Photo Essay - Catching Up News...

Aaagghhh... busy, busy, and trip to France is imminent, but I want to quickly catch up with the news of recent activities! So, here is an edited photo essay...

Tried some more nature printing. This one shows the ferns laid on acrylic inks,
which should have resulted in a lovely print. You can also see the rock salt particles
sprinkled on, intended to leave interesting textures when dry and brushed off.
However, the ferns just stuck fast in the acrylic and broke as I tried to prize away from the
dried inks - although a failure I learnt something at least!  

At the same time I was repeating the exercise with ferns and rock salt with watercolour.
This approach worked much better. The feather at the top was created with black printing ink
and the work felt very unbalanced as this dominated the image. After the addition of some black
coloured pencil in select areas around the ferns it seemed to come together.  

I also cut up some heavyweight cartridge paper to print on and made them into cards.

Social Sketchbook event in June at Castle Rising. Well attended and finally some
reasonable weather. An area worth visiting again as there is much inspiration. 

This double page spread is pure watercolour, no pencil drawing first, and was
also completed at Castle Rising. It took about 40 minutes, is very sketchy but a memory of
looking across to Babbingley.  

Selected sketchbooks by the group at castle rising. We all completed several
sketches each so going with the intention of drawing is certainly productive.

My five paintings at Welborne Arts Festival with other members of
West Norfolk Artists Association. A well organised and supported festival but weather
was sunshine and showers. Lots of families, interested in our artwork but not looking to
buy art on a fun day out... Difficult to see the work in this photo due to reflections
on the glass, apologies.

I was treated to a marvellous day out at Mundesley on the North Norfolk coast
by two friends and we sketched on the beach. This is watersoluble pencil over a
pre-prepared gesso base tinted with acrylic. Lovely company, great scenery and
fantastic food - once again "thank you" Kay and Sue!

Social Sketchbook event in Old Hunstanton earlier this month.
Hottest day of the year so far! 

Pen and wash sketch looking towards the famous Hunstanton cliffs.

Looking out to sea. Watercolour washes then dip pen and walnut ink to capture some
of the figures.  

An amazing hollyhock that has grown outside my studio this year. It must have
been a amongst the wildflower seeds I sprinkle each year (usually in vain).

Charcoal drawing from the hollyhock.

Loose variegated sweeps of neocolour crayon and
charcoal pencil line drawing on top. Yes, the hollyhock again. 

I'm feeling happier now, we are all up to date. Note to self: try posting shorter entries but more often!

Please feel free to comment on anything in this blog, I would love to know your views or if you have any questions. In the meantime, France awaits so - Au Revoir!

  

Sketchbooks Galore!

Sketchbook pages from Social Sketchbook event in The Walks.

The past week and a half has been full of sketchbook work... First was the Social Sketchbook event in The Walks, a lovely large park in King's Lynn. We arranged to meet at the bandstand which had been undergoing some renovation work and as we assembled the protective metal barriers were being removed - what perfect timing! As I arrived early I had already begun to sketch the bandstand. It is not my usual preferred subject matter and with some tricky perspective issues it was one I began to wish I hadn't started. So, as you can see below, I abandoned the idea of any realism and went for a quick pen and wash rendition.

Correct perspective abandoned so I could just enjoy approximate shapes
and a dash of colour. The allium buds were there too, but the horse was the last
 thing I sketched at the previous Social Sketchbook in Stow Bardolph.

The weather was bright but definitely breezy and had most of us seeking more sheltered spots. There was plenty of variety for subjects including the river, ducks, bridge arches over the water, planted areas, wild areas and many different tree species. One big attraction for me was the old town wall. When I walked through the arch to the other side the wind suddenly hit much colder and stronger and I had to admire one member who had bravely set up her seat and been working there since the start!

This was as far as I got sketching the old town wall before the cold set in
but we were due to reassemble anyway...

It is probably just visible in the photo above that the double spread page in the sketchbook had been prepared at home with gesso tinted with acrylic colour. A technique I like to introduce to add variety and texture when working in pencil.

Congratulations to the hardy Social Sketchbookers at the end of a morning in the park! 

My 25 minute final sketch to capture a little of sprouting leaves
and the lumps and bumps at the base of a fascinating tree trunk.

My second sketchbook event was to lead two morning workshop sessions for Freebridge Community Housing. They have a Wellbeing Week for staff and put on a variety of activities. Last year I ran a charcoal drawing workshop and this time I decided to do a Quink Ink Drawing session. I arrived laden with paper; card; small jars of decanted black Quink ink; dip pens, wooden skewers and feather quills for drawing with; covers to protect the tables; water; pots; brushes and masses of natural objects to use for inspiration.

Drawing with Quink ink in handmade simple accordian sketchbooks at
Freebridge Wellbeing Week.

The sessions started with an introduction to Quink ink and a short demonstration on using the various drawing tools and introducing water to allow the ink to bleed and create washes. When the wet ink floats in the water the components disperse into blues, greys and ochres - like magic! After a practice with mark making and trying out the techniques themselves we constructed small scale simple accordian sketchbooks, glued on coloured card for the outer covers and the remainder of the time was spent filling them with delightful sketches based on the natural objects.

Due to the less sophisticated drawing tools and the unpredictable nature of the ink the results were full of character and the accumulation of these drawings was impressive. The participants seemed happy and relaxed, chatting as they worked so I hope the experience was beneficial and contributed positively to Wellbeing Week.

Accumulation of drawings full of character.

So now I am busy with final preparations for the Focus on Flowers workshop at Dobbies Garden Centre and the morning element involves - you guessed - sketchbooks! The afternoon will be time for a longer study using watercolours and coloured pencils.

Just to finish this post I'd like to return to the drawing session in the park. When I did a 'research' trip, prior to making the arrangements, as I wandered round I remember thinking 'why don't I come here more often?' and at the end of the Social Setchbook event many others voiced this thought as well. Spending time in an area, looking, drawing, experiencing sights and sounds over a more intense period of activity is a great way to really get to know a place. Highy recommended. If you find a small parcel of time in the coming weeks, grab that sketchbook and favourite drawing tool and get out in the open, especially as the weather improves...

Change... Artist Block, and an Action Plan!

End of an era... Henderson Art & Framing closing down sale.

Change now is inevitable, and I am still trying to get used to the fact that Henderson Art & Framing is now closing and will finally be locking the doors at the end of May. In the meantime they have a half price closing down sale so if you live nearby hurry along to stock up, and resolve to continue your art journey, one way or another! (Fortunately Bill will continue framing from home). Henderson's has been a big part of my life for the past 7 years and I have gained so much enjoyment and experience whilst working there as a freelance art tutor.

I have put several plans in place so that my class members will be able to continue with their drawing and painting and am currently offering one workshop a month, and one Social Sketchbook event a month. Probably not the week-in-week-out classes they might have hoped for but feel this is an opportunity to spend some time reconnecting with my own personal artwork. With a lot of my time spent researching, preparing and delivering art classes I have often let my own work take second place - you may have noticed that I have only been snatching time to sketch recently, when did I last work on a painting? Having spent time over the past weeks reflecting, envisioning and implementing a plan for life without Henderson's (plus a few health dramas for other members of my family) I wanted to get into the studio and do some work. But... nothing... the intention is there yet I avoid going down to the studio... so, nothing. I have ideas for drawings and paintings but that vital spark seems absent. Somewhere along the line I feel I have lost a sense of who I am as an artist, or maybe my art is in a phase of transition? This all sounds very existential but it's as if I don't know what 'my work' looks like any more; that it has moved on in my head but not in the real world because the practical, tangible work is missing.

Before I set out (publicly) an action plan let me assure you I haven't been wallowing in angst and hiding, and have organised two art events recently.

Drawing evening for King's Lynn Embroiderer's Guild.

I really enjoy connecting with people through art and was asked to put together an evening to help members of the King's Lynn Embroiderer's Guild with some drawing tasks to get a new project, based on ancient textiles, off the ground. The group were very enthusiastic and tackled three tasks with gusto.

The group working hard on selecting cropped areas
to transcribe in a drawn grid on A4 paper.

Using black felt pens they drew motifs from fabric samples or reference materials on tracing paper (four sheets each) which then could be layered to create more complex designs in a variety of configurations. This was followed by drawing cropped sections into six squares by isolating areas with a viewfinder. Finally a coloured positive / negative image was obtained by covering cartridge paper with a variegated coloured layer of soft pastel, overlaid with oil pastels. When drawn on the reverse side the design got transferred as a positive line on white, leaving the original as a pale negative line on a coloured background. Congratulations to all the members for working so hard and producing some great work - I hope it will prove useful as a springboard for generating further ideas.

Social Sketchbook event at Stow Bardolph.

The first Social Sketchbook event was held at the beginning of the month. I had arranged for us to meet at Church Farm, a small rare breeds centre in Stow Bardolph. The weather was relatively kind as previous days had been wild winds and bitterly cold. Although still chilly, the wind had dropped considerably and the sun even put in an appearance.

A curious pig returning the interest as one member sketches quickly
 to capture her expression.

Smiles all round - but ready for a warming drink and snack in the Tea Room,
where one member is already happily ensconced.

The group seemed to enjoy the opportunity to work outside of the studio environment, and quickly overcame any concerns about using sketchbooks in such a busy environment (it was the start of the Easter holidays and bustling with families enjoying the farm animals). There were nine of us and as the farm is quite compact we all moved about focusing on what caught our individual attention, yet frequently were in close proximity to one or two of the others. By early afternoon the nip in the air was taking it's toll and we were ready to retire to the Tea Room for a hot drink and light lunch while we chatted. The social aspect has always been welcomed by members of my classes and I hope more will join the Social Sketchbook events in the future.

*The drawings below are from a few pages in my sketchbook and apologies for the blue tinge, the paper is white, honestly.

   

Sheep study in Goldline 8x8" hardback sketchbook.  

Sheep and lamb sketches.

Quick Whitepark cow head study.

   

So, back to thoughts of the future... what do I plan to do about this (temporary) artist block?

1.  Introduce structured hours in the studio, or on location. Just show up whether I feel like it or not.
2.  Work from life as much as possible - whatever takes my fancy initially - I feel sure that if enough work is generated that eventually subject matter or a theme will emerge. It may still be animals and the natural world, or it may be something different, I will try to be open to whatever transpires.
3.  Be productive, encourage quantity so that I may move beyond the more obvious.
4.  To have a period of experimentation, play and discovery and to withhold judgement and criticism to begin with - what will be, will be.
5.  Continue to encourage the social aspect. Spend time outside of the studio with other artists, either at art events or to draw and paint in company.
6.  To keep my teaching schedule manageable so that continuity of my personal work remains strong.
7.  Outside of 'work hours' continue to read art books / magazines / watch art DVD's or You Tube and as ideas, media, subjects or treatments capture my interest to have a go and see what happens.
8.  If I feel really stuck to just play around with colour and create abstract backgrounds to use as a base for drawing / painting / writing over.
9.  To keep positive as this situation has happened before, is likely to happen again in the future and is part of the creative cycle - it happens to most of us at some point!
10. To post more often to this blog, in the hope that whatever I produce in the next few months - whether good, bad or ugly, will give you some insight into this frustrating lull in motivation, but that it can be overcome.

Has something similar happened to you? How did you cope, and what strategies were useful in getting your art back on track?

Practice, practice, practice...

Quick A5 sketchbook portrait studies
(charcoal pencil on left, charcoal stick on right). 

In my Mixed Media classes this term I have been really encouraging the use of sketchbooks. As the pages have been filling up I can see how my enthusiasm is catching on, and many class members have been using theirs between sessions. It is such a simple way of integrating creativity into everyday life and artists at all stages of development reap the benefits of regular practice!

The photo above was another quick session at trying to capture a likeness in a portrait by looking at the big shapes first. They are both in charcoal, one in charcoal pencil and the other with a willow charcoal stick. Side by side it is easy to see the denser velvety marks deposited by the stick.

Portrait study of my son, 15 minutes.

And another 15 minute study, my son this time as he played on a computer game (wearing headphones). These were in preparation for the class session where members were asked to work in their sketchbooks and do rapid charcoal studies of each other for the first hour. After break they could work on a longer study, in the medium of choice, either from life from their own reference photo. They all did a fantastic job and were pleasantly surprised at how much information could be captured in short bursts of 10 - 15 minutes!

It is still looking like Henderson Art and Framing will be closing it's doors permanently... and I have been firming up plans for the future. The response from the people I currently teach there has been positive and I really hope they will continue on their personal art journeys, with me would be lovely, but in any way, shape, or form. I will be offering various art events and workshops at different locations, so some exciting new ventures for me too! The first is a Social Sketchbook session at a small rare breeds farm next month and in May another outdoor session in the local park. Hopefully the weather will have warmed up a bit by then. Two weeks ago I had a great meeting with the store manager and the catering manager of the Dobbies Garden Centre in King's Lynn to discuss the possibility of holding a workshop there for my class members. I was delighted with the enthusiastic response I received, and in May I will be running a one-day workshop titled Focus on Flowers. 

Pastel Class... working 'as if on location'.

    
In preparation for life beyond the art classes at Henderson this term I included a session for all my hard working students based on the premise of 'as if on location'. I placed some A3 photocopied images around the studio featuring a variety of subjects - a dog on the beach, a bluebell wood, a boat, an old archway, a cat on top of the stairs, a sunflower, some bowls players, a busy scene with chickens and some bright pink flowers clinging to a rock face. I had moved the tables around to enable better views but suggested working with sketchbooks/drawing boards on laps, or even try standing up, to simulate the more usual conditions of working on location.

Mixed Media Class... working 'as if on location'.

There was a great atmosphere in all the sessions and some inspiring work produced. Most people managed two or more pieces of work, some were quick studies but also some resolved artworks. Congratulations to everyone concerned, and my thanks for rising to the challenge!

Entering the spirit of working 'as if on location'...
an enthusiastic class member standing and creating quick sketches
of chickens in her sketchbook!

If you have never tried working on location before why not have a go at this exercise and get in some practice? Instead of having your reference image right beside your working surface pin it up somewhere and pretend you are out of the comforts of your usual art space. Use easily portable art materials and try working quickly to capture the essence of your subject.