me, myself and the Gents

Me, drawing, by Paul Gent

I'm very lucky to have met some really wonderful artists over the last few years. Artists from around the world. I've met them online, then met them in person. In many lovely parts of the world. Plus, as well as that, I regularly meet up with some brilliant artists closer to home.

Me, drawing, by Miriam Gent

These drawings, of me, were made by a couple of extremely talented friends, Miriam and Paul Gent. They were created, just a couple of weeks ago, on a local Sketchcrawl/Pubcrawl that we three planned (in the pub). It was so local it went through the streets we live on.

Me, drawing, by Paul Gent

It's amazing, when you look, what and who you'll find on your doorstep.

I couldn't love them more; the drawings and the Gents.

 

the kiss

Here's a drawing that I made on a pubcrawl sketchcrawl that we, at Sketchcrawl North, did last year. I made it in my large Moleskine - the kind that has an A3 size double page spread. Increasingly, I've found that I really enjoy drawing on a bigger scale. Maybe it's a reaction to all those years of drawing tiny things in tiny books. I don't know. But, this is a biggie for me. Unfortunately, I don't have a scanner that can take this size page which is why it's taken so long to post it.

It's a drawing of a pub in Sheffield, called Fagans (obviously), that has this beautiful, and very British, mural by Sheff's own Pete McKee. I've wanted to draw this for ages and last November I braved the cold and finally did it. Now that I see it on screen I realise that it needs something more. I know exactly what it is it needs, so it may just get a bit more AJ treatment. In fact, it definitely WILL.

So, here's Part One. More to come.

November November

November was a good month. A good creative month; book launch; book signings; foreign travels; exhibition; collaborations; Dr Sketchy; school visits; Uni visits and all wrapped up with a Sketchcrawl on Saturday. I need more Novembers. But with more sleep.

carry it home in a tote sack

 Here are two drawings from the same day and the same place. They are, I think, examples of how a drawing can go either way. I drew them both at a field day and they are of a stall that was a celebration of all things bread. It mapped the story of bread from back in time and from around the world. Very interesting and very tasty.

The top drawing pleases me quite a lot. It's got a touch of the Patrick Caulfield about it (who I absolutely adore). The bottom one is atrocious. Way too much going on and way too overdone.

You win some, you lose some.

four drawings, three places, one sketchbook

Four drawings, three places in one sketchbook.

And, a shedload of different pens and pencils.

Edale

Red marker pen, two red ballpoints and two red pencils.

Various green pencils.

Sheffield

Blue fine liner and blue brush pen.

Whaley Bridge

 (above)

Black fine liner, 3B pencil and various colour pencils

(below)

Blue, pink and yellow fine liners.

Blue, pink and yellow pencils.

All made in the small Moleskine sketchbook. I was never that interested in using such a small sketchbook before I got this. It took a few years of drawing before I bought it and I still wasn't convinced. It sat on my shelf for another year or so. Now I'm coming close to finishing this sketchbook - just a few pages left. I really must get a new one in because it's become one of my favourites. A sketchbook I wouldn't be without.

side by side in idle talk

It seems wrong talking about Christmas at this time of year. Quite frankly, I don't want to even think about it until next December, (December the 24th to be precise), but due to all my recent technology issues I never got to post the drawings from our Sketchcrawl Christmas lunch/get-together. We met on a Saturday afternoon at the Harland Cafe in Sheffield. What a great little place. And, so cheap. I can't remember the last time I had a meal, dessert and a couple of drinks for less than a tenner. Plus, I had an extra portion of chips - which were amazing. But, this is what's known as going off on a tangent (it's the sort of thing I remember, though; good chips). Here are just a few sketches I made. I came home with absolutely tonnes of drawings. Some days are like that, though, right? Some days you're just unstoppable.  

 Anyway, I'd like to introduce you to a couple of our group;.

Harry has been drawing with Sketchcrawl North for longer than me. Despite being one of our youngest members he is a veteran. I think he'd been scribbling away since about the age of ten (ish). His work is great now, so I can only imagine what it'll be like in a few years time if he continues at this rate.

Now, I can't pretend I know this baby. He, or she, was sat on a table close by. On these sketchcrawl outings I try to take a few tools that I wouldn't normally use, to change things up a bit. I made this baby sketch with one of my lovely old calligraphy pens. I really must use them more. I pinched a blue pencil, from one of the group, to create his, or her, rosy cheeks.

And, finally, another of our regulars Jane, in her lovely jumper. It's so nice I drew it twice. Here and in the top drawing.

Thanks for all the recent response about resizing vs watermarking images, etc. As you might be able to tell, from this post, I still don't have a bloody clue what I'm doing.

Happy Christmas!

i guess i'll call it sickness gone

Here's another sketchbook spread that, until now, had remained unposted. I made this some time last summer at my friend, and drawing companion, Lynne Chapman's house. Lynne was planning a workshop that she was giving at last year's Urban Sketcher's Symposium and used some of our Sketchcrawl group as guinea pigs.

I've made no secret that I've been finding it difficult to get into drawing for some time. Jeez, I've been banging on about it for months. It's funny though, it's only when I am out drawing with other people that it's not an issue. I actually enjoy that more than when I'm sat at home drawing, doing my own thing. Perhaps it's because I'm stretching myself. I dunno. But, I do know this; the little drawing of a typewriter, and the bike actually, have pleased me more than anything else I've drawn in quite some time. They were drawn in a totally alien way to how I would normally draw (water colour pencil was put on the page before I drew the shapes in) and that's exciting.

Maybe it's time for a change.

we're in for more rain

Well, another couple of weeks have passed and I am still finding it difficult to pick up a pen and draw. I made this little one some time back, in my mini Moleskine sketchbook, at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Tomorrow my sketch crawl group return to the park, for lots of sketching goodness, but I'll be working the day job so I won't even have a sketchcrawl to kick start some drawing. It's okay though. As frustrating as these periods are, I know it will pass. It will, it will, it WILL pass.

Huge thanks for all your kind and supportive messages in response to my last couple of posts. I'll have some drawings to share soon.

a nice cup of tea and a sit down

Last Saturday our sketch crawling group met at Sheaf Valley park in Sheffield. The event was an open day to celebrate how this piece of wasteland has been developed into a park with amphitheatre. Our sketchcrawl group had a stall/stand at the open day so that we could share the drawings that we have made of the city over the last couple of years. We were also pomoting sketchcrawling and signing up new members. I made the drawing above, of the said amphitheatre, whilst taking my turn in manning the stall.

An open day is brilliant for sketch crawling with all sorts of different events going on; live music, dancing, dog show, etc. There was an a amazing traditional Mexican dance group, Son de America, who brought colour, sunshine and big smiles to the day. They were a little reminder of all the fabulous and diverse things that people are doing througout our cities to bring some joy into our own and other people's lives. A bit like sketchcrawling, really.

Just across from our stall was a vintage 1950s tea and cake stand which was a gift for us sketchers. I could have spent the whole day just drawing that alone; lovely ladies and girls serving proper tea in china cups from proper tea pots whilst looking gorgeous. Oh, and homemade cakes. I didn't really make the most of that drawing opportunity because I got so distracted by everything else going on. I did however, at the end of the day, as things were winding down, make this little drawing of one of the girls sitting down for a well deserved cuppa.

Another great day with my sketchcrawling buddies.

a shaggy dog's tale

click on drawing to view

On Saturday our sketchcrawl group attended an open day for a park in Sheffield. It was an afternoon choc full of all sorts of drawing opportunitiess. There was music, dancing, food all the kind of stuff you'd expect to find at such an event. I managed to make a few drawings which I'll post shortly, but for now, here's a drawing from my favourite part of the day; the dog show. And, specifically, the 'waggiest tail' round.

Now, I don't know if you've ever tried to draw the waggiest tail round of a dog show? Well, if not, I can tell you, it's not easy. There's a whole lot of wagging going on.

tell me, have you seen me?

Friday night saw the first ever evening meet for our Sketchcrawl Sheffield group. And, what a gorgeous art filled evening it was. We started at the preview evening of illustrator Mick Marston's stunning exhibition, Outlook Gloomy, with  Bright Intervals, at Pete McKee's ultra smart little gallery in Sheffield. It's a really clever, funny and oh so stylish exhibition and if you are in Sheffield you must visit. I insist.

Afterwards, we met up with some other sketchcrawlers and continued our evening at a Moroccan restaurant, Ottos. Coincidentally, the first time I visited Pete's gallery, some months ago, I made a sketch of the restaurant from my car (above). It was because of that sketch I ended up booking this place. You see, iillustrated journals can come in very handy in so many ways; from passing five minutes in your car to booking somewhere to eat!

Anyhow, whilst it was not so easy at a table filled with cutlery, crockery, glasses and drinks I managed a couple of the drawings. And, I'm sure we'll do it again.

let us not talk falsely now, the hour's getting late

 The chances are, if you have been to the beautiful Yorkshire Sculpture Park then you will have seen Henry Moore's Draped Seated Woman. From the main entrance, just as the park opens up to you, she can be found looking out over the lake. She sits on the hill watching over the park. Keeping her eye on things. Surrounded by her flock.

 If you sit for a while, maybe to draw or something, you'll hear the same old comments, over and over again, from those who come to look at her; stuff about 'her head being too small' and her 'being all out of proportion'. I want to tell them to take a look at themselves, they ain't exactly in proportion either. But I don't. I keep my head down. Keep drawing.

 And, besides, she doesn't need me to stick up for her. She doesn't care what they have to say. She's heard it all before. Over and over again. No, she's not interested. Why would she be when she has this view to look at?

just singing a song

 Jeez, I haven't blogged for ages. In fact, it's taken me over a month to post these drawings. I made them on July the 14th which was International Sketchcrawl day, or Worldwide Sketchcrawl day, or something like that. Our drawing group, Sketchcrawl North, were in the gorgeous village of Tideswell for the day. For some absurd reason I was to organise the day and the weather was not looking good. So, before everyone else arrived I went to the church (or Cathedral of the Peak) to check that it would be okay to sketch in there - should the sun not come out.

When I got there I found a group of musicians practicing for a rehearsal they were giving, as part of Buxton Festival, later that day. They said that as long as we were quiet we could sit in on the rehearsal. Well, there's nowt quieter than sketchers.

The musicians were called The Frolick, a Baroque band, and they were amazing. I must say that I've never really heard this kind of music, and to be honest would never have chosen to listen to it (well, you know, I'm a Neil Young kind of gal) but it was an absolute privilege. And it was a lesson to me to not dismiss things before giving them a go first.

Needless to say we didn't move from the church the whole afternoon.

Some quick sketches of members of the band;

I absolutely love drawing to music. I always have but there's something about live music that is so exciting to draw to. I love the way the music becomes part of the drawing to the point, sometimes, when you lose yourself in it, the subject no longer matters. I dn't know how to explain it. I'm not so good with words, that's why I draw.

A big thanks to The Frolick for letting me, and my drawing friends, experience that.

songs are like tattoos

I think this was my favourite sketch from last Friday night's Dr. Sketchy. The scaling is all wrong; the hands, for one, are way too small but I don't really care. I'm a little bit obsessed with tattoos at the moment. I'm loving drawing people too. So what could be better than drawings on people? Not much.

and we were rolling, rolling, rock and rollin'

Saturday the 14th of July was International Sketchcrawl day and whilst most of the world's sketching population were in Santa Domingo some of us (Sketchcrawl North, specifically) were out on the mean, and equally exotic, streets of Tideswell.

Well,actually that's a bit of a fib.

No, we weren't on the streets at all. We were mainly in the church where some (amazing) musicians were practicing for a concert. So we spent most of our time there. I did, however, sneak this little drawing of some architecture. Just to prove that we did actually go out sketching on the big day.

The rest of the day we just spent in the cafe eating. Now, that's one thing Sketchcrawl North are VERY good at.

does anyone know?

Where does the time go, eh? I've such a huge backlog of stuff to post; drawings from one of Lynne Chapman's workshops; the International Sketchcrawl day illustrations; an exciting new collaboration; a step by step update; details about an exhibition in France I've been invited to participate in (SO very excited); a couple of secret projects that I am definitely NOT allowed to mention (can I keep my mouth shut?!);  and all manner of other bits and bobs.

For now here's a couple of sketches from a Dr Sketchy I attended the other evening. These are always such fun events. I hope that shines through. They are just a great excuse to play with your pens.

Back to regular posting tomorrow.

motorcycle emptiness

This is a pretty rotten drawing. I wasn't feeling it from the moment I started it. I just saw this bike, at the Crich 1950s day, and thought it looked interesting. I wanted to do something interesting with it. But I didn't. Then when I got home and started cross hatching the hell out of it I was still not feeling it. So, I just got it finished and wrote some nonsense on the page. You can tell by my hand writing I wasn't even feeling that.

However, despite the fact that I've just slated it, there is one moment in this drawing that I like. You see when I've made a drawing that makes me cringe I feel that as long as I create a little magical moment within it - whether that be a line or a texture or a detail - I can forgive it. So, yes, there is one moment that makes me smile. Can you spot it?

you gotta roll with it

 These are the final couple of drawings from the rock n roll day last weekend. Actually, there's also a motorbike but that might take some time to finish. I must say that I'm pretty pleased that in just one day I produced so much stuff.

 I'l let you into a secret about the car below; it most definitely wasn't that shape. I started off at the front of the car, which was going okay. Not great but okay. Then I realised that there was absolutely no bloody way I was going to fit the whole thing onto the page. It was, after all, a big long Zodiac! So, I had a decision to make and, yes, I did. I squashed the whole thing into the space I had. Ah well, as long as we keep it to ourselves nobody else ever needs to know.

 Throughout this drawing I was thinking of my friend France Belleville and her 'ladies'.

put on your red dress baby

 When I went to the 1950s event last weekend I fully intended to spend the day drawing cars. It's one of those subjects I really want to tackle. I've always been too intimdated to draw them but, these days, I love the challenge of drawing the things that previously scared me off. Anyway, despite that, I ended up getting distracted by all the dancing - as you can see in my last two posts. I did draw a couple of cars and a motorbike though. This was the most successful. It's the car that belongs to the dancing pair in the previous post's drawings.

 I made the sketch at the event and coloured it in at home. I never know whether putting the colour in will be a good thing so I scanned it before I went ahead with the red pencils. I actually like both versions. So, here's the before and after. Which do you prefer?

whole lot of shakin' goin' on

Yesterday I went to a 1950s weekend at Crich Tramway Museum. It was great. I went there with all intentions of drawing those stunning big ol' 50s cars (cars, and vehicles in general, have always been one of those subjects that scares me so I've decided to tackle them just because they scare me). However, I came across the marquee where all the dancing was taking place and lost about three or four hours in there. What is this dance style called? Can anybody tell me?

If anyone had told me I'd be out in public drawing people dancing a year a go I'd have thought they were nuts. But once I'd sat down and got over my initial self consciousness I couldn't stop. I came home with over 30 drawings. Most of which are little sketches, like the ones below, but also a few more 'finished' pieces. A lot of them seemed to feature the couple above, Elaine and Paul, who not only looked really great but also danced for the entire afternoon.

And, AND, I did manage to draw some cars. In fact, unebeknownst to me at the time, I drew the car that belonged to the couple above. Who I really wasn't stalking. Honestly!

Anyway, those drawings of cars to come soon.