Tag Archives: pencil

Daily Sketch

New season; new medium

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Crocuses in Victoria ParkSuch a beautiful day yesterday in Edinburgh, (not so much today!) but there is definitely a feeling of spring In the capital.

I took some photos of the multicoloured crocuses in Victoria Park to create this drawing. Not really a new medium but one I don’t usually use: pencil crayons. For this drawing I’m trying some new @spectrumnoir ColourBlend pencils over the top of my usual black ink fineliner pen. Let me know what you think.

With the recent Spring Equinox meaning the daytime is now longer than the night time we can look forward to long warm evenings and commuting to and from work in the light. Very exciting especially after the recent freezing temperatures.

I thought this might make a nice Easter card. Happy #Spring Day everyone 🙂

SpectrumNoir Colourblend pencils are available from the Crafter’s Companion website here.

Daily Sketch

Southerness Lighthouse on the Solway Firth

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imageToday’s drawing of Southerness Lighthouse in Dumfries & Galloway on the Solway Firth coast.

I started with a pencil drawing of the lighthouse from our ideally situated holiday cottage, before adding colour with the subtle shades of the Spectrum Aqua Blend watercolour pencils from Crafter’s Companion UK.

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One of the main landmarks in the village of Southerness is this lighthouse which was built in 1749 and is one of the oldest lighthouses in Scotland.

Once happy with my colouring I added a little water with a brush which smoothed the pencil strokes without losing the fine texture of pencil shading.

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Let me know what you think of this style, it’s a little different from my usual heavy pen strokes.

Today’s sketch was made using Spectrum Aqua Blend watercolour pencils.

Crafter’s Companion UK website

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Daily Sketch

Pencil and paint gives Bellevue a softer feel

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ES_WAI200317For this drawing of Bellevue Terrace I skipped the usual fine liner and drew with a 2b pencil instead.

I pass this street almost daily and love the way the Georgian terrace curves from Bellevue to East Claremont Street. I often wonder about the shape of the rooms inside, and the gardens to the back. I guess I could see them on Google Street View now.

I like the softer  touch of pencil, its always good to have a change from the norm 😉

Drawn on location with pencil, and a watercolour wash. 

Competition

WhereArtI : 20th March : Edinburgh

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ES_WAI200317Can you tell me where in Edinburgh I have sketched?

If so click the link below to email me your answer. I will pick a random winner from all correct answers on Tuesday morning, and they will go on to the ‘Winners wall’ for the month. At the end of the month those on the wall will be entered into a draw to receive a prize.

The prize for March is one of my Victoria Street cotton tea towels, which can also be bought through my Etsy shop HERE. Currently I have three designs: Edinburgh Castle, The Shore in Leith and Victoria Street.

Click HERE to enter your answer

Usually the answer will be within the Edinburgh boundaries, but on the first Monday of the month the competition is Scotland wide. Keep an eye on my facebook and twitter feeds for clues if they are needed.

I hope you join us to play along and keep looking up and noticing the details in the everyday, you never know where I will be sketching next time!

Enter via the link above or email contact@www.edinburghsketcher.com with the subject line ‘WhereArtI 20th March 2017’.

Edinburgh Sketcher online store.

Daily Sketch

Inspire your little ones with a trip to the Museum of Flight

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MuseumofFlight_pencil

A day of wonder for all the family, out at East Fortune Airfield.

The Sketcher family are regular visitors to the National Museums of Scotland on Chambers street and whilst there recently twin number one noticed, rather appropriately, a flyer for the Museum of Flight in East Fortune.

A place I had long thought of visiting and the February break seemed the ideal time to make the 45 minute drive East to the former Royal Air Force base.

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East Fortune has a long been a training camp for young pilots and although no longer used as an airfield it is good to see the base is still teaching and inspiring visitors both young and old.

In the new military and civil aviation hangars, which opened last spring following a major redevelopment, you can find out how aeroplanes have helped to connect communities, allowing people to travel short distances more easily. The twins loved listening to personal stories from Highlanders and Islanders who use these flights regularly.

MuseumofFlight_propellerI remember Concord flying into Edinburgh on it’s final flight here around ten years ago and it was great to see her again and be able to take the kids on board, they loved seeing the cockpit and all those buttons – I can’t imagine trying to remember what they all do! Sitting in her own hangar surrounded by memorabilia, news cuttings and history films Concord was the star of the show.

The activity hangar full of experiments, simulators and interactive fun was a favourite for the twins, for me it was great to get so close to so many huge planes, and to sketch my way around too!

The National Museum of Flight website

Sketches made with a grade B artist pencil.

 

Daily Sketch

Tools of the trade

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ToolsOfTheTradeToday I thought I’d show my sketching tools which I take around with me, my must have items to help me sketch on the go.

It’s changed over the years as I’ve tried new mediums and left others out to save space and time. Most of it wraps up in a neat leather case so I can carry it round with me at all times.

I love to see behind the scenes of a picture, meeting the artist and learning a little more about how they work adds to my appreciation of a piece of work. So I thought I’d share my tools of the trade with you.

Do you have a sketch kit you take everywhere and if o how does it differ from mine?

Daily Sketch

Christmas trees out in the rain

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ChristmasTrees in streetWhat a difference a few days makes at Christmas!

Once a cherished member of the festive family, centre point of the living room and decorated in twinkly baubles. Now piled on top of each other, leaning against rubbish bins in the gutter.

 

The life of a Christmas tree, in pencil. Sketched thankfully before the current rain and terrible weather started in Edinburgh.

Daily Sketch

Aged by a pencil, drawing the Sketcher twins

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ZoeJames_pencilSketching the twins this afternoon over a coffee.

I seem to have sketched the twins much older than their 4 years in this pencil drawing. I’m not sure why but  for sure the more detail I seem to put into a portrait then the older the subject can look. Another skill to learn for sure is to leave well alone, to be disciplined and know when you have done enough. Not easy.

 

It will be interesting to look back in a few years to see if they have grown into this portrait 🙂

 

 

Daily Sketch

A memory of Edinburgh’s Christmas in pencil

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ChristmasInPencilMore new year organising and tidying of the studio today, and finding forgotten sketches on scraps of paper in boxes….

Another wintry day in the capital and one best to spend in doors I think, so I’m going through a few boxes of sketch pads and scraps of paper with doodles and notes on. I found this pencil sketch of Princes Street during Christmas time.

 

I’m not sure when exactly I drew it but it must be at least two years ago as the Helter Skelter is in Princes Street Gardens and the big wheel is hanging out over Princes Street. For once there are no notes along side the drawing to date and give details, which itself is a sign that this isn’t a recent sketch. It is certainly pre trams though.

 

I thought you may like to take a look though, as we say goodbye to Edinburgh’s Christmas for another 11 months and look forward to the warm  (fingers crossed) summer months ahead.