Street Matters

Mixed media of watercolour pencil, watercolour, pencil and pen.

Frankfurt is really not one of the most beautiful cities of the world. But there are little corners that are quirky and interesting. I'm going to aim to get out to sketch once a week - in theory anyway!

I'm having trouble with my sketchbook. I've been using the basic Moleskines but really don't like the way the watercolour treats the paper and have found that it can bleed through to previous/next pages. After doing some research and not being able to get the sketchbook I wanted outside of the UK (why do Canson only sell that type in the UK?) I asked some very knowledgeable sketchbook artists and have been recommended to try the Moleskine watercolour book (which I see now comes in a larger size) and their Japanese sketchbook which has accordion pages which sounds like a wonderful format. So I am going to order one of each to test drive.

Cool Matters

I'm not sure if its just because I am British, but air-conditioning, what is that about? Him indoors is American and to him air-conditioning is essential. Over the years I have learned that if the heating isn't on then the air should be. I just don't get it! Why not open the windows? OK, I get it sometimes. When we lived in Saudi Arabia and the temperatures were in the high 40s C, it was bliss. But really, we live in Northern Europe - do we really need it?

So each year it gets hot (briefly) and the air-conditioning units are whipped out and all connected which involves funny window sealing system, bubble wrap (to insulate from the outside noise), and a lot of tape and then the weather gets cold and we never even switch it on! Meanwhile it sits in our bedroom and glowers at me so to appease it, I drew it's portrait! (And yes, I know, I need to put some clothes away!)

Studio Matters

I bought this easel a few years ago with the idea that it would be just the thing for plein aire - only it is near to impossible to set up, the catches don't hold and the whole thing threatens to collapse on me every time I assemble it. Him indoors dug it out last week and put it up and despite tightening every possible knob in sight with pliers it still has a tend to list drunkenly after a while. How I long for my beautiful full size studio easel which languishes in storage!

This sketch makes it look like I have ample room to paint - in truth the easel is squeezed between my computer and a bed! Not exactly conducive to producing masterpieces!

Watercolour Matters

It poured with rain on and off all day yesterday, blustery showers, heavy downpours and little momentary spatters of rain. So the day was donated to play time. I think one of the things that always hampers me from experimenting is the thought of wasting materials. But how else are you going to learn? So I sat down in front of YouTube and watched some great watercolour demonstrations and then had a go. I'd like to say a big thank you to all those great artists who freely give their knowledge in demonstrations on YouTube and on forums across the internet. Bless you all!

Now I have no excuse but to add trees everywhere I go! I am hoping that the watercolour will also help with my oil painting tree nightmares!

Waiting Matters

Him Indoors was late finishing at work last night, usual emergencies that hit at 4:30 on a Friday evening, so I sat outside his office in the courtyard and doodled. We work in the most unattractive building - very typical German, pre-war construction with very strange add-ons in recent years.

Sculptural Matters

Standing at the gates in the Garmisch Winter Olympic stadium are four statues. As we sat and ate apfel strudel with whipped cream (we shared a piece between us) I did the outline sketch for this statue. Since being home I've finished off the sketch. The hands on this statue and the feet seemed to be enormously out of proportion - she was a woman of Amazon-like proportions but even considering that her hands and feet were HUGE!

Experimental Matters

Its well known that I like to be in control - or rather that I don't like to be out of control. So watercolours always pose a considerable challenge to me as it seems like there is zero control with this medium! I definitely am not yet in a place to do massive washes and then just work with what appears but I did allow a dribble of paint from this tomato without totally freaking out!



Back on my windowsill and sketching in the other direction.



Lazy Monday holiday watching television.