Urban Sketchers Naples

Questo! Bello! The words still ringing in my head the day after returning from Naples. What an inspirational, exciting and exhausting four days! Only four days but seems so much longer – the distance we covered, the places we sketched and the friends we made. Simo and Carolina are a double act of creativity, energy, information, patience and calm in the chaos of Napoli’s back streets, parks, museums, theatres and cafes. They obviously put in a lot of time to get the group(13 nationalities,100’s of pens, brushes, paints, stools, hats and sketchbooks) into the secret places of this facinating city. Behind the scenes in the museums – where dusty sculpture wait to be promoted upstairs; in the restoration lab where paintings are cleaned and stories revealed; tiny streets draped in fresh washing; an intimate theatre performance; private balconies….

Every day was filled with walking, sketching and sharing drawing tips and ideas – and finally a well earned beer and pizza! It was so uplifting to be with a group of lovely generous like minded peopls with one strong bond – to observe and record the sights, sounds and smells of Italy.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/UrbanSketchersNapoli/?fref=ts

Blue phase

Two canvas’s from Morocco this May, paper collage and acylic.

Burlesque night framed and ready for Cambridge Open Studios

Burlesque ladies framed ready for Cambridge Open Studios in July

Mounted,framed. Ready for Cambridge Open Studios in July

Collage work in progress

Here’s a collage that I am working on at the moment. Underneath there is a collage from last year that I wasn’t too happy with. You can see the layers of tissue, newspaper, paint, packaging and print. The placing, moving and replacing stages can take minutes…or days!

On the move

I am really loving sketching on the move, alas I am often the driver (not the train!) This way of drawing forces me to capture the details in seconds and, of course, each image is made up of many views.

White House Arts Sketchbook workshop

I am running a ‘Sketchbook inspiration’ workshop at the White House Arts www.whitehousearts.co.uk in Cambridge  email info@whitehousearts.co.uk or call 01223 420018

17th and 18th May 10.00am-4.00pm £100 inc. materials, except sketch books
Sketchbooks are delightful, personal accounts of daily experiences, observations and daydreams. We take time to draw what is seen, imagined, remembered and felt. They help us to rediscover and engage in the joy that comes from drawing and sketching natural and manmade environments that surround us.
This course is suitable for those who love ‘sketch booking’, but need some fresh ideas or motivation. Also for those who love the idea, have bought the book, but it is still sitting on the shelf!
Observing our environment and everyday objects, also using text and found images, you will have the opportunity to experiment with a variety of techniques in order to develop your sketchbook pages. We will identify what inspires you, the best way to record it and how to respond creatively on your page. We will use a range of materials including pens, paints, collage, Please bring with you your sketchbooks full, half full and ready to go!

Yorkshire

Back to my roots, sketching at Paull on the river Humber, last week in glorious Spring sunshineOld town, Hull. Rediscovering why I love the childhood sights and smells of timber, diesel, seaweed. sun baked rusty metal..

Cambridge Drawing Society

The Friday night private view  of the Drawing Society spring show is always a crowded buzzing event. For me, it marks the start of the warm weather and sunny cycling days, no gloves or hats! When I returned to the UK and moved to Cambridge, the society was the first place where I sold my work, so I always exhibit with them each Spring and Autumn.The standard of artwork has got better and better, it is great place to buy original work at a fair price.

Last night was no dissapointment, lots of new faces, sales and some really positive comments. I met two lovely ladies from Germany, a gallery owner from Devon and sold ‘Railings’ to a local lady – who is a collage fan and already owns a John Tordoff piece. If you are in Cambridge please do visit, the show is on all week at the Guildhall, Cambridge.

Railings and rooftops Marrakech