30/09: LAST DAY OF SEPTEMBER!

The year is racing away (again) ... I felt very unsettled today and as a consequence nothing much has been done.    I've been 'flitting' between jobs and not really finishing anything I start ...

I did a little more work on the baby drawing and think I'll just leave it to one side for a few days now.  I know it needs more subtle high/lowlights  but need to look at it with fresh eyes.   In the ref. photo there is a lot of his face in shadow and some very bright highlights which I've toned down a little as they look a bit strange in a drawing ... I may have to tone them down further still

Tomorrow is our usual Volunteer Day at Pilgrims Hospice eBay office so no artwork tomorrow but I'm looking forward to starting my next drawing on Thursday which will be a coloured pencil portrait.    

I'll be exhibiting with Canterbury Society of Arts next month - I joined the Group earlier this year but haven't actually attended any of the regular workshops/meetings yet so this will be a good opportunity to meet some of the other members.    The exhibition will take place during the Canterbury Festival so hopefully footfall will be good.    More about that later.

29/09: EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY

Don't really know where that expression comes from, but certainly yesterday every dog we saw on the beach was 'having its day' and much fun was had by all.

I had a hearing test early yesterday in Whitstable and once I'd finished there, persuaded David to join me in a walk along the beach.   Instead of our usual walk from Tankerton Slopes along the beachpath to Whitstable, we headed in the other direction towards Herne Bay which is a more rugged walk and very popular with dogwalkers and cyclists.

The weather was warm and bright and perfect for a Sunday stroll.    Here are a few pics I took along the way

This lad was trying to fish, but his dog kept trying to catch the float ... in the end the boy's mum came and physically removed the dog but till then he was having great fun jumping and somersaulting

His favourite thing ... fetching a ball from the sea

His next favourite thing ... chasing dozing seagulls from the beach

Sparkling white after a dip in the sea

such fun

I think this one was my favourite pooch of the walk ... he didn't care who threw his ball, as long as somebody did ... and David obliged.  Just loved that 'Collie' intense expression in the first pic

Lots of two legged critters enjoying the beach also ...

and the frisbee player

Today's weather has returned to drizzly grey gloomy stuff so I've done a little more on the baby drawing.     A few WIP photos ... it has been slow going because of all the stripes on his top.

Normally I'd finish the face first but I needed to get some background in before adjusting the skintones.    Now I can start working on the features and he will begin to take shape properly 

It took several layers of graphite to build up the depth of colour in the stripes but the fabric needs more attention once I've added all the shadows/creases

He has got beautiful eyelashes but they'll be added at the last minute when I've finished working on the skintone/hair

24/09: EAST KENT PLOUGHING MATCH, DOVER

We're back from holiday and have been busy catching up with work at home.    We still have some decorating/repair work to be done after the flood back in June/July but hopefully the work won't be too intrusive or take too long.   It took us a long time to 'unwind' this trip - but we had been under a lot of stress for several weeks ... nicely 'chilled' again now   :-)

I have some photos from Fuerteventura which I might share here later but for today would just like to post a short video (fingers crossed it will work).     We went to the East Kent Ploughing Match near Dover today - David likes the tractors and steam engines but I'm a sucker for the heavy horses and wanted to see them at work.       I took lots of photos so several have been added to my ever increasing 'to do' list .....


Here's a short video showing a couple of the horse teams at work - magnificent aren't they?

There were lots of trade/food/business stands at the show as well as a display by the local hunt with their Foxhounds, Birds of Prey/Falconry and small animals (donkeys, ponies and chickens).   It was all very impressive and a mere £3 per person entry which is quite refreshing in this day and age.     I'd have liked to visit the 'War & the Horse Festival'  staged at Dover Castle last weekend but with entry fees of £18.50 per adult thought that was a bit steep ...    

Anyway, on the arty front, the drawing of Hilly, the Kings Charles Cavalier Spaniel is now at Keswick (Pencil Museum) in readiness for being hung at the UK Coloured Pencil Society Exhibition which starts at the weekend.    

I'm currently working on a graphite pencil drawing of a 10 month old boy which is a Christmas present portrait for 'granny'.    I did a portrait of his brother as a baby for 'granny' as a Xmas present two years ago - its always nice to have returning clients.  

The Springer I portrayed recently was a surprise 60th birthday present and was well received.   I've been sent this photo showing the portrait framed and hanging in pride of place in the recipient's lounge:

25/08: CATCH UP, BITS & BOBS

Seems an age since I last posted but lots has been happening.        The Springer Spaniel, Grace, was approved and despatched to my client but it is intended as a birthday present in September for Grace's Mum.  Hopefully she will be pleased with the portrait.

Hilly, the KC Spaniel has been accepted into The World of Coloured Pencil Exhibition which runs  from Saturday 27th September to Saturday 8th November.     I've found a mount/frame to use and will sort that out closer to the exhibition date.    Hilly's portrait won't be for sale as its going to Hilly's Mum in November.     I have posted a pic before but here she is again ... Hilly, on drafting film over a white backing sheet.

We have almost got the downstairs of our house back to 'normal' with most things back in their rightful place and I've been able to clean some of the dust and plaster residue from the floor and windows.   There are a few jobs still to be done but we're going to take a short holiday to relax and get over these stressful 10 weeks.

Unfortunately, David hasn't been very well and he's been told not to drive just now so I'm doing all the chauffering.  I'm not a 'happy motorist' and view driving as a necessary evil so not enjoying it at all.   Our GP is happy for David to fly so long as he wears those beautiful flight socks on the plane and stays hydrated so we're off to our home on Fuerteventura.     

We have family members house-sitting and just hope the weather picks up for them as it hasn't stopped raining all day and more is forecast for tomorrow.    We're also having our patio cleaned up and repointed whilst we are away so we'll come back to a lovely outdoor area and hopefully will get an Indian Summer so we can catch up on all the outdoor living we missed as a result of the flood ... nice to sit outside with a bottle of wine watching hubby BBQ the food!

I've had very little time for artwork but have been playing with a series of slightly distorted subjects based on photos I've taken and 'tweaked' in Elements .. this is one of them.  Very quick to do as its coloured pencil on drafting film and I just put a 'zoom burst effect' on the ref. photo and tried to capture the effect in pencil.     I'm not sure whether I like it or not but will have a think whilst away and maybe try another of the subjects I've added the effect to

The mount is just laid over the top to anchor the drafting film down.   I'm getting to the end of the large roll I bought years ago and it keeps curling up which is very frustrating.

David borrowed my camera on Friday evening to photograph the lovely cloud formation at sunset and the seagulls whose wings were all glowing pink as they flew into the sunset .... but he got distracted by this visitor and not sure who was most shocked.    Shame its not in focus as David isn't used to my camera and couldn't find the right setting quickly enough.

Our garden fence is 5ft high on top of a concrete base so in reality its closer to 6ft high ... agile little crittur isn't it?

'See you' when we're back and then I'll be onto Christmas commissions I guess ...

11/08: SPRINGER SPANIEL (GRACE)

I sprayed the portrait with fixative last week as it will be going in the post to my client so I like to give it a little more protection, even though its on Pastelmat which holds the pastel quite nicely.

Fixative tends to dull the colours a little I fine, especially the white/light colours so I reworked it a bit and generally tidied up.       I've sent pics of the portrait with and without the mount (mount is just laid over the top for now) and am awaiting approval/critique

Not quite sure what to work on next.   I could make an early start on a Xmas commission but that would be a graphite picture and I'm in the mood to stick with colour for now.

I was looking through the photos I took in India back in January/February and came across one that David instantly took a shine to and he's very keen for me to have a go at it as an exhibition piece.    Its not something I would have chosen to draw and I'm not sure I can do it justice but I think it'll do me good to get outside my comfort zone for a while.   So I'll make a start on it tomorrow and decide after a couple of days whether its working out ..... not showing you anything till then  LOL

and ..... finally our new sofas arrived this afternoon (luckily in a lull between stormy/rainshowers) so we can sit in relative comfort tonight - the decorator has brought forward the start date so he'll be here on Wednesday and once all the painting is finished we can put things back into their proper places and relax ...... yeayyyy!

They aren't much different to the sofas we lost which was deliberate as I didn't want to have to change curtain colours etc - just need to get more scatter cushions but that can wait till everything is back in place and we have time to shop for such 'luxuries'

09/08: HILLY, THE CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL Cont.d

Well, actually I think Hilly may be finished but will put her to one side for a day or so.  Its difficult to 'tweak' work on drafting film as I'm nearly at pencil saturation point but I'm sure I'll be making some minor adjustments before signing her off.

She really is a very bright coloured dog .... obviously this isn't the ref. pic I worked from but it shows the colouring nicely.

07/08: FLUTTERBY PICS

On Monday we drove to Somerset to collect some of my pics which Bev Lewis Bevs Animal Portraits had kindly stored for me since the UK Coloured Pencil Regional Exhibition in Ilminster ended.     Being August and the height of British Summer the roads were appalling and the drive 'interesting'.  Anyway, lovely to meet up with Bev and we then spent the evening in Bristol and had a quick walk round the lovely City Centre and waterways.      

Tuesday we had planned to visit a local zoo to photograph more wild animals but it was wet/windy so we decided to visit a butterfly centre I'd seen signposted en route to Bev's house.

We whiled away a happy few hours snapping away at butterflies (so much simpler if they'd just stay still for a while) and also took photos of the otters and meerkats which were housed at the same centre - the Studley Grange Butterfly World at Swindon, Wilts.

For today, just butterflies ....    I can identify them from the fact sheet provided (if required) but basically it was just a case of 'point and shoot' at most of these as they were very active.

I've missed out the caterpillar pics and the gigantic butterfly/moth that was on the ceiling (don't know what it was as not on the factsheet).

David tells me he has taken some very good photos ..... but he hasn't downloaded them yet so maybe I'll be posting some of his in the next few days

03/08: THAMES BARGE/SMACK RACE, ETC

OK, not sure where July went ... except its been a month of non-stop builders/floorers/plasterers and our home hasn't been 'our home' ....   now its August and things are looking up.

Yesterday (Saturday) we had another 'Catering Duty' day at the Whitstable Bowls Club ... David and I are Team Leaders for one of the catering teams.   Throughout the Lawn Bowls Season we have to fulfil 5 catering duties which includes providing tea/coffee at lunchtime and then a 2 course meal for players from our own and visiting clubs on a competition day - this usually means catering for around 75-90 people on a very tight budget so lots of thought/planning go into the meals.   For us its a busy time (buying ingredients during the 24 hours prior to providing the meal), organising the team to prepare and lay out the meals and then all the clearing up/washing up and laundering of aprons and dishcloths/tea towels. 

Anyway, early morning we shopped for fresh bread/salad ingredients and took them to the Clubhouse as we don't have enough fridge space at home ... and we noticed that there were a lot of Thames Sailing Barges on the sea opposite our clubhouse.     I should mention that our Bowls Club is in a beautiful position overlooked by the 'Whitstable Castle, and across the road from the slope leading down to the beach and seafront.     For the first time in months I didn't have my camera in the car so by the time we drove home, picked up the camera and drove back, the barges had moved on and were just specks on the horizon.    It was a hazy morning - the sun didn't burn through the clouds till mid afternoon so my pictures are very poor.

The tide was quite low and you can see part of 'The Street' here .... this is a long stretch of pebbles and land forming a spit which leads out to sea and provides a temporary natural promenade ... but you have to be careful when  walking on it as the tide comes in very quickly and can easily cut you off from the mainland.    this is just a little section of 'The Street'  if you follow the line between the dark/light blue of the sea that is the path taken by 'The Street' when the tide is fully out .... very interesting to walk to the end of 'The Street' and look back at the slopes/mainland

a couple of beach huts in the foreground ... very fashionable with the DFLs (Down from London's) but cost over £25,000 each with no running water and no permissions to live in them (just visiting use)!!

y

But especially for Jo (Canada) here are some pics of the Boats.    Yesterday was the  Swale Barge & Smack Match race ... starts somewhere out near Herne Bay I believe, and sails past Tankerton and Whitstable (where these pics were taken) and onto the Swale, ending in Faversham .... I'm probably not 100% correct in this but the route varies every year depending on tides etc .... would have been a magnificent sight but I only saw them once they'd passed Tankerton Slopes and were way out on the horizon (that's the Isle of Sheppey in the background)

This is taken in hazy/foggy conditions on zoom lens so looks a little strange - the sea looks more like farmland than water here   LOL

Very low tide here, photographed from the seawall at Whitstable Harbour around lunchtime yesterday.   It was an amazing sight watching all these beautiful old Thames Barges - and brilliant that so many are being maintained/restored

We spent most of the day getting our furniture back into place now that the flooring has all been replaced.   Its looking a little more like 'home' but until the decorating is done (2-3 weeks time) we can't really get everything tidy ... but its all heading in the right direction.


 OK.    arty stuff now.

I had a lovely email from the owner of the recent horse commission - she was in tears and its a sad fact that we pet-portrait artists know we've done a good job when we get a tearful reaction (but that's how it works).   I was so pleased as the refs weren't good but the horse is deceased and I just had to do the best I could.   I can only draw what I can see but with guidance from the owner it all worked out very well and I'm just so pleased that my client loves the portrait.


I've made a very small start on the King Charles Spaniel tonight.    This will be completed in Coloured Pencil and initially I'm working on drafting film over a white backing sheet.     This is experimental and I may switch to a more traditional watercolour HP paper if it doesn't work out  .... its just that I haven't worked on drafting film for quite a while and just fancied trying it again ...   Drafting Film is a matte polyester translucent drawing surface traditionally used by architects and draftsmen which doesn't take many layers of colour pencil but gives some interesting results (when it goes right) so ..... fingers crossed!

This is the result of 30 mins work (would have taken double that on traditional paper I think)

It looks very yellow here but was photographed in poor light this evening so there's a lot of glare from the film.   Also, the drafting film I'm using is very old and came from the stocks of a retired draftsman - on one very large roll  .... nowadays you can buy the film in nice A4 sized pads and its probably easier to work with methinks!

I've only worked on one side of the film so far but the beauty of this support is that you can draw on the reverse side also to intensify the colours if required .. i'll reserve that option, just trying to do a fairly quick drawing for now working on one side only.

OK that's got the excuses out of the way.      No artwork for a few days now ... back to the drawing board on Thursday so more updates then

30/07: SPRINGER SPANIEL - MORE PROGRESS

Well, slowly but surely the flooring is going down - we now have new oak throughout most of the downstairs and just David's study to finish tomorrow.   Then the skirting boards need to be fixed and that leaves just the upstairs bathroom floor to be relaid with vinyl (the scene of the crime, where the cistern cracked and flooded the downstairs)!

I've done more work on the Spaniel but I think for the next few days I won't be able to work with pastels so if I have any opportunities for artwork I'll make a start on the KC Cavalier Spaniel which I will be working in coloured pencil (I need smaller work area for cps than pastels).

I'll email this update to my client tonight to see what she thinks so far.   I started putting whiskers in then realised that was silly, in case I need to make changes to the coat colour/ears etc ..

Oh, meant to add that we did well with our collection buckets for Air Ambulance on Saturday.   Now the cash has been counted we're told that I collected £425.40 and David collected £283.20 (obviously I'm far more approachable than David - or more scarey perhaps) LOL

Over the five days at EuroTunnel we volunteers collected £1648.35 so a good result which will keep the helicopters flying for a couple of minutes .....

27/07: SPRINGER SPANIEL

I won't be getting much artwork done over the next couple of days as the floorers will be working in my studio and the hallway outside and all my studio contents need to be shifted out of the way first .... so here's where I've got to with the Springer Spaniel .... I'm working in pastels on light grey pastelmat.  Partway through I decided to add a bit more colour to the background which will help the white hairs on her neck/chest area show up a little more

I haven't bothered adjusting the colours too much at this early stage.  The photos were taken at different times of day and varying light conditions.   This is a little 'blue'

and these two are a little too 'yellow'

I'm working through adding the rich colours to her ears at the moment and will then go back to finetune  and add more highlights etc before moving down to the neck/chest fur.   She's a gorgeous colour dog.

Once I've got the ears more advanced I'll email an update to my client and will spend a bit more time ensuring the photo colour is a little more accurate.   Though of course pictures/colours never look the same when viewed on different screens/monitors

26/07: KENT AIR AMBULANCE

Today David and I were at Eurotunnel (Folkestone) collecting money for Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance on what is one of their busiest weekends of the year.   This is the start of the School holidays and vacation time.     Yesterday 10,000 cars passed through Folkestone en route to France and today the number was 7,000 cars.

We had a lot of fun chatting to some lovely people, most of whom were happy to be starting their holiday and generous with their donations.   Everybody loves the Air Ambulance so its never a hardship collecting for them - although the buckets get very heavy, very quickly, with the weight of coins and we had to keep swapping the buckets for empty ones.



 July 26th will forever be a day of mourning for everyone connected to Kent’s air ambulance service.   It was an accident which brought the county together in grief.

Tragedy struck on that day in 1998 when the air ambulance crashed in a field near Burham, killing pilot Graham Budden 40, and paramedics Mark Darby, 37 and Tony Richardson, 47 .

This is the memorial to the brave crew who died that day (taken from the Kent Air Ambulance website)

25/07: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE LAZY HAZY CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER?

We're certainly getting the hazy and crazy but lazy???   not a chance!

Our house is beginning to look a little more like home now.   The ceiling has been sealed and painted and today some of the replacement oak flooring has been laid - hopefully by end of next week all that will be needed is the walls/skirtings painted and then we can take delivery of the new sofas and move all our contents/furniture  back into place ..  its been 6 weeks of living in a mess, unable to find anything but it has made us appreciate how little we actually need to use in our daily lives  ... so lots of decluttering has been done and more non-essential stuff will be sent to the charity shops once we start unpacking it all from storage.

It has been very difficult to settle to artwork with workmen in and out, banging and drilling etc., but the horse has been finished and approved.  I've parcelled the portrait today in readiness for posting it next week.

Since my last post I've made his muzzle pink, darkened his mane and added a mottled background

Tomorrow David and I will spend the whole day 'rattling collection buckets' at the entrance to EuroTunnel to raise funds for Air Ambulance.     Its going to be a long session - we usually just do half a day as it can be very tiring (but great fun as everybody loves Air Ambulance and is very generous).  This is the probably the busiest weekend of the year at the Tunnel with school holidays starting and a mass exodus to French campsites etc

Sunday we are visiting family in the daytime and then going with friends on a workshop/guided walk to view and photograph fallow deer - hope to get some nice photos if the weather stays good and the deer are obliging.

I have made a start on the next commission - a beautiful Spaniel but its a surprise birthday present so don't think I'll be showing WIPs just yet.    I have another Spaniel to portray afterwards, different spaniels - one Springer and one Cavalier but they have similar colourings.