Pen and Wash.

Here is a view of the Grand Union Canal as I walked towards Wolverton having just passed through Great Linford. It's the first of these three pen and wash sketches I've done recently. I asked the lady in the boat if she would mind me sketching. I must admit, she was far less bothered than I would have been, what with having a strange man staring in her direction for half an hour. In fact, she was so accommodating, she even offered to move!
I find it very awkward drawing whilst standing up and really miss the stability of a desk or easel, feel free to point out the glaring drawing error which I didn't notice till I got home! Still, what a pleasure it was to be able to go for a lengthy walk in the sunshine after so many grinding months of confinement. 
To draw or paint from life is one of the greatest pleasures of all. 

Another view of the Grand Union, this time in Great Linford, less than two miles from my home.
I find barges, or narrow boats as they are properly called, very awkward to draw. There is a perspective issue with them as they are so long, as well as their curved lines, and then there is the task of sitting them convincingly on the water.
I left the house early, before anyone was awake for this one. Again, it was such a joy to be out in the peace of a warm, song-filled morning, the birds almost forgetting I was there as they picked around the reeds at my feet.

I've mentioned in the past that my wife Helen has been putting her considerable needlework skills to work making bags, quilts and small home accessories. Well, not being one to do things by halves, she has booked up the whole summer with craft fairs, fetes etc and has started her own business (I'm waiting for the line about a new company car)!
This quick sketch was done standing in the way of hundreds of people and dogs of various sizes and levels of curiosity, while Helen and Chloe sold things, gave out business cards and generally had a lovely time in the sun. It was so much fun to do this, even if I did feel a little bit in the way. I'm obliged to inform everyone that Helen's hair doesn't always look like that.
I know that Helen would be delighted if anyone viewed her facebook page........................... https://www.facebook.com/bagsandbits
All the above were done on Winsor & Newton medium surface heavy weight cartridge paper (100lb). It's a lovely surface and takes washes really well. Bit hard on fibretip pens though!!

Pen and Wash

Work is crazy at the moment. What little time I have off finds me tired and completely devoid of inspiration. At times like this I can stare at a blank piece of paper for hours without moving, totally powerless. However, rather than wasting precious hours, I've spent the odd 15 mins or so here and there putting watercolour washes over some old ink sketches. One of them shown here is a sketch from earlier in this blog. I've really enjoyed doing this as the guidelines are already in place, as is some of the tone, it's just a matter of colour selection. Ideal for an addled old brain. I also quite like the way washes behave on cartridge paper. I'm definitely going to do more work like this when time is short and energy is low.