Ink Bird Paintings

Final week of ink painting class, and we could do whatever we wanted. A bit scary, and I was tempted to go back to flowers or trees, but decided to be a bit brave and try to paint some garden birds. This was my second go at a blue tit, my first attempt looked like he was wearing sunglasses.

I was quite pleased with my watery robin.

Nuthatch is bit darker than I think he should be, but not to worry. 

This a a fledgling longtailed it. They really are like little pompoms.

 

Sudddenly it was nearly the end of the class, so I decided to try to use up some of the inks on my palette. Mr Pheasant is a little bit odd, I think perhaps because he looks a bit annoyed. But I enjoyed splashing on the bright colours. I wish now I had thought a bit more about backgrounds for the birds, but will definitely tray again at home.

Trees in Ink

 
This time on the ink drawing and painting course was tree week. Above was drawn with a stick, and more spattering.

Below I outlined the trunk of the tree. Then painting with water and dropping in the colours. On this exercise we also used white ink for the first time, which I found quite good at calming down my bright colours.  

Then at the end we did some very quick exercises. First blowing the ink through straws. I think I should perhaps call this "Fire on Dartmoor"

And finally a way of just using black ink with lots of water, and drawing in the tree. This was a bit of a rush, and my inky background did not really spread with the water very well.

 

Next week is the final session, and we can do whatever we like. I am tempted to return to the flowers, but not sure yet. 

Ink Drawing and Painting

I have been having a lovely time doing a short course painting and drawing with inks, with West Devon Arts. We are half way through. 

The first week we did a seascape, and although I wasn't completely happy with the final picture (the rocks in the sea are a bit weird) it was part of a learning process, and I do quite like the foreground.

Today we moved on to flowers, and were using stick to paint with Indian ink, which was quite unusual. Found the drawing part hard, but I do like when it get to the painting on of the colour. Putting on lots of water and letting the colours run into each other is great fun. As well as the spattering at the end.

 

 

The final picture was an exercise in painting with water, and then dropping the coloured ink in. 

 

 

 

Next week we are moving on to trees.

 

Fun Drawing Figures

 

Last week I signed up another short course. This time "Fun Drawing Figures". I was a little nervous about this one, as it is quite a while since I have done any drawing and painting. My daughter has a lovely free style when she draws, and she gave me the tip to just put a random scribble on your paper before you start, as it is the blank sheet that can be so inhibiting.

The course was a great mixture of actual teaching of methods to get the structure and proportions right, but followed by us being given the freedom to follow our own ideas. Also the chance to explore using lots of materials - watercolour pencils and paint, pastels, charcoal. Despite the heat, which meant both days we packed up early, it was lovely to be totally absorbed something new and creative.

Maps

On a recent visit to Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham the work I found most interesting was this embroidery map of my local area. The description says it was made on 35 cotton panels, but looking closely it is clear that these are white handkerchiefs. Perhaps that was all the ladies could get at that time. It was made in 1941 by the members of the Townwomen's Guilds of Teddingston, Twickenham, Kingston and Tolworth for the British Red Cross.

It is a bit hard to see in the top picture, so here are some panels closer up. It is said that the ladies included images of some of the older buildings in this part of the country, as they were not sure that they would survive the war. I loved seeing this shared project.

Last week was my birthday, and I thought I would show you my present from my daughter. I think she was inspired by looking at the embroidery maps, and pushed into this idea by the fact she did not seem to have much money to buy a gift. But also she had heard me and my husband talking about how nice it would be to have a work of art that reflects where we live. (We are moving house soon, so I may have a bit less time for this blog for a while.) So she has drawn me a picture map of our local area. Some bits are very personal to us, with our house being featured, and places we go to a lot. But there are also a lot of funny little details that I love. The Wombles on Wimbledon Common. So I have put this in a frame, and will treasure it as a very special present.

Just a reminder that there is still time join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for June. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.

Pet Portraits

I don't usually post my daughter's drawing. She is doing GCSE Art, so there is quite a lot of drawing and painting going on. But these ones are a bit personal, as she did them for the family. They are charcoal drawings of our pets. The first one was done about a year ago, and has been up on the wall, so I have been pestering for a picture of the cats to go along side it. I was really pleased when she did one of the cats last week. Although they are mother and daughter, they don't like each other very much, so it would be very unusual to get them sitting this close. I do think she has captured their characters - particular Noodle, who is often a bit of a grump.

Just a reminder that my Ginx Woolly Linx party for June is now running. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.