Mondays are normally busy days for me, as in the morning I manage an art communication group with MIND and in the afternoon lead a group of art lovers at my local church. Many lessons are learnt by simply playing around with various media and today this is just I have been doing.

Years ago whilst working as an artist in Lincoln Cathedral I started using ink in an exciting way. By drawing a few lines and then wetting the paper, allowed this to dry (a hair drier speeds the process up) and then repeated the process twenty or thirty times. The results were amazing; today this process was applied to one of my tree images.

Must think, do I try this on a larger picture?

At the present the work on trees continues. The details of various foliage's and how they work together are the present challenges and they are challenging! However slowly I seem to be winning, technically the work is good, but much of the time I feel and maybe I am being a tad hard on myself here, but it is not quite convincing. So work, practice and lets see what happens.  

I love Cornwall. The above ink drawing is of Chapel Bay on a very cold, drizzly and wind swept day; lovely. Liz wasn't quite so keen.

Like I said, time to get back to my trees.

By drawing many pieces at the moment of vast swaths of vegetation, at last they are starting to look like various grasses, leaves etc., etc. The draughtsmanship is encouraging if hard work at the moment, but is paying off.

The above tree was half way up St. Mary's Hill near Newland Corner, Surrey. If invigorating and great fun it was also well below freezing. The hill is quite steep in places; my legs were fine, but it made me puff am little, a good cardio vascular work out.

Last week there was a need for Liz and myself to go to Norwich on family business. Whilst driving through the spacious floor to floor sky, landscape there were lovely examples of pollarded trees maybe one of those next week..

Well back home now from our travels, to be met with no internet, hence no posting for a few days. Thankfully all is working now, so down to a new posting on the blog.

Two images today, the ink is Mary's Lane, not very far from the Imperial Hotel where we stayed in Tenby, and the photograph is of the harbour on a dirty, dank morning. It shows very strongly that the time to take atmospheric and period type  images is when it is dark or the weather is rather inclement.

Back to my tree work (lovely) and tomorrow leading two groups, good fun.

See you soon.

Charles

Well Liz and myself are just back from four days and nights sketching in Tenby. Its a small place which I never tire of, as there is always another sketch or photo to record. The locals are friendly and ready to stop and chat a while; I love the place.

Being a tiny medieval walled town there are small lanes twisting and turning everywhere with all types of interesting tiny shops to browse in. Situated on a clifftop above stunning beaches and a small harbour, the top image, a very quick sketch give the viewer a rough idea of the views around this small ancient town.

The lower image is a small corner of the harbour. The place is perfect for black and white photography, when rather wet weather to be honest helps make the images become more interesting.

Maybe a sketch of one of the back streets in a few days!

A slight change of subject and sketching styles today; all boys like steam trains!

Above is the famous Mallard at the York railway museum, which is conveniently placed beside the coffee bar. So whilst having lunch, using five crayons and a pencil, I relaxed and did the above.

The lower sketch is of the Nene Valley Railway in the midlands. After leaving friends in Cambridge on route to Sheffield, I saw smoke in the distance and drove towards it, thus bumping into this wonderful loco.

Try to carry a few basic sketching bits and pieces with you whenever out and about, it works and the things and opportunities which you will come across are amazing.