On Friday Liz and a friend went girlie shopping and I was invited along. I agreed to accompany them to Guildford and have a coffee with them; after which I disappeared with my drawing board and pens. The above drawing was the result; not a great drawing, but pleasant enough. The point is all about sketching and why we do it.

I had a lovely hour, only about half of it sketching, the rest of the time was used in talking; I had  an easy, relaxed, enjoyable time.

 Sketching does two things, firstly it sharpens up your observance skills, confidence and draughtsmanship. Then secondly it teaches you how to get on with people. When painting or drawing on the street it always attracts strangers, it is like a magnet, for all types. So if you don't like people, don't sketch on the street.

But I would say enjoy the attention, meet people in a non threatening way. Try it, you will have a good time.

Two images tonight, the first an ink from the tree project of a corner from RHS Wisley Gardens. I like it, with its complexity of undergrowth, bushes etc; all very serious and then the second, to which I  add, "Don't take yourself to seriously".

A member of one of my groups turned up today with a very small 1 inch by 2 inch, child's Christmas cracker, toy type, water colour box, which had an awful toothbrush like brush enclosed, and then said with a chuckle, "What can you do with that". The brush allowed no control, it dripped and flooded when and wherever it wanted to. The challenge was laid, and that small woodland scene was produced in about 5 minuets. We all had a good laugh and then got down to proper painting;  a good way to start a meeting.

Well life does have surprises and last week at one of my groups the challenge was laid as to my doing one of the tree images in watercolour; so here you have it. Just to show of I did two: but am posting only one; I did them as a pair, same size, colour-range, etc; I feel that they are awful, they are very sketchy and loose.  They are all technique and done to a format, you know the sort of thing that can be bashed out by the dozen and artists who work in  that sort of way do not get my admiration. Work can be mass produced and sometimes a rigid format sells, but that is not my way. Am I being a bit hard on myself? Liz likes them. What do you think?