Some you win, some you lose...

I'm chuffed with this,  my very first attempt at a picture using coloured pencils.   I'd already painted this picture, it is from one of my watercolour books,  but this time I drew everything from scratch.  This I think is more successful than the painting.  I was trying to get some depth into the picture,  it is coming along,  but think it still needs a little work. 

My first attempt on Tuesday was a disaster,  made the mistake of trying to draw the castle,  now you think I'm barmy!   I was trying to put in too much detail from the start, when what I needed to do was to block it in,  do a rough sketch then take it from there.   So I came back afresh yesterday and spent the afternoon drawing the picture, and colouring in the castle.   I did a smidgen of work on the grass, not much,  just the first layer of colour.    Today I completed it,  I was a bit scared of the water and the sky,  so went for very light strokes,  greys and blues,  first I put down a layer of white,  then built up the colour, and put in the reflections.  The grass was a multitude of colour, greens, browns, yellows, and a lot of blending.   Same with the sky,  a layer of white, then some pale grey,  which I slowly built up,  some blue, light and dark,  and a bit of yellow.  For the castle I used three shades of grey,    and used the side of the pencil to add some definition.  It's important to keep the pencils sharp!    Yep, pleased with this first effort.   It has whetted my appetite to try more pictures from my watercolour books, but using the pencils, and I've got some watercolour pencils. 

Less successful,  Beethoven,  a rubbish effort.  I know where I've gone wrong.  The funny thing is that when I was at school I did a whole project on Beethoven, and drew a fantastic picture of him.   So I shall be returning to this.  I'm liking his hair, and his nose,  but his eyes aren't right, or his mouth.  That is where I lost the picture... hey ho. 

I went to The Walker Art Gallery yesterday.   I'd been promising myself the trip for ages.   I took advantage of the fact that had to be up early for my blood tests,  the appointment was 8.30!  I got annoyed,  I arrived five minutes early,   and went in at 8.43,  the nurses had been chatting. I was unamused as I'd had nothing to eat.  With that done I went home to have breakfast,  unusual for me to have breakfast at a civilised hour,  Harvey was confused!    After a tidy up,  I headed off to the gallery.   There was a fantastic photographic exhibition with photos by Tony Ray-Jones and Martin Parr, it was fascinating.  I really enjoyed it,  less enjoyable was the ongoing John Moores winners,  sorry but some are...    rubbish, and insult to intelligence.    I like abstract art, what I don't like is someone splodging paint on a canvas as if they've been cleaning their brush.  

I need to go check out the museum as well,  sadly my back wasn't up to it yesterday.  The sciatica is getting worse,   on Saturday my left foot was numb, then I got shooting pains up my leg.    I got mad with a friend tonight,  she's been moaning about her knees,  and had insisted to her GP that she see a specialist,  so she got her wish.  I'm sure she was expecting to be operated on,  instead she got told she has onset osteoarthritis,  and told that she had to learn to manage it.   She does need to lose weight, and has been told to,  I offered some sympathy but lost my rag when she started moaning!   She should try having my knees for a day.    

Had to laugh at Harvey today,  he was asleep near the TV,  a cat on the TV started miaowing,  Harvey woke up, he was looking around, confused,  then he sloped out of the room to see if there was another cat in the flat!   It was so funny.   He's also fascinated by shadows,  oh and did I mention how fussy he is over his food?    I bought him some frozen fish, now what cat doesn't like fish?   My old cat loved it,   in fact we switched to buying her a bag of fish every week rather than cat food.   But Harvey,  oh no,   he's enjoyed it, but not gone mad for the fish,  he's the same with his food, he picks at it.   I have a feeling he wasn't given a regular routine by his first owners.  When I asked what food he liked I was told he would eat anything, well that isn't true,  in fact he was quite skinny when I got him.  He's put on a little weight, I don't want him to be fat, but he is still on the skinny side.   Anyway I cooked him some nice fish and... he turned his nose up!   

Anyone want a fussy cat?     All for now,  Harvey is howling to come in... 

Keeping going...

 A cat gone wrong!   Not sure why.  The joys of sketching, some days it works, some days it doesn't. Today it didn't,  think I was put off by the England/Irish rugby match,  though being half irish I have a foot in both camps.  

I was watching, and learning, the Big Painting Challenge. Tonight it was portrait painting,  I've yet to tackle painting a portrait, not sure I'd know were to begin.   The contestents did a very good job,  well okay a couple were a bit dodgy,  especially when it came to the celebrity portrait.   I wonder if they were a bit intimidated?   But it is fascinating to see how they all work,  what they start with, a sketch or go straight for it.   All are very good artists, including those who've had to leave, but there are two very exceptional painters in the group.    

This is a more successful drawing, a masai woman,   wish I'd had the grey paper,  she had beautiful grey hair.   The earrings are a bit dodgy, but trust me, they were dodgy to begin with.  This was done a while back, and it has been 'edited' since.  That is one of the things that happened tonight on the Big Painting Challenge, two of the contestants knew they were going wrong and had the guts to start over.   Another lady didn't,  thinking she could put it right, she didn't and produced an awful painting.    I can't count the number of times I've started again,  even with paintings.   I'm also tempted to try oils,  that is what I started with years ago, well it was oils or water colour,  acrylic wasn't available.  

This was our challenge for the week,  members (brave members) submitted their photos, and we all had a bash at drawing them.  I uploaded my first attempted knowing it wasn't quite right,  and got a lot of very useful feedback that I could work on.  So this is the second attempt,  and I'm almost there!   At least everything, nose, eyes, ears and mouth are in the right place, that always helps.    Going back to the big painting challenge, from now on to be known as BPC,  commented on these things, and how vital it was,  get these wrong and the picture/painting goes awry.  One or two in the competition actually made those mistakes, which surprised me, but then not all are portrait painters,  or have used oils.  I admire their bravery, not only to attempt all the challenges, but to it knowing we'll all be sitting in judgement. 


A bit worried about Harvey,  he's never been a hungry horace,  for a couple of days now he's not been interested in his treats, which is worrying.   Normally he's desperate to eat them.   I got some fish on Friday,  white fish,  and cooked that for him,  he's eaten every plateful so far.   He's just a little quiet,   he has some spurts of life but,  something isn't right.   I'll keep him on the fish, see if he puts on a little weight.   My old cat, Ms Mufti, loved her fish,  once it was in front of her she made short work of it,  Harvey takes ages to eat a plateful.   My pins and needles did subside for a few days,  that was while I was resting,   but on Friday I did some dusting, changed the bed,  was a lot busier and bang, it came back.   I also attempted a walk to the high street,   daft idea cos I was in agony.  

Well England lost,   they did get better in the second half,  and they are still with a chance of winning the six nations.   A new week beckons,  not my favourite time of the year I'm afraid, coming up to the second anniversary of mum's death, and in my face is Mothers day stuff. 

Enjoy your week,  wrap up warm, the cold stuff is on its way back! 

Back to basics

I've also gone right back to basics.   The other day I watched a Youtube tutorial on how to draw the head,   using the Loomis method.  So I went on the hunt for Mr Loomis, and came across a lovely site with some free downloads of his work.   See pic on the left,  it gives you a demo of how to draw a head, any head!  

So today, complete with new sketchbook  (I've got through so many!) and began practising.  That is all I did all afternoon,  the first attempts were total rubbish,   then gradually I started to get the hang of it and felt confident to draw the head in different positions.  Got a very long way to go.

I've gone past this point in the book, just.   My heads are recognisable,  haven't take a pic - yet, but I will.  I don't want to just copy picture,  but draw my own,  so I figured I needed to know how to draw head, body, hands etc.   There is a lot of stuff on Andrew Loomis all over the net, so if you are interested then just go a searching.  

In the past I was told to draw an oval shape, then divide it into quarters,  it sort of worked.  With Loomis, he says to draw a circle, that becomes the cranium,  the horizontal line denotes the brown line.  Between the brow line and top of circle comes the hairline,  same for the nose,  using the that measurement,  you draw the line for the chin, hack off the sides of the circle,  then add the jaw line...   Simples!  

This is a sketch gone wrong, it is supposed to be Marie Curie,  but her forehead is too short, the eyes aren't right...  so I did it again,  using the Loomis method for the head and it is a much better effort.    It was when I attempted another sketch, and was making a Holy mess of it that I decided to go learn the basics.   So that is what I will be doing all week,  I will do some other stuff,  applying what I am learning to the drawing. 

Here's the second sketch,  much more balanced,  got the hairline in place, eyes are better,  still need more darkening.  But much improved.

Also had a health scare.   All last week I had numbness, plus a pins and needles like sensation in my head, neck, shoulders and arms.  I've had it before but only for short periods,  half an hour at most,  so this was worrying.   I am really suffering with sciatica as well, so I think this is linked to my arthritis.  Anyway went to see GP,  have to have blood tests,  see what they say and go from there.   It has now eased off thank goodness,   though on Monday while I was out it was really bad in my hands.  

And here he is,   my boy, master of all he surveys!    He's sitting atop mum's recliner,   he got a surprise when I made the back move!   This seems to be his latest favourite place,  he has phases of where he likes to sit.    He is eating again,  he can be a right fuss pot,   but I'm learning that if I don't get stressed about it he will eventually eat his food.   A few times I've just taken all the bowls away, except for the water,  that has made him think.   I'm now sticking to a feeding schedule as well.  He's never going to be a fatty,  though if I let him he'd scoff those treats, the stick things, he loves them.  If I need to bring him out of hiding, I just rattle the wrapper, and out he comes.   He likes me to throw them for him, broken into pieces,  so he is darting all over the place,  he even catches them sometimes. 

That's all for now.  Thanks for stopping by.

A cat, a bird and a feather...

A yuck week,  started out okay on Sunday, lovely short walk and it has been down hill from there on.    A drawing went wrong,  think I bit off more than I could chew...  then Harvey got himself into a tizz woz, so two of us in a tizz woz didn't make for a happy atmosphere. 

Today was better,  I started a sketch on Tuesday, of a cheetah (coming in a mo),  that calmed me down.  Then today I was having a tidy up and picked up one of my art magazines, opened at the page of a pencil drawing tutorial!  So realising they were using the pencils I've got I set forth...  so I began this Kingfisher sketch.   I had most of the pencils,  but need t get a few more so I can to it full justice.  But I really enjoyed this sketching,   the colouring was very therapeutic.    I'm using the Faber & Castell, polychromos,  lovely to use and blend so well.

Well the yucky feeling has turned to feeling plain odd,  best way I can describe it.  I've had a pins and needles like sensation in my face and neck,  on and off for couple of months,  now it's going down my arms and into my hands.  When I came back from Hobbycraft my hands wouldn't work,  well not fiddly stuff, kept trying to turn the page of the paper but just couldn't do it.  Today, Saturday, popped out for a few bits, and to just get out of the flat, but when I got to the shops I felt as if I was going to flake out,  so came back home.  Now feeling worried,   doc said that it was probably nothing when I told him a month ago,  now I know he's definitely wrong!   So it was a very quiet afternoon for me,  just colouring the kingfisher,  still have lots to do to him,  but it's nice to just sit and colour.

My lovely cheetah,  still needs finishing off.  This has been a joy to draw,  he has emerged from the page slowly.   I'm taking my time with him,  still got a ways to go, but who cares! 

I started with his nose,  that way I had a point of reference for his eyes.  I've noticed, or begun to notice that all wild animals,  and domestic cats, have this black ring round their eyes,  like eyeliner,  and the big cats have very short ears.  Their markings tend to be symmetrical,   and I happen to like their noses!  

It's nice working between drawings,  keeps things fresh.  So one more drawing to show...  before I sign off.  

A peacock feather,  another tutorial from the art magazine.  This has taken a whole afternoon,  but it took my mind off not feeling great.   The centre was built up using dots and a combo of about four different blues.  It was, as I finally got the hang of it, a flicking technique,  plus patience.   The wispy bits are made up of green and two browns, plus orange.  

Harvey has also been in a relaxed mood, I gave him some reiki last night, then again this morning,  he's quite happy to lay there.   He found the sunniest spot on the window ledge,  and then moved to my bed for more sunbathing.   He's had two bowls of food, a slice of garlic sausage and some cream, plus his treats.  He gets three treats a day, after meals,  he likes me to chop them into bits and throw them,  he's very good at catching them. 

That's all for now,  think I need to rest now.  Enjoy the weekend. 

Being sketchy

I was there yesterday,  on the beach, not at sunset,  in the morning.  It was such a beautiful day that I just had to go enjoy it.   I met a lot of dogs,   the canine variety,   all happy to be out in the sunshine,  as was I.     All this came after a disturbed night,  and two anxiety attacks.   I got myself worked up thinking how to fit everything in, well there was ironing,  and I needed milk...  all niggly stuff, not worth worrying about you may think, but for someone like me it can become a big deal.  I sat myself down,   had a cuppa and calmed down, then worked out what to do.   Go out,  get some fresh air, a very short walk,  the pop to the shops - simples!   In the end it was,  but it is odd how stuff can overwhelm you.    I think I am still in care mode,  thinking that I have to be back to do stuff,  a hard habit to shake off.    The fresh air, and short work, very short, did me the world of good. 

Drawing wise it was a day of exercises.  After the walk I decided to go get that coloured pad, which turned out to be a bit of a mistake!   Anyways, I ended up looking at the books, which had been restocked,  and came across the one I meant to buy at Christmas,  which is on landscapes, so I bought it.   That became the basis of my drawing exercises for the afternoon.    A lot of things to work on,   drawing what you see for example,  something I really do need to work on.   Then I moved on to trees,   that was a very useful exercise,   which I'll revisit in the next few days.    Today I moved on to two more exercises,  a pine tree, first effort was a complete mess, had to tell myself that it was okay to get it wrong!   Next attempt was much better, think what I need is a better photo than what is in the book - you get told to follow the photo, but it is so tiny it is impossible.   I was starting to get the hang of it,  but I felt it best to leave it alone for a day.   So I switched to a landscape,   again the first effort went pear shaped.  I tried working with charcoal, as suggested by the book,  but I lacked confidence with that medium so I switched back to the pencils.  So second effort was much, much better,   and when I'd set it aside then looked at it later I realised it was rather good.     Then I found this pic,  which I want to do with the pencils. 

And this painting, this sums up the weather we've been having - freezing cold most of the time.     I remember spending ages trying to get this right, not sure how many attempts I made,  it wasn't the tree, which is awful, but the ice and snow.    I guess I am hoping that my drawing will give me more control in my painting,  not attempted any painting for a few weeks.   The pencils give me control,  a brush doesn't,  well, not yet.     I realise now how much I've progressed.   I was looking at the work of a friend,  oh boy has she come on leaps and bounds over the last few years.  I love her fearlessness,   she'll pick up the brush and paint whatever is in her head.  Oh for that freedom! 

Well I need to knuckle down and make a card or something this week, it has to involve a sentiment, of which I have tons.   And a trip to the Walker Art Gallery tomorrow,  it has a lot of interesting exhibits at the moment.  

Enjoy the week, many thanks for stopping by

All in a days work

Why did no-one tell me it was Friday 13th?   Not that anything happened,  although there is still a few hours to go.   Bit of a yucky start to the day,  as in the morning just came round far too quickly.   The shock must have caused my brain to stall as I then did some ironing...  

I got round to drawing my first still life,  well it is a first attempt.  The apples aren't too bad, but the jug is not so hot,  more practice is needed.   But it is a start,  will have another shot at it,  and maybe with more fruit,  possibly in colour.  Getting a bit tired of grey,  too much like the weather,  which today was completed by rain.   I might indulge in a coloured paper pad.  

Yes, a meerkat, it had to be done!   Mind you it very nearly didn't thanks to Harvey.   Yesterday he was in a mad mood,  and getting into all sorts of mischief,  he decided to first knock over the mini easel,  then take the awkward route to the window... using the full occasional table and sending everything flying.   He just wouldn't stay still, I let him out and he was back in within five minutes.  It wasn't until 5 pm that he finally crashed out.   Today he was the opposite,  he's been asleep most of the day.  

I tried drawing this meerkat two weeks ago and got nowhere, so I frankly didn't hold out much hope, but it all came together. No grid either,  for some drawings I need the grid, and for others I am okay.  Wierd.  

I did this on Tuesday,  just felt like a change.  It was the first time I'd tried anything like this, so I was chuffed that I'd managed it.  I uploaded it to a FB group I belong to and some smarty pants said he'd been drawing them since he was a kid, and that I'd got it wrong.   Well if I have then the youtube tutorial I watched is also wrong.  I just felt he was being really mean minded.   It is a really supportive group, many have a bash at the challenges,  and we are always encouraging to each other.    That encouragement has paid off,  many, like me, who haven't drawn for years, are grateful for those kind words and any constructive criticism.  But this guy was just so negative,  funny though he's never submitted any of his work! 

And finally, this is the new drawing challenge - oriental.  I was going to draw a geisha girl, but then changed my mind as I couldn't find a suitable picture. It was just as well cos someone else chose the geisha, and another person drew a magnificent dragon.   So I did this chap,  a Chinese peasant,  just need to realign his eyes!    I'll be tackling a pagoda tomorrow,  not drawn any buildings so far,  it could be an interesting exercise.   I had a practice at drawing, noses, eyes and ears the other day,   oh and lips.   Need to do that more often,  as it paid off today.    I've begun a drawing of a samurai warrior,   I need to take my time over it as there is so much detail,  that's why I switched to this chap. 

It's not been a bad week for drawing,   some hits,  a few misses but I am seeing some improvement.  Still got a way to go,  but it will be a very enjoyable journey. 

I also made my first card using Craft Artist,   I was going to resort to a bought card for a crafter's birthday,  a sin I know,  then I remembered I could use CA.  So my first effort, which I can't upload as she may see it, wasn't that bad.    The only snag was not having the right sized envelope,  I had everything but the right size!   Which is typical of course.  Now just have to find an afternoon to make another swap...  uh oh,  Harvey has arrived,  may need to point him in the direction of his food bowl.  Funny that he has no problem spotting birds,  or sniffing out my ham or garlic sausage, yet he can't find his food bowl...   he is in fuss pot mode,  but it isn't working.   He caved in this morning and gobbled up what I'd put down, he did the same thing this evening.  

Off to the art gallery tomorrow,  maybe I can remember to take my sketchbook with me this time.  Have a lovely weekend

Tuesday witterings

Another day and a few more drawings.   I've been doing a couple of these over the last few days.  Like this fellah, another organgutan,  I liked his face and haircut.  But he has lots of fur,  hence why after I drew his face I took a few days to do his fur,  he's still far from finished, he needs a lot more whispy fur.  

It does mean always having something to do, which is nice, or I can break from another drawing.   Today one drawing just wouldn't work,  then the second,  which I thought would be more difficult just came together, weird how that works!  Same with crafting,  there are times when you are battling to make a card,  then the next day it all just slots together.   Not that I am making many cards these days,  in fact today I bought a birthday card rather than battle with myself to put a card together. 

This is Cader Idris,  not sure I've done it justice, but it was an interesting exercise in layout.  I know I'll end up going back to this to do more shading.    This was in my work book, the exercise was landscapes and layout,   it is things I'd never think of, as in 'keep it simple' when you block in the outline.  Shading was also key to this drawing,  and making the pencil work for you.  

And finally my Masia woman,  this was for the African challenge.   I thought this drawing would be hard, but in fact it just came together.  I love older faces, they are much more interesting than smooth skinned youngsters.    It also occurred to me that I could do a sketch of my udu,  an African drum, and yes I can play it,  just.   It is played by women, who also make them out of clay. 

It was a yucky day,  grey,  dank and yes, cold!   Guess who hogged the hottie last night,  him with the fur coat.   He's been good to day, wolfed down three sachets of food, whereas usually he manages half a sachet at a time.  Seems the warming up thing is working.    This morning he was actually waiting to be fed, went straight to his dish, no fuss just started eating.   He also had some lap time,  of course he chooses the most inconvenient time,  as when I need my second cuppa, or want to do the crossword.  

Otherwise it was just another day in paradise,  not.   Same old stuff,  finding that there was no cat food,  or podge,  porridge.   There always seems to be something that can't wait.    So for a change I went to the newly revamped Sainsbury's,   it is huge.   Wandered around their household goods,  lots of lovely stuff,    but what I needed was the cat food, podge and mushrooms,  so how the choc biccies slipped into the trolley I have no idea!    Even the self service was hassle free,   don't normally use them but they had so few checkouts open I had no choice, which was obviously the plan.   So when business has succeed in removing all workers from the workplace - how will business continue, cos there will be no money to sustain consumerism  as us minions won't be working, no work, no money.  And when will the rich learn to pay their way?    They have so much dosh they don't know what to do with it, yet they pay big bucks to avoid paying tax,  and also paying thier workers a decent wage.


Mini rant over,  blame it on this endless speculation about the election.  There should be a blanket ban on all electioneering until a month before the election.    I've also given up watching Sky news,  it is the mouthpiece of the tory party. 

Right, on that note I'm off...   thanks for stopping by.