers too... 

2 acts in pencil

I still managed several sketches, of which I think the direct watercolour ones are the best. Do you agree?
What did you sketch this weekend?

Bex & Freda, direct watercolour

2015 year in review

2015 A Year of Growth, Development & Successes from Sue Pownall

Merry Christmas

©Sue Pownall 2015

It's been a busy week: apart from the normal seasonal things - shopping, Christmas lunch with my mum, decorating my new studio, etc. - I've done a few new sketches, started a seasonal drawing, and been playing with my new SLR camera. The first photo was of my assistant, of course, then I tried some still life setups with my Christmas cards, one is above.

Next Sunday will be my annual review. I wonder how I've done?

To everyone who celebrates I wish you a very
Merry Christmas.
Sue

Tiptree Sings at Christmas

First, an apology as the autoposting to this blog hasn't worked for the last few posts. You can check out the missing ones here: Blog posts.

I love going to see choirs sing at Christmas, so last night I went back to Tiptree to see a friend sing in the choir she belongs to. The setting was St Lukes church, which I have only drawn from the outside, so made sure I had coloured pencils alongside my sketchbook.

My first sketch was of some of the female choristers chatting before the concert. They were very animated and seemed quite excited which I hope I captured in the sketch. What do you think?

Listening to the lovely singing, I sketched the top drawing showing a section of the choir and the church.

I forgot to take the proof of on-location sketching shot until the choir was about to start singing in the second half of the concert, but hopefully gives a little idea of my view.




Other news: I was very flattered when Simone Ridyard asked me to contribute to her architectural sketching book, Archisketcher. Yesterday, I received my copy and the whole book is fabulous! I would thoroughly recommend buying it for your shelves because of the fabulous content, not because of my contribution :)

Finally, due to logistics the Essex&Suffolk Sketchers have renamed themselves Colchester Sketchers. 

The FB group is here: Colchester Sketchers

Have a good week everyone.