Ridge - SOLD

I am very fond of these trees, which sit upon a ridge close to my home and are visible from many local footpaths. I've painted them before (using the title "Skyline"), and no doubt will again.

Ridge
Oil on canvas, 33 x 41 cm

SOLD

Sketchbook Exchange 2016 (part 6: Dull)

How do you draw a dull texture? I decided that Conté pencil fitted the bill... and then I abandoned the idea of texture somewhat...

This tale has a happy ending, courtesy of Roy Orbison and Wheatus...

The George and Horn: painting a line and wash

The finished painting is at the end of this sequence of in-progress shots, showing you how I painted the local pub...

Our printer was out of magenta and yellow, so I printed my photograph out in rough monochrome.
I used a mechanical pencil (beause it was there) to sketch in the construction lines freehand.
I used my Noodler's Creaper flex-nib foutain pen, loaded with Koh-i-Noor document ink, to ink in the line work. The document ink is wateproof and claims to be safe for fountain pens. Waterproof is important, because the wash is wet! Usually, I use acrylic ink or India ink with a dip pen.

Pen work (almost) all done
(can you spot the missing bit?)
and a few bits of masking fluid in place.

That fantastic moment when you remove the masking fluid...

Most of the watercolour wash is done...

Finished!

The Pier (Royal Pier Gatehouse, Southampton)

Line and Wash on rough watercolour paper, approx A3

This is from an old photograph that I took in 2002. I'm fairly certain that The Pier had been a nightclub when I lived in Southapmton, but the building was unused at the time of the photograph. It's now been restored and is a Thai restaurant.

I used a fountain pen with a flexible nib (the Noodler's Creaper pen), loaded with Koh-i-noor black document ink, for the line work that preceded the watercolour wash. Both of these are new to me; the flexible nib allows for a more expressive line, while the document ink is apparently fade-proof and waterproof and (unusually for inks with the other characteristics noted) isn't going to damage my fountain pen.

Of course, I still like dip pens (which are often more flexible, and can be used with any ink without fear for delicate workings), but this combination is very convenient for working outdoors, and it seems to work very well.

Blazing Trees

Acrylic inks on watercolour paper, approx A4

This is from a photograph taken last autumn, near Milestones in Basingstoke.

Unframed

£50

Sketchbook Exchange 2016 (part 5: Shiny)

Shine on you crazy diamond and Venus in Furs (Shiny shiny, shiny boots of leather)
Graphitint, graphite and ink; Quink, white and silver Uniballs, carbon pencil and coloured pencils

Wine Glass Reflections
Oil pastel; Watercolour and white uniball