Portrait Practice

I've not drawn many people before and since members of my family refuse to pose for me, I decided to use google for reference. Sat with sketchpad in front of monitor, each one took around an hour to complete. I found the experience very enjoyable and am pleased with the results. I think I'm going to try some faster character sketches next.

Mollie

I've finished work now until the new year and for the next five days it's just me and the dog at home. Her name is Mollie and she is a four year old English Springer Spaniel...

Gillott 303

Several weeks have past since my last post and I've still not managed to get out to do any sketching; what with work commitments and all the rain we've had, lately. I've got more than three weeks off over Christmas, so if the weather holds out I intend to make up for lost time.

In my spare time I've been experimenting with a Gillott 303 dip pen using Speedball ink and it is definitley my new weapon of choice. The variety of line widths achievable by varying the pressure on the nib are outstanding. Here are a couple of examples I did in my lunch hour...

Brush Pen Tests

I've been wanting to get out and do some sketching for about two weeks, now but it has rained almost every day :(

Here are a couple of 5 minute tests that I did from photographs, with my new brush pen...

Sailor Fountain Pen

A very quick test with my new Sailor fountain pen, which arrived in the post this morning. It takes a bit of getting used to but I can already see the potential. The sketch is of the shed at the bottom of the garden.

Farm Building

I'm not sure what to call this, really. It's a kind of small stone built shed that you come across sometimes when walking in the countryside.

Quick Sketches

A couple of quick sketches I did recently. The first is at Bamford Mill, the second Grindsbrook Clough, Edale. I was experimenting with ways of drawing different species of trees at the same time as trying to improve the speed at which I draw - I quite like the loose, sketchy feel.

This third sketch took a little longer but I had a nice bench to sit on :)

Burbage Moor

A quick sketch of some rocks on Burbage Moor, near Ringinglow. Drawn with a Rotring ArtPen.

River Derwent

A pencil sketch of the River Derwent in Bamford, based from a photograph I took earlier in the year. I didn't think it wise to draw on location as I was stood on a stepping stone in the middle of the river.