Tag Archives: Pen and Ink

02 October 2015 – #inktober

Posted on by
Reply

First attempt at phone blogging so bear with me.

All my childhood photos were taken with my dad’s trusty old Argus. As it’s captured many many wonderful occasions I’ve been loath to part with it. It’s been lugged from place to place over the years but since I’m striving to declutter I’ve decided to let it go.

But not until it’s been sketched.


Done.

01 October 2015 – #Inktober

Posted on by
4

Time and time again I’ve tried to work consistently from prompts and time and time again I’ve consistently failed.  That’s why I’m planning to do InkTober!  It’s a month long challenge but there are no pre-assigned prompts!  Just make a drawing, post it and link it with the hashtag #inktober.

Yipee!  Who knew I’d be such a rebel… I like choosing what I want to draw!

Today is the very first International Coffee Day… I celebrated. Did you?

151001-Inktober

 

Tunbridge World’s Fair 2015

Posted on by
1

Yes, another fair! The Tunbridge World’s Fair!

(Just a quick explanation… this book is made with 130gsm Gutenberg and has pre-painted pages which I just drew right over. They were prepared with dilute acrylic paint and acrylic ink so there was no fear of bleeding.)

Once I got though the mass of children on a school expedition I made a bee-line for the poultry barn… I have a real soft spot for those birdies… especially ducks!  These are Runner Ducks!  They’re known for dropping eggs everywhere as they go about their day!

150917-1

Poor page planning on my part… I hate it when the eye ends up in the gutter!

150917-2

There was a steady stream (no pun intended) of heifers and their humans walking to the river to cool off and grab a drink.  I was so excited to catch them I put my first sketch upside down in the journal.  Sheesh!  I had to do another!

150917-3

Lots and lots of cows!

150917-4150917-5

After a quick stop to check out the vegetables and the cake testers (no, they don’t spit it out after tasting like the wine tasters do… they swallow all the goodness) I stopped back in the poultry and rabbit barn. Don’t you love their topknots?

150917-6

Most of the children had gone so I had enough breathing space to pull out my paints.

150917-7

The chicks are only 3 days old!

150917-8

And no… I was NOT a participant other than visiting the fair but one of the volunteers was so taken by my journal that he gave me a ribbon!

150917-9

Put it in your calendar… it always starts 10 days after Labor Day.  If my calculations are correct that’ll be between Thursday 15 September and Sunday 18 September 2016.  I’ll be there!

Let’s Go To The Fair!

Posted on by
4

… Hopkinton State Fair that is.

It’s the 100th anniversary of New Hampshire’s State Fair and you still have time to visit… It’s open through Labor Day… Monday, 7 September, 2015.

I arrived nice and early armed with my sketchbook and pen, watercolors and brush safely tucked in my left hip pocket. Come! …walk with me as I travel and sketch my way through the barns.

150904-1150904-2

The Avian Flu Virus has plagued the upper midwest causing the fairs like the Minnesota State Fair to cancel their poultry exhibit. We’re fortunate, so far New England has been spared, allowing the Hopkinton exhibit to continue this year.  Each year I’ve been able to sketch the fantastical variety of poultry breeds but this year was special.  I managed to paint my sketches as I stood before each bird… a major accomplishment in my art progress! No painting later at home this year.

150904-3150904-4A Salmon Faverolles… Isn’t he gorgeous!

150904-5150904-6150904-7

I was on my way to sketch the dairy cows when I was hit by an incredible sneezing fit. Time to reconsider my next subjects.

150904-8150904-9

There’s shade and picnic tables alongside the duck pond and it’s my favorite place to regroup, relax and do one final page before packing up my supplies for the day.

In an hour I’m home… planning my next fair visit. I think it’ll be the Tunbridge World’s Fair in two weeks… stay tuned!