Steps leading into a wood

charcoal on scored paper

130cm x 70cm

This is another drawing I came across when I was sorting out my studio space. It's a large piece that I made on a trip to Germany. The drawing is of a wooded area that was close by to the house where I stayed. Finding the drawing again brought back some fond memories of my stay in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, Lincoln's twin town. I spent a week at an artists' symposium making work in a glorious studio environment with 11 others artists from all over Europe. I stayed with a lovely and very hospitable family who provided the opportunity to experience a little authentic German living. Ahhh...happy memories :)

'Lakeside View' and 'My Faithful Cat!'

'Lakeside View'

80cm x 50cm

charcoal on paper

SOLD

I have two drawings to show you today...this drawing depicts Whisby Nature Park, Lincolnshire. I made it at the time of year when the bullrush heads had just started to explode...I love it when that happens! Charcoal was an ideal medium to use because of its flexibility. I was able to push it and pull it around the paper to portray the softness of the furry tops but at the same time achieve the strength and sharpness of the reeded stems. I always use high quality paper but nevertheless if you require pure white areas within the drawing then you cannot afford to get any charcoal on the surface at all, so planning ahead is essential!

Onto drawing No.2 made today...a page from my sketchbook

 'My Faithful Cat!' 6"x4"

I thought 'd just throw this one in...today I've been recovering from the dreaded norovirus which descended upon me Tuesday evening...arghhh! So no teaching today and no teaching tomorrow and I apologise to all those class members who have had to miss a class. Anyway, all that time my devoted cat has been laying by my side in her favourite box, every now and again opening one eye and peering over the side of the box at me.  Today in her honour, as I began to recuperate I made a drawing of her whilst she awaits the hand that feeds her to get back on her feet!

'Winter Beach'

'Winter Beach'

70cm x 50cm

graphite on paper

I was going through my archives today and came across this drawing of Mablethorpe beach in mid-winter...not so snowy that year though!...but I do remember the gale force wind while I was trying to make some studies on the beach!  Needless to say I wasn't on the beach very long!   It was the haphazard fencing that attracted me. It almost looked as if it was growing out of the sand. I feel that sometimes monochrome says more and that the power of the image can be diluted by colour. For this reason I never ever took this drawing into paint.

'First Covering of Snow'

'First Covering of Snow'

7" x 9"

oil on board

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This is a view from my previous studio window (I've moved downstairs for the time being). I made the painting after the first snowfall of last winter but before I had started the blog, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to post it now to mark our first snowfall of 2013. I painted it on a primed piece of backing board which was all I could lay my hands on at the time but which proved to be a very able support....mount board is another very able support as long as it's well primed. A tip...give the back of the board a coat of primer as well in order to stop the board bending or distorting. Doesn't the snow look gorgeous from the window...not so gorgeous if you have to venture out in it!!