Two pages from the sketchbook

Here's a couple of pages from my sketchbook. I'm going through a another phase of messing around with the dip pens and ink.

New pens

I've got some new pens. Dip pens. There are so many nibs to play with and they are so cheap I decided to buy a selection from the Art centre in Bedford. 

I don't really hold my pen 'properly'. At school I was still writing with a pencil when everyone else had advanced to using ink. I use it in my right hand but hold it like a left hander. This makes the line very scratchy.

So this is taking some getting use to. With the finer nibs I draw a line and no mark is made because of my cack-hand. However, when the mark is made, especially with a really fine line... It looks really tasty, if a little shaky.

Here are a few experiments from my sketchbook using my new toys.

Drawing hair with super fine nibs was fun.

This bear is my favourite!

Playing With Oil Pastel

Recently half of my dining table has been commandeered by my inks, oil pastels, watercolours and pencils. It's the best way to keep me busy whilst Jack is busy working on his next album. During the day, I'm upstairs doing the cutes on my computer for Doodle Press and in the evening, when I need to get away from the screen, I can play around with my toys in a different room.

I like trying new things. I've had oil pastels for ages, but it's only until now that I've decided to experiment. These are the better drawings from my sketchbook using the pastels. I referenced the models from my 1950s Good Housekeeping magazine. The bright colours make them look more like 1980s fashion illustrations. I like the loose style. I put a few pencil lines down on the page as guides then just broadly used the blunt pastels on the whole page without worrying about the little details.