Launch Date Set

The launch date for my new web site has been decided.

I have only some little finishing touches to do and get some expert advice from my daughter Janet’s ‘Technical Adviser’ (a bit of advance warning for you there Tony) over this coming weekend. Providing it passes his critical eye then it shall be up-loaded on…………..before I tell you I will just whet your appetite with a couple more of my sketches. The first one is Droit House, Margate and the second is Church Square, Rye. Sussex. Both of these can be seen within it’s pages:

Now, I trust this has got you eagerly waiting and ready with your fingers poised over the keyboard to enter the URL. Well, you will just have to wait for the launch date to get that little bit of information!

The launch date is . . . . . . . Monday 25th February 2008.

There, now you know. Return to this blog then for the URL.

How much more exciting can it get!!!!

Filed under Sketches, Web Site | Comment (1)

The ‘Nearly There’ Web Site

I have been toiling away this weekend (in between watching the Rugby – Oh England. What happened?) and I am pleased to say that my new Web Site is almost ready. Just a few more images to include and then test that it all works then it should be there – oh, and ask my IT nephew Nathan to do his ‘thing’ to get it up-loaded!. As a taster here are a couple more sketches that will be making an appearance on the site:

If all goes well then I expect to announce the date later this week. It’s exciting isn’t it – well isn’t it?

Filed under Sketches | Comment (0)

My Little Sketches

It has been wet and miserable in our house this past week (My nose has been wet and I’ve been miserable!) but I got rid of my cold – I gave it to my wife!

So, while I was feeling sorry for myself, I got out my sketch books and selected some little sketches to show off.

These little ones were drawn during a family holiday in Wales a few years ago.

I enjoy doing little pen and ink sketches with water colour washes. I use a Graphic pen and a Daler-Rowney Artist Quality sketch book. My trusty little paintbox with a sable-hair brush completes the equipment I need.

I try to capture the essence of the scene or the character of the sitter without worrying about accuracy. The likeness of the person or scene will be there. To try to be precise will only stifle the immediacy and fun of the sketch. Relax and enjoy I say – it will show through!

Filed under Family, Paintings, Sketches | Comments (11)

The Caricature Pencil Drawing

One of my outstanding projects is this double Caricature I promised to do as a Wedding Present.

It has reached the final, well almost final, drawing stage. I always do a lot of pencil drawings of the subject and objects before deciding what, where and how they will be included in the finished painting. Lay-Out paper is used as I can easily transfer items onto the next page as most of my drawings go through numerous stages before I am completely satisfied. This is on it’s third re-working as I have ‘jiggered’ things around the page many times to create what I hope is a balanced and pleasing picture. I have only to decide what to do to the female’s legs. Boots, green, I’m thinking.

Can you guess what they do?

You don’t get a prize for a correct guess but if you can figure out why the dog is protective of the ’snowman’ you will get a virtual ‘pat-on-the-back!

Answers in a later post.

Good Luck!

Filed under Caricatures, Cartoons, Sketches | Comment (0)

The Patchwork Sketch

I often accompany my wife when she visits Patchwork Shows and I always take a camera or sketch book. I love looking at the quilts and seeing the colours and patterns created by the Quilters. It really is an Art form in it’s own right.

I came up with the idea of doing a painting of a Patchwork Show and took numerous photos and started a sketch in preparation. I have only got this far ;

I was reminded that I had begun this project as my daughter, Janet, is taking a stall at The Festival of Quilts at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre.

I’ll be there and I might even get inspiration to complete this project. It joins a long, long list!!

Filed under Sketches | Comments (2)

Tree in Autumn

The items that accompany me when out walking are – Camera, sketch book, pencil or pens (usually the graphic pens). My dear wife tags along as well!

I love doing little sketches and this tree is one of them. It was alone in a field and just needed to be sketched. Do you find that? Some fleeting scene catches the eye and needs to be recorded. Given the time I prefer to sketch but with my DW (Dear Wife) not sharing my joy of sketching I find the camera is the next best recording medium. I have loads, I mean loads, of these ‘fleeting moments’ recorded on film (I once went on holiday with 30 rolls of film……. but that is a story for another day) and I do mean to turn them into paintings, one day!

“Why do you take so many photos” DW says?

“Why not?” Says I!

‘Catch the moment’  by whatever means available because one day, as with this little tree, it will have it’s moment again when, although I might forget what I had for dinner last week, I recall totally the moment, the location and the pleasure I had sketching it.

Filed under Sketches | Comment (1)