Amaryllis

 It seems an age since I've actually done any sketching from life, but felt I ought to capture this year's amaryllis blooms before they fade away.

Fine liner pen and dry watercolour pencil
in the Hahnemuehle cappucino sketchbook

This bulb was from Christmas 2019; I just left it in its original pot and wasn't sure if it would come to anything this year.  However, it is a bit like Jack's beanstalk - it is now a metre tall and I don't know how it is managing to stay upright.

Inktober 29th - 30th

For these two pages I did my drawings on white sketch paper and collaged them onto my background - why didn't I think of that before?

Imagined faces using a dark grey fine liner pen; and on the right I used a black fine liner with walnut ink washes.

A nice surprise from Hahnemuhle in the post this week - an A6 beige toned watercolour book and some brushes.  I am certainly looking forward to working on this paper as I previously enjoyed using both their grey and cappucino sketchbooks.

A bike ride, breakfast and an urban sketch

Most mornings, weather permitting,  I go out for a 3 or 4 mile cycle ride before breakfast.  With the warm weather we've had recently, I decided to combine my trip out with some sketching at a local park, taking a yoghurt and a piece of fruit to keep my energy levels up.

The only seat which provided the best view of the house within the parkland was a tree stump - in full sun and shared with a colony of ants - so my picnic and sketch were rather hurried.  However, it was good to get back into plein air sketching and I was able to enjoy a leisurely wander through the rest of the grounds before heading home (and a second breakfast).  Later in the day, temperatures of over 30 degrees were recorded so I was glad I took advantage of the slightly cooler hours.

Lydiard House (approx. 8" x 4")
Pen, watercolour and gouache in the Hahnemuhle Cappucino sketchbook

Flower studies

No virtual venue set for this month's local Urban Sketch group, but I promised myself I would set aside some time to draw.  A sunny day and lots of colour in the garden, so flowers it was.

Hahnemeuhle cappucino sketch book -
pen, watercolour, gouache and a touch of wax pastel