Yesterday I bought myself an A5 sketching notepad and a mechanical pencil that I hope will be reasonably robust. The intention is to keep them with me at all times so that when inspiration hits, I can be ready to sketch. I've always wanted to do this, but for some reason never have. Incidentally, the pencil is very cool - the lead turns just a fraction each time you touch it to the paper so that it wears evenly to remain sharp; technology, huh?
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| Ryman A6 sketch book (80 pages) and Uni Kuru Toga 0.5 mechanical pencil |
I had fun with my new purchases straight away yesterday lunchtime, starting off with some inspiration from the tree at the
junction of London Wall and Moorgate.
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| Number 9 - The Larch |
Then very quickly I reprised some old friends from many years ago, the
Inskip cow and sheep (the pig was added later and I've not drawn a pig before, hence it being a less well developed drawing).
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| The crazy-eyed cow and grass-munching sheep were originally from a card I sent to friends many years ago when I stayed (very briefly) in an extremely small village in rural Lancashire |
After work, I went into town and while waiting for a friend, I took some inspiration from the flowers in windowboxes and borders.
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| Flowery |
Later, on the tube home from a night out, I decided to develop yesterday's ice cream idea further, making the ice creams more individual.
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| I Scream. Again. |
Even this morning I've been busy. A toad on BBC Breakfast made me draw him.
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| Toad out of the hole |
And then my Gosh!, one of our cats, came and sat on the back of the sofa with her back to me. The sheen of her coat and the shape of her shoulders and hips really called to me. I'm particularly proud of this sketch (although if I were to be critical, I'd say that her top lip is just a little too long in this sketch and her tail a little floofier than IRL).
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| Gosh! pretending she isn't keeping an eye on me |
