Saturday 30 April 2011

Early Morning Down the Lane



It was supposed to be a quick early morning walk down the dusty lane for the dogs, but I got distracted...it doesn't take much!  The wild flowers caught my attention growing in the grass and tumbling over walls.


I took a few home with me to draw, these were lovely with their little faces turned up to the sun.


The bottom one of these is a wild sweet pea that grows everywhere,  I believe it originated here in Sicily, first recorded by a monk in the 17th century.
There seemed to be a pink and purple theme going on, nature's colour scheme? 



This is the view you get as you walk down the lane, one of my favourites, that I've sketched and painted many times.  It used to be the view from my bathroom window but someone built a house nextdoor and that was that :(

Tuesday 26 April 2011

A Girl With No Name


This is a large coloured pencil piece, which had to be  photographed instead of using the scanner.  I haven't ever got a decent photograph of work in coloured pencil, the subtle detail that can be achieved  just doesn't show up.
The statue is outside the town hall in the next village, the beautiful but crumbly17th century Villa Filangeri.


What I really need is a good title for this piece of work...anybody got any good ideas?

Tuesday 19 April 2011

Journey


To get through the hardest journey
we need to take only one step at a time,
but we must keep stepping.

(Chinese proverb)


Illustration Friday - Journey

Saturday 16 April 2011

Light as a Feather


Something light for Everyday matters.  I love drawing feathers and these are part of my little collection.
In the actual drawing the yellow and blue is hardly visable, the scanner picked up the colour off the white pencil.

Thursday 14 April 2011

Lunchtime in the Park


A seed pod from a tree, but I'm not sure what it's called.  I think the seeds were an orange/brown...any ideas?
I picked up the seed pod for my treasure trove from a park in Palermo.  I've spent several lunchtimes in 'Villa Giulia' sketching and eating my sandwiches, it's a lovely peaceful place in the middle of a bustling city.

L'esedra

The park dates from the 18th century and  has a perfectly symmetrical design in true Italian style.
There are four of these domed buildings facing each other around a fountain.



detail from inside the dome

There many statues and fountains and quiet corners and benches perfect for sketching and feels like a very romantic place.  Not suprisingly it's a popular meeting place for couples in the week but full of children at weekends. 

This poor boy is 'headless' sitting in the middle of a pond surrounded by calla lilies.




Of course there a lots of trees and flowers, and  several of my favourite fig trees.

The branches and roots always remind me of legs arms and fingers!

Monday 11 April 2011

Bottled Sunshine

coloured pencil and watercolour


Illustration Friday - 'Bottled'

It was a beautiful sunny day yesterday, blue skies and no clouds.  I would have loved to bottle up some of that sunshine and keep it for a rainy day or perhaps send it to someone else to enjoy.  Obviously I couldn't do that so I picked a warm lemon  and pushed it into a jar.  The juice dripped down as I squeezed it into the small pot and the smell was wonderful.
I could  bottle some wild flowers and buzzy bees next, but that's already been done...it's called honey!

Friday 8 April 2011

Just a Peep!


Everyday Matters - Draw your junk drawer. 
We've all got one, perhaps more than one.  I  attempted this drawer several times in different ways, but decided to do just the corner as it was slightly over-whelming trying to draw everything.  In this small part there is a stapler, sellotape and a bit of string and all sorts of rubbish  bits of paper etc.  I could tidy it all up, but then I wouldn't find anything!

Monday 4 April 2011

Duet


Duet - Illustration Friday
Sounds of the summer.... grasshoppers outside the window trilling together on a warm night. 
Trilling - the technique of singing several pitches on one beat.  (Trillare is the Italian verb and what a lovely word it is!)

Saturday 2 April 2011

The Black Wave

"With love and patience, nothing is impossible"
Daisaku Ikeda


My version of the Great Wave by Hokusai, mixed media in my sketchbook.