I thought I would show you how I sketch 'en plein air' quickly. This is the Wayferers Arcade in Southport, a Victorian building with a glass roof, and it was a nightmare looking at the roof so I left it out. Yep, if there is an easy way to do something I will find it. I sketched first using a stabilo water soluble pen and then with a brush pen containing water, I softened the darker areas.
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The same here, using a brown stabilo (two sized nibs). It was a lovely apron shop in Pienza in Tuscany painted at the end of the day. I was on a course with my favourite artist Hazel Soan, yep I'm a groupie!
I am appealing for help on behalf of a friend of mine who excitingly has had work accepted for a really good gallery, and will need prints. She is fairly new to art and selling her work. I wondered if anyone reading this in the UK can give her any addresses where she can make enquiries. She really needs something nice to happen to her at this time. You can leave information in my comments and I will pass them on to her. Check out her lovely quirky town paintings on http://nuggletonbythesea.blogspot.co.uk
Your sketches are nice Polly and thanks for the link to Nuggleton by the Sea I popped over and loved the work.
ReplyDeleteNuggleton seems to becoming very popular, I am so delighted for her.
DeleteI wish my sketches would look this good when done in a hurry, wow, you really know how to use that pen !
ReplyDeletePlenty of practise really until I found a method of sketching that suited me.. some day it will be something else1
ReplyDeleteHello Polly:) Lovely sketches with beautiful details!
ReplyDeleteYou always say the right things. I don't mind a bit of criticism if you can ever help me that way!!!!
ReplyDeleteNice sketches, Polly. And great blog site.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried the Elegant writer calligraphy pen?..when you wet with the waterbrush and tilt the paper, the ink seperates into pinks and greens. I wish they made a very fine tip, as I usually end up with ink overload.
Will b checking out your blog over a cuppa,
Mike.
I already answered you, see below. I have been looking for the pen online but appears elusive in the uk. If you are in the uk could you tell me where I can buy one, please!
DeleteNice of you to pop by. Calligraphy pen sounds up my street, will be looking into that one. Thanks.
ReplyDeletePolly, I first saw the calligraphy pen in Karlyn Holman's book "Watercolour Without Boundaries". There's a few demos/examples. You can order them from Karlyn's site or Amazon. I am an amateur artist from inland New South Wales, Australia. Very hot here. I found your great blog via Judith Farnworth's excellent blog, so will be following your blog with great interest also. good luck with the Elegant writer pen, Polly.
ReplyDeleteMike.
Thanks Mike. Have been to Liverpool today cos I wanted it now! cCouldnt find anyone stocking the pen, will try the internet and Amazon. Have also noted the book, which sounds really interesting. I too am just an amateur leisure painter and have found the blogs give me inspiration and education!
ReplyDeleteI love your sketches Polly and would be tempted to mount and frame some of these... I like pen and ink and might be tempted to try out some of the pens Mike suggested, let me know if you find them!! Thanks to Mike for the lovely comment re my blog!!
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely how people find our blogs. Yep, think I have found them, but not sure if it is the right one. Speedball elegant writer calligraphy pen - Amazon pack of 4 for £7+ but there is a single pen for £12.95 but it classed as a marker. Have ordered the pack will let you know if they are ok p.s. they look better on screen than in real life!!
DeleteJudith, my paintings I mean look better, not the pens!
DeleteHi Polly,
ReplyDeleteI will be happy to mail you a few elegant writers from Calif. I took a workshop with Karlyn and I think she said the finest tip elegant writers are the ones to get. You did a great job with perspective in drawing of the Arcade.
Oh, how kind. At the moment I have found some on Amazon but they may be not the right ones. Can I get back to you on that if they aren't. I have ordered them from Amazon uk they are speedball elegant writers calligraphy pen (but don't know the nib off hand. They are about £8 for four, I thought that sounded cheap. Oh and thanks for the comments about the sketch, perspective is a bit hit and miss with me.
DeleteWhen the teacher is good and the student has a passion for learning, miracles happen.
ReplyDeleteYour sketches are so brilliant!
It 'been through your post calling to remember the early work, which I had the desire to remember my first teacher.
Dear Polly,thanks for the beautiful inspiration and your friendship on FB and Blogger!
I am glad I brought back happy moments for you. What wonderful memories you have and what talent. You had a wonderful teacher to guide you. I regret now not painting for over 30 years and now realise what I have missed. I now have teachers and inspiration from my blogging and fb friends like you. Thank you Rita
DeleteJudith and Polly, most welcome. You both have very interesting blogs and insights, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletePolly, here's a link for UK suppliers. http://www.speedballart.com/store-locator.php?cat=234
I ordered mine via Karlyn's site(only about $3 each), and it is a 1.3mm extra fine calligraphy tip. Barbara is lucky enough to have learnt first hand from Karlyn, so I'm passing the baton to Barbara(maybe a few insider hints, Barbara?)
If there is a finer tip than that, please let me know, as I have had ink overload when attempting a courtyard sketch of a local scene.
Happy experimenting when they arrive, Polly.
I'll be watching and following.
Mike.
I can't get over how helpful people are. It makes me smile inside. Well sounds like they could be the correct pens looking at the price. You will have to keep an eye on my blog as you are just Mike and no blog address. I have taken a note of the store locator too. Thanks I will enjoy my new toy!!! So thank you again Mike for your help.
ReplyDeleteI'm so impressed, Polly! The sketch of the arcade with these perfect lines and perspective... I've always found architectural scenes very difficult to do freehand.
ReplyDeleteYes I usually avoid architecture, but the class went there so what choice had I? I didnt know where to start
DeleteThese are lovely sketches, Polly; I like the effect you achieved with the water-soluble pen. As you may know, like Laura I am really new to pen and ink. For my sketch I just used a handwriting pen, which seemed okay for practice, but I assume they would not permanent enough for a proper painting?
ReplyDeleteOh hello, so you are Laura's art friend! Nice to meet you. What a generous person Laura is passing on her knowledge. I have used all types of pen and I am certainly no expert, from cheap felt tip pens, piece of whittled twig or matchstick dipped into ink and even biro, to proper art pens, with different size nibs. I just found that the w/s pens suit me and once they are dried you can paint over the top if you want to. I saw this method used by Margaret Evans on Pen & Wash course. Sorry, I have no idea about the permanency of inks.
ReplyDeletePolly ...love both of these....! lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you Celeste
ReplyDelete