Tag Archives: watercolour

WhereArtI 3rd September 2018

Can you name this Edinburgh location?

If you know click the link below to enter your answer. I will pick a random winner from all correct entries on Tuesday morning, and they will go on to the ‘Winners wall’ for the month. At the end of the month those on the wall will be entered into a draw to receive a prize.

The prize for September is one of my new Edinburgh Castle Totes, featuring one of my sketches of Edinburgh Castle in a circle design.

ES Castle bag 1

Leave your answer in the comment box below …

Your comment will not show up until the winner is announced. Keep an eye on my facebook and twitter feeds for clues if they are needed later today, and I will pick a winner for the Winners Wall tomorrow afternoon.

I hope you join us to play along and keep looking up and noticing the details in the everyday, you never know where I will be sketching next time!

Can’t wait?  Buy an ES tote right now online: Edinburgh Sketcher online store.

Tonal sketching with brush work only today

As an artist I am always learning and love to see new ways of creating art, simply reversing the way you work can create a new perspective.

I always remember an art teacher telling me to look at my piece in a mirror because that is how a new viewer sees your work. Try it, it can be very off putting when you have spent time working on your piece and then to see it reversed is very strange.

Its a great way to highlight wonky lines or unbalanced composition.

Often simple differences to the way you work can create new insights and fresh perspectives. This afternoon I skipped my usual initial fineliner line drawing and went straight to waterbrush and a watercolour wash.

This was a little hard to get my head round at first, instead of drawing lines I created shapes of shadow. Building up tonal areas and trusting that the finished piece would come together.

I will let you be the judge but I like the softer finish and enjoyed the exercise. I think I will add this to my upcoming sketching workshops, details of which you can see on the ‘Sketching Workshops page‘.

I have a number of dates coming up in various locations around the city. All abilities are welcome and all materials provided. I hope to meet some of you there.

My Sketching Workshops Page.

Records smashed on the old railway this morning

Running Kit May2018This morning I enjoyed a jog along the many cycle paths in north Edinburgh and Leith.

I started the new year with a new exercise routine, jogging a few times a week along some of the old railway paths that criss cross north Edinburgh’s streets, providing a hidden away peaceful and nature filled route along to Leith, or to the West and out the Queensferry.

I started with the excellent Couch to 5k podcast from BBC radio, which guided me through couch potato to 30minute plodder over the last three months. I now use the Nike+Run Club app which tracks my progress with live pace updates and GPS distance counters so I know exactly when I beat my PB like I did this morning 😉

And yes I know I am not going to break any real records, just keeping moving for the entire 5k is enough for me right now!!

The above sketch is of my phone, cap and ear phones. Essential kit. 

BBC Couch to 5k podcast

Nike+Run Club app

WhereArtI 19th March 2018

Where in Edinburgh have I sketched?

If you can you tell me where in the Scottish capital I have sketched then you could win a great prize. Email me your answer using the link below and I will randomly pick a correct answer tomorrow morning, who will then go into the monthly draw to win a prize.

The prize for March is a set of my new Edinburgh Sketcher wooden postcards.

Currently being printed the three sketches featured on my new wooden postcards, which can be posted with the same postage as a normal postcard, will be Edinburgh Castle, Greyfriars Bobby and the Forth Bridge. A photo will appear here later.

Click HERE to enter your answer

The answer is always in Edinburgh so keep looking up and noticing the details in Scotland’s stunning capital city. Keep an eye on my facebook and twitter feeds for clues through the day if they are needed.

Enter via the link above or email contact@www.edinburghsketcher.com with the subject line ‘WhereArtI 19th March 2018’.

 

WhereArtI 5th March 2018

Where in Edinburgh have I sketched?

If you can you tell me where in the Scottish capital I have sketched then you could win a great prize. Email me your answer using the link below and I will randomly pick a correct answer tomorrow morning, who will then go into the monthly draw to win a prize.

The prize for March is a set of my new Edinburgh Sketcher wooden postcards.

Currently being printed the three sketches featured on my new wooden postcards, which can be posted with the same postage as a normal postcard, will be Edinburgh Castle, Greyfriars Bobby and the Forth Bridge. A photo will appear here later.

Click HERE to enter your answer

The answer is always in Edinburgh so keep looking up and noticing the details in Scotland’s stunning capital city. Keep an eye on my facebook and twitter feeds for clues through the day if they are needed.

Enter via the link above or email contact@www.edinburghsketcher.com with the subject line ‘WhereArtI 5th March 2018’.

Apex Grassmarket Hotel website.

A swirling snow storm envelopes the city

Granton Squares in the SnowAs Edinburgh is covered in a snow storm I am stuck inside trying to capture the swirling white tornados across the street.

This area across the road is known as ‘the squares’ although you wouldn’t know that right now as the paving squares are covered in snow. It’s hard to capture a scene when most of it looks to be white but concentrating on the subtle colours can bring out beauty in every view. Watercolours are perfect for that.

Be safe out there Edinburgh and don’t travel unless completely necessary.

Traffic Scotland website, check here before traveling during the snow storm in Edinburgh

 

WhereArtI Edinburgh : 22nd January

ESWAI220118Where in Edinburgh have I sketched in this weeks WhereArtI?

This week I am looking for the street name, if you know then click the link below to email me your answer. I will pick a random winner from all those correct on Tuesday, who will go into the monthly draw to win a prize.

The prize for January is two tickets to the Scottish Fan Festival on Sunday 11th February and the stunning Signet Library in the heart of Edinburgh’s old town.

Find out more about this brand new festival celebrating all things Scottish by clicking on the link below.

Click HERE to enter your answer

Usually the answer will be within the Edinburgh boundaries, but on the first Monday of the month the competition is Scotland wide. Keep an eye on my facebook and twitter feeds for clues if they are needed.

I hope you join us to play along and keep looking up and noticing the beauty in the details, you never know where I will be sketching next time!

Enter via the link above or email contact@www.edinburghsketcher.com with the subject line ‘WhereArtI 22nd January 2018’.

Edinburgh Sketcher online store.

Scottish Fan Festival website.

A perfect January walk: sunshine, snow and blue skies

Arthurs Seat in snow 2018Yesterday I went for a walk through the crisp fresh snow which had fallen overnight on Arthur’s Seat.

The capitals extinct volcano sits in Holyrood Park and enjoys fantastic views over Edinburgh.

On this occasion however I did not trust myself to climb to the top in such icy conditions so instead walked around the hill to the crags from which I could see the view above showing Arthurs Seat to look like a mighty lion sitting looking out to sea.

The sunshine but so bright from top right creating beautiful colours withing the snow, notably strong blue shadows which I tried to capture above.

This sketch was drawn with ink and watercolour, using a Windsor & Newton paint set and Artgecko A5 sketchpad.

New Year New Skills at the Engine Shed in Stirling

montage sketchesI will be running a series of workshops in Stirling this year at the Engine Shed, an educational conservation centre.

Scotland’s first dedicated building conservation centre is run by Historic Environment Scotland. Since opening last year it serves as a central hub for building and conservation professionals and the general public, and is a fascinating place to visit.

The original ‘shed’ dates back to around 1900, built as a goods transfer building it lies on the banks of the River Forth opposite the train station and enjoys great views over Stirling to the Castle.

I was there this time last week for a day of sketching and will return for more next month. During the morning I supplied paper and pens to visitors and encouraged them to sketch the displays as they toured the shed, before adding some paint with a watercolour wash. Above are some of the fabulous drawings created by visitors.

sketchers

In the afternoon we had a more structured two and a half hour class where we worked on some sketching exercises and I shared some time saving tips to help capture a complicated view in a few quick lines.

I look forward to returning in February and to book a place on the next Sketcher Day keep an eye on the Engine Shed What’s On page via the link below.

The Engine Shed website

montage masks

I love my morning coffee machine

Coffee MachineThis morning is International Coffee Day apparently, but in my house most days start with a visit to this machine.

You will often see me supping coffee in various wee outlets around the city, indeed it is where I honed my artistic skills and found my style so I have a lot to thank coffee shop outlets for. But once you have one of these machines in your home it is hard to appreciate coffee as much any where else.
 
We got this Nespresso machine when some good friends moved away and fortunately (for us) couldn’t take it with them. Also I am loving the reflections in my glass as it fills with espresso 🙂

Enjoy your cuppa today 🙂

Drawing done in black ink with a little watercolour as the second pod was flowing!