Monday 27 October 2014

ABOUT TIME TOO .....

Its been far too long since I posted and I haven't really got an excuse.    Lots of things have been going on but each time I thought 'must do a quick blogpost'  events overtook me

We had a lovely mini-break in Ghent and Rotterdam recently and I came home with hundreds more photos to add to my 'to draw' folders .... we spent hours at Rotterdam Zoo where, despite the dull gloomy weather, we saw lots of animals and got some good ref pictures.   Strangely I seem to have more photos of birds from this zoo - not normally my favourite subjects but perhaps I should get out of my comfort zone and tackle one or two of them.

What struck me most about Rotterdam (despite the scenery and the zoo etc) was the amount of graffiti everywhere.    In England of course we have Banksy (the legitimate side of street art/graffiti) but it seemed every motorway fence and gantry was covered with graffiti ... then we came across this alley, aptly nicknamed Graffiti Street .....


The 'street artists' simply paint over previous artworks when the mood takes them


This was another part of town and the graffiti is non-official - but colourful


This is some 'street art' from Fuerteventura, taken during our trip in September.    Several walls in the capital, Puerto del Rosario, have been brightened up with the blessing of the Council.    Must admit I 'don't get' a lot of modern/contemporary art .... this one is called  Africa Call .... why??


at least I can work this one out ... its painted on a wall close to the main Bus Station and based on this year's carnival theme 'superheroes'



I also exhibited with the Canterbury Art Society last week as part of the Canterbury Arts Festival and I'm pleased to say that Tamil Nadu Man was sold and I also had some lovely comments left in the visitors book about my work .... a real ego booster   :-)


and I can't show the Christmas present work yet but this is a coloured pencil piece I started a while ago but have only just found time to work on this afternoon.     She's the daughter of a hair braider who lives in Corralejo.     I photographed the girl and her sister walking on the Town Beach one day whilst sitting at a bar watching the world go by ... She turned towards the camera just as I clicked the button and I think it made for an interesting pose.       

She has braided hair that was a bit windswept and casting shadows on her face.   I hope I can draw the braids without screwing up the picture - she was a long way away so I won't have to put too much detail in

I think its the first time I've drawn black skin so an interesting challenge for the pencils 

 

5 comments:

  1. Wow what a lot of colour in the graffiti. We get lots here on trains but I don't know of anywhere where it is sanctioned - maybe in Toronto.

    Love that picture looks like it's going to be fabulous Sue.

    Glad you sold your Tamil man.

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  2. Congratulations on your sale and wonderful comments, Sue. This new piece is stunning already. The girl is gorgeous.

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  3. Congratulations on the sale and all the nice comments. I'm with you about the graffiti - most of it I don't understand either and most of the time, don't think it really enhances most locations.
    Oh, my, the girl is going to be fabulous - she is already! I thought you'd done black skin before but even if you haven't, I'm sure you'll do fine with this.

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  4. Hi Sue - good to hear from you!! Congradulations on the sale of your portrait - it is a beauty! And I really look forward to watching the progress of the young girl's portrait. She looks exquisite already! I love the graffiti - it adds such life and color to otherwise dull areas.
    Kathryn

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  5. Thanks Ladies. Afraid I may have spoiled the latest drawing but am trying to rescue it ...

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