I've recently started taking an art class in the beautiful Hudswell Village Hall in North Yorkshire. It's an idyllic location, surrounded by rolling hills and all the majesty you expect from such a famous landscape. And the group? Delightful. A lovely bunch of ladies who support each other in both the good and bad times during our class. [We regularly have 'relationship issues' with our art, where we just don't seem to be getting anywhere with it - thankfully, these rarely result in D.I.V.O.R.C.E and the relationship is usually saved and even improved...]
I've also just finished reading a fabulous book by Danny Gregory called 'The Artistic Licence' - a very inspirational book that recognises that you may stop doing things that you want to merely because you are afraid of creating something dreadful whilst you learn. The big message is - TRY ANYWAY! Who cares if you stink at it? If you don't try, then you'll never achieve anything new, or discover any new talents.
Hopefully, this blog will record more talent than stink, but hey, who knows? I've uploaded a couple of pages from my 'Art Journal' ,which I aim to update every day. Today's creations are from a couple of days ago, as I'm currently working on a drawing of Rievelaux Abbey - which is a gorgeous ruin and incredibly detailed. So, for your delectation, a loopy daisy I found in my garden that was plucked effortlessly with its' entire plant attached! [I think it really wanted to be drawn so made it nice and easy for me], and also a couple of studies of a sycamore seed and a leaf. I use a Mars professional 0.18mm technical drawing pen and then add colour using Cotman watercolours. I am LOVING this pen and wash approach at the moment!
Today is a bit exciting. I ordered the entire 40 colour range of Cotman watercolours and my eyes are glued to the road to wait for the postman. So far there's just been the binman and a couple of helicopters (I live close to Europe's largest garrison, which means I get to see tanks on the roads and soldiers searching the local supermarket for bargains - fabulous, GOTTA enjoy seeing fit blokes in uniforms every day!)
So far, I've seen more soldiers than postmen. SIGH.
UPDATE: A very smiley postman just delivered my beloved box of Cotman watercolours. BLISS.
