Black on Grey on White

It was time to reassess just what (art-wise) I could achieve in one-ish sitting. Seriously, each non commissioned drawing takes me between 80-120 hours (maybe more). Translated: weeks of work. The one question that I have not wanted  been to scared to answer  face but wich I have been asking for a while now, has been tackled and ... answered. Am I able to produce a wee bit quality in one day? Can I "perform" without all the time and detail and work and rework and endless thought? Can I get to the important nitty gritty and feel pleased with the result? Can I quieten the nagging "you -can-you-only-draw-slowly-and un-sponteneously" voice? Yes, yes, yes and YES! Here's the proof: Snaffles. Upping the anti (no comfort zone for me!), I used new paper (Fabriano), a new medium (Nitram Charcoal) and a new time frame (one day i.e: 6 hours drawing time). Drank two coffees, pumped up the volume and got cracking... Super chuffed with the result! Snaffles ...

Way back last year, when the grass was still green, I "got together" (cyberly) with good friends and fellow artists Linda Shantz , Elizabeth McCrindle and we challenged ourselves to take a break from the old routine by drawing or painting an apple. This, ladies and gents, is how breaking my routine materialises. Apple Sketch #1 Colour Pencil in a sketch book Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved . Linda's Apple is a lovely red luscious sample tempting for any snow white princess. Like to think might tempt a wee worm. Oh and for the record, my Ladies did not respond to the challenge preferring to sketch a dog and run off to a brunch B-day party! Guess I'll have to bring out the paints next time and shout Dino!!!

Untitled and extinct Graphitint sketch on paper Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved Mummy's going to draw a Dino! Want to join in? Before the end of my next breath there was action over-load! Floury of footsteps, giggles, drawers slams, individual sketch pads found, pencils, pens, scissors and glue (?) brought out, a wonderful assortiment of shiny things glissening on the table top. Beside the same table, standing to attention, ready for action; two beeming smiles. The ladies of the house were joining me on a mission! Islay's Dino Land Coloured sketch on Paper. All rights reserved Dinamelie - my wee Dino Coloured skecth on paper. All rights reserved We joined in on Draw a Dinosaur day and had such a wild time (bad pun intented) The ladies have done themselves (and their mum) proud with perfect creations and scenes from a world extinct. Tomorrow I'm wanting to draw an apple. Wonder if they'll be as keen!

Journal Entry 2010 Monica Dahl. All rights reserved Alive Johnny had this ability of enchanting people with his magic tail-wagging "smile", little did I know he could do it after his death . A short time after " Johnny Jo " died, one of my readers (fellow artist Monica Dahl) contacted me asking for permission to use a " JJ photograph" as a reference . Johnny Jo Journal entry close-up. Pencil on Paper Monica Dahl. All rights reserved The result is a wonderful sketch capturing his whole Johnny-ness; his big-hair - big eyes - big heart. The result a beautiful timeless entry into Monica's very personal and precious traveling sketchbook. The result a tear in my eye and a smile on my lips. Here is one more example of Monica's delicate and beautiful pencil work. Hope pencil on paper. Monica Dahl.2011 All rights reserved.

"Self Portrait" Adolph von Menzel 1815-1905 The week-ends always do this: knock me for six. I know they are coming. I know their speed. I brace myself, hunch down, tuck my elbows in ... tight and wait for impact! Never fails: the impact gets me wobbling off balance rocking back and forth like a pin, sometimes worse... This Monday morning balance has been regained. This is what helped. Reading about the work of the Master draftsman Adolf Menzel in the latest issue of Drawing Magazine. (Highly informative and insightful article written by Ephraim Rubenstein .) The discovery of his work is sobering (despite wanting to drink it all in the hope of gaining a portion of his knowledge) . The execution of his work is stunning, the ease at which handles his pencils and paints to be envied and his mastery of light and form spot on. His work quite simply has to be shared. "Living Room with artist's Sister" Adolph von Menzel, 1847 "Balcony Room" Adolph von Menz...

You may have noticed a decrease in the number of my blog posts. I apologies. Last week was strenuous: hospitals are not the funniest places in the world albeit one of the most important. Spent 5 unexpected nights surrounded by machinery, drips and blank walls. Our youngest was hit by pneumonia. Badly. Strangely enough my moleskin was in my bag with pen... it never is. It helped. 6 days later, we are home safe and sound, jumping for joy (olympic jumps) the wee one is singing and laughing loudly (castafiore caliber). Life is good again. To all of you, where ever you are, have a "fan-da-bee-dosy" week-end.

"Elephant" . Albertina, Vienna. Black Chalk, 230x340 mm by Rembrandt in 1637. "A woman Sleeping". Brush and Wash in Bistre, 245x203 mm by Rembrandt in about 1655. Have you ever wondered who this lady actually is and (now) what the link could be with the elephant? Both are rendered by Rembrandt back in the 17th century, and through pure coincidence, I discovered who Rembrandt sketched sleeping back in 1655. This beautiful figure is very likely Hendrickje Stoffels, Rembrandt's second wife and mother to his daughter Cornelia (born in 1654). The original can be seen in the British Museum in London. Last week, a nasty virus (our youngest was its victim) kept me away from crossing my studio's threshold but luckily not from catching up on some long overdue reading. One of the books I picked up and couldn't put down was: "Rembrandt Drawings - 116 Masterpieces in Original Color" . 2007, Dover Publications, Inc. Mineola, New York. I loved it. This hardc...

Jeanette Jobson author of the blog Illustrated Life graciously offered a great reference for us all to get stuck into. I loved the light (that special autumn glow) and the shadows of the leaves created. I saw so much in this reference but wasn't until I saw the rope that I knew where I was going! I was sticking to black and white (no graphitints) and going to " radically zoom " and flip (not literally of course...)! Working in black and white, I feel, always makes shape and symbolism that extra bit precious. This time was no exception. Summer has hung up its coat and left us for another year, leaves are just shadowed memories. The result a big drawing 33x24 cm on Strathmore Bristol smooth. The tooth of the paper was used as the foundation for the bark and the rest followed. All the drawing was done in 6B. The shadows are layers of graphite topped with charcoal. "End of Summer" Graphite on Paper, 33x24 cm Here's the reference photograph.  Another great c...

"Two Pears in a pod"   28x15 cm, Pencil on paper Here is my interpretation of this months Virtual Sketch date .  Both pears are done in graphite, the bigger one using Derwent 2B and the smaller one using Derwent Graphitints. As usual my strange vision zoomed into only a part of the reference photo. The lay and the shadow play of this particular pear, for some reason, inspired a "quick" sketch.  (This piece was done in just under two hours and therefore, I hope, still qualifies as a sketch.) On reflection: my feeling is I should do it again and this time have the colour in the foreground... off balance the way it is right now. Million thanks to Belinda Lindhart for providing the pick. Have a great week-end!  

I've jumped a long way out of my comfort zone and used a few spare hours on a cool inter-blog project: Virtual Sketch Date Here's the result using the gorgeous reference pic provided.  This was provided by fellow artist Sharon K.M . Thank-you. It's not a sketch (too much detail), it's not a finished drawing (too rough for that), it's a study with a million mistakes that have been taken aboard and not forgotten .  "Peony in Vase" 10x12 cm, s tudy in graphite This was fun and definately a much needed exercise . Looking forward to next months challenge.

For once the rain was not the "one" keeping me indoors.... No, the day was glorious unusually bright and sunny.  A real clichée of a spring day! This, I am sure, is what brought on  the urge , the incredible "not going to leave me alone" urge to tidy-up, hoover, de-cluttered and refresh a studio still bogged down by the winter blues. Don't run away yet, no cleaning, dusting or polishing technics will be  discussed or detailed in this post: promise.   Allthought, I did get many household tools out and ended up using them  (hoover, duster, glass cleaner, polish, rubbish bag...) and feel quite up on the subject. Actually, I'd much preffer to show you what I found in my "organised" mess. Apart from feeling on top of things again (amazing how vanishing clutter can do that!),chuffed to bits for having conquered the pain of organising and knowing that no projects, commissions and tasks  had been forgotten (found loads of ticked "to-do-lists"), ...

OK so the challenge was put out: draw from a given ref photo in 2 hours and than show the result. I rose to it. This sketch "Sketched Youth" is the result of 1 hour and 20 minutes fast loose drawing. I used sepia and brown charcoal..not the best sight in the world but such a major breakthrough out of my comfort zone. I may even do another one and who knows it might improve. Cheers