From my Sketchbook - A Day in Chester

The Eastgate Clock - from SketchCrawl 2004 (as mentioned previously). The difference in tone down the middle is the page fold in my sketchbook. I will remove it at some point using Photoshop.



If you would like to see the rest of my sketches from the day, click here.

Sketchcrawl 2004

I had a fantastic time today participating in Sketchcrawl 2004. Artists all over the world took part in the marathon drawing session.



I got together my sketchbook, a water soluble black ink pen & a brush and I headed off into Chester. I sketched until it went dark. I love it! I sketched from the city walls, the clock on Eastgate St, one of the city gates, I drew the Roman Gardens, the River Dee bridges, The Groves, The Cross where people meet, lots of black and white tudor buildings and one of Chester's famous 'rows'.



I find it very funny when passersby try to look over your shoulder. They're very nosey sometimes, but it's nice when someone tells you you're doing a good job.



I'm going to post my drawings soon. It's interesting looking at other people's drawings of the day. One poor chap (sorry can't remember the name) put his bag down in some dog poo and managed to cover everything with it. Better luck next time.

Chilly Billy

It's proper snowing here! Big, huge, fluffy flakes. I love the way it falls so softly and silently. I like looking up and focusing on one flake to watch where it falls. I'm just a big kid really.

I think I'm being half empty

I wandered into the Watergate Street Gallery yesterday while I was in Chester. This is the gallery that I proclaimed as the Holy Grail when I began my art business. I remember saying to P 'When I get my work in the Watergate Street Gallery I will know that I've made it.' I liked the gallery because the staff always make an effort to converse with the punters.



I was gazing intently at some watercolours when the owner came over.

'Are you a painter?' he asked.

'How did you guess that?' I was quite surprised.

'Ahhh... because you just look like a creative person'.



The conversation ended with an invite to show him some of my work one Monday when the gallery is quiet.



I almost pooed my pants! And now I'm panicking!! Oh shit! The little voice in my head is now screaming at me... what if he doesn't like your work, what if he rejects it, what if it doesn't sell, what if the commission is really high, what if he doesn't like the framing, what if, what if, what if!!!! Arghhh!



I really need to calm down.

Trip

They say that a change is as good as a rest, whoever they are. Well I think they're right because it seems to have worked. I've just spent a long weekend over at my sister's place in Lincolnshire.

It's completely rural where H and her family lives. Just miles and miles of flat fields and trees, and the sunsets are magnificent when you can see the horizon.

We've taken time out to go walking at Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire and we also made it to another place where there were the ruins of an abbey, a sculpture garden, a great arts centre which was full of inspiring ceramics and also a Christmas Craft Fair complete with brass band.

I felt sorry for my niece - she's got so much coursework to do and has her mocks coming up. She had to stay at home while we went out and enjoyed ourselves.

A bit like my beloved P who had to stay behind this weekend and go to college. It made me smile when I got home yesterday to find a note sellotaped to the door. 'Welcome home Lesleyt! We've all missed you!' *We* being P, the tiger barb fish and the teddy, which is all our family consists of at the moment. I know it's a bit sad, but until we get a dog the teddy will have to do. It's great to feel wanted!

Dough Craft Ornaments - A favour for P's mum

Work in Progress - Building the under-lying texture for a landscape using acrylic media.