Kaleidoscope -Whitby02

Another kaleidoscope image of Whitby - this was in pen and watercolour.

Kaleidoscope -Whitby01

Messing about with a friend's kaleidoscope feature on her iPad. She had just hung 3 of my original paintings which she bought from me last summer.

That's my acrylic painting of the Abbey at Whitby, North Yorkshire

 

'omage to Van Gough & San Gim

Heeley Art Club's theme for yesterday evening was "Working in the style of an artist you admire". My effort is 'omage to Vincent van Gough, combined with a view of the beautiful San Gimignano from our recent visit to Tuscany. I arrived at the Art Club minus my acrylics, so I drove straight back home and, to save time, I spent the evening in my own little garret producing the artwork below:

Trulliland, Italy

Trulliland - houses in southern Italy. Sketchette in acrylic, collage with a bit of bucket fill for the sky.

Portrait 5 of 5

10 minute portrait at Heeley Art Club

Pen and watercolour. The Club's new President - El Presidente!

Portrait 4 of 5

10 minute portrait at Heeley Art Club

Pen and watercolour

Portrait 3 of 5

10 minute portrait at Heeley Art Club

Pen and watercolour pencils

Portrait 2 of 5

10 minute portrait at Heeley Art Club

Pen and watercolour

Portrait 1 of 5

10 minute portrait at Heeley Art Club 1 of 5

square pastel sticks!

Diwali Stage below Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square, LONDON

Sunday, 27 October, my last sketch of our London trip from the upper level in front of the National Gallery - showing the stage for the Diwali Festival under Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square. We were booked on the 2.30 train back to Sheffield the following day but the rails were hit by the great St Jude storm and we ended up after much wasted time and expense catching a coach back home the following day.

The Shard & Tower Bridge, LONDON

The lower image took me 4 hours on a jetty sticking out into the Thames last Saturday 26 October. I spent at least half of that sheltering from the rain and galeforce gusts. I finally packed it in when a mini tornado sucked the plastic lining out of a bin in front of me, sending 2 empty bottles of beer crashing onto the pavings frightening the b'jesus out of me! I was hiding under my umbrella at the time and didn't realise what was happening - I thought there was an express train coming. The umbrella I've had in my sketching rucksack for the last 7 or 8 years is no more, deceased, turned completely inside out.  I completed the drawing at home.


 

Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Friday 25th October, London again. Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, West London. Friends inside inspecting the exhibits, me outside sketching the front porch!

St Barts, London

Guess who's been on their travels again! South-west entrance to the Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great opposite Smithfield Market, London. Really picturesque church especially internally. Had a nice coffee in the cloisters. I sketched this from a convenient wooden seat while our group of 6 friends visited St Barts Museum behind me. Must draw the church itself when I have more time.

Siena - the Duomo - first view

Our first view of the Siena Duomo as we round the corner from the Basilica de San Domenico with a large Tuscan cypress tree on the left..... work in progress.

Our granddaughter modelling her loungewear.

Peppa Pig

2 year old granddaughter's favourite character - Peppa Pig - she's a very bossy little piglet.

More Thomas

More Thomas the Tank Engine - this time with Tuscan cypress trees on the horizon - influenced by our recent trip to the Italy!

Daughter & granddaughter visit

Guess who's got their 2 year old granddaughter visiting from Colorado Springs! Her favo(u)rite stories are Thomas the Tank Engine. Managed to appropriate her crayons for a couple of minutes before she insisted that "me do it"! It's so good to have her and our daughter with us - Facetime is good but can't replace Realtime! 

My full painting kit revealed

I'm not really suffering for my Art or praying - this is an action shot of me enjoying myself - finishing off my sketch of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence - in the shade of the arches supporting the Ufizzi Gallery overlooking the Arno. I see the skin on my head has almost finished growing through my hair..... and I still think I'm only sixteen!

Volterra, Tuscany, Italy, last sketch

Friday afternoon, 4rd October, Volterra, Tuscany. My last sketch in Tuscany. The Palazzo dei Priori from the Via dei Marchesi. Incredibly built in 1239. The top tower was strange to draw - it was a pentagon. The shaded piazza in front of the Palazzo was my favourite spot to have a lazy coffee and watch the world go by. No photos of me drawing this time - my beautiful assistant, wife and camera operator finally cracked - she went shopping! Saturday - flight home - goodbye Italy - will I ever return?