‘An English Bridge’ – Shrewsbury, England
SHOW ‘N’ TELL
I thought I’d have a show and tell element to my Art Chat posts where I share my recent art activities. These posts will mostly be more visual than wordy depending of course on what I have going on and want to say!
URBAN SKETCHING
I’ve just started an online course – Urban Sketching for Beginners – with Ian Fennelly from the UK. The result of the first module is that English Bridge at the top of this post. It’s in Shrewsbury, England apparently. I’m looking forward to the next module! His style is quite different to mine but that is fabulous as I will learn so many new things. I’ll still have my own style but with some extra tips on board which is fab!
TEA CUPS
Before I started the online class I decided to do a couple of mini paintings of tea cups to add to the one I had done as part of my 100 Day Project (day 95) and make a trio set for my nest of three frames.
DAILY LIFE
My art group decided on a new 14 day challenge – a quick, loose and small sketch each day with the theme ‘Daily Life’ so I’ve been doing that too. I decided to do mine with ink pen and keep the sketch to an average of around 10 minutes but definitely no longer than 30 minutes. I ruled up an A4 page of my sketchbook into 6, which indicates the size of each sketch. The idea of keeping it small and not spending ages over them is to encourage a more relaxed and loose style and to let go of the shackles of perfectionism. So here’s my ‘Daily Life’ sketches so far.
I started off doing an ink sketch and no watercolour but finally succumbed to adding a pop of watercolour. It just adds life don’t you think? In the beginning I was still feeling a bit stiff and unpracticed but I can feel myself loosening up a bit more now. Some of these are better than others. Some were literally done in a few minutes (e.g. No’s 2 & 4).
The first 4 days were done around home: 1) I love Bread and Butter Cucumbers but haven’t been able to buy any at the shops in months so decided to make my own; 2) Washing up every #@&! day; 3) Brushing my teeth twice a day; 4) Hanging clothes on the clothesline.
Days 5 to 7 were done whilst over staying with Mum. 5) I loved the artwork on the wall in the waiting room of a doctor’s appointment I took Mum to; 6) Dad’s Chair. Every time I sit in it, it’s like getting a giant big hug from him. I miss you Dad; 7) Watering Mum’s pot plants – you’ll always stumble over a chook (ornamental) in nooks and crannies here and there.
Days 8 to 10 – I’m back home again. 8) Home to the gorgeous face of my dog Ava; 9) Busy day doing the first module of my online course. This is me sketching the English bridge! 10) My daughter is coming to dinner. Slow cooked corned beef is on the menu. I’ve never cooked corned beef in the slow cooker before. Hope it’s good!
LINKY IDEA
I was wondering if there might be interest in a fortnightly or perhaps monthly Art Chat Show ‘n’ Tell linky where anyone can link up blog posts to show their creations? It doesn’t have to be drawings or paintings. It can be ANYTHING CREATIVE – eg knitting, crocheting, cross stitching, sewing, floristry, photography, cooking, caking decorating, sculpture, interior design, Zentangling, collaging, you name it … so long as it is something creative that you have done.
I thought I’d see what feedback I get on this before I contemplate going ahead with it because if there’s not much interest it isn’t really worth the effort, as I found out with my #ZTT linky a while back. I really don’t mind either way with this but as I’m often sharing my creations, I thought maybe there’s others that’d like to share theirs too!
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That’s all I have to share this time but next time I will have the last few ‘Daily Life’ sketches and of course more from my online Urban Sketching Course.
Ciao for now,
Linking up with Denyse Whelan for #LifeStories
20 Comments
Min, Wonderful artworks you’ve done. Thank you for sharing them. I love colours so a touch of colour is attractive to me. I’d join your Art Chat linky if you decide to run it. Atm my contributions would be photography. #LifesStories
Thanks Natalie! Fabulous that you’d participate in the linky with your photography. Thank you! I’ll wait and see if there’s much interest before I decide whether to go ahead or not. If I do, I think I’d have it monthly. Have a great week!
Hi Min – I love your ink and watercolour combinations and that bridge at the beginning is gorgeous. I rarely do specific blog posts about any of the “arty” stuff I do, so I’d have nothing much to link up if you start a new linky. I enjoy seeing what others do though and if you have enough arty friends who blog, then it might be worth a shot.
Hi Leanne – thanks for the compliment on my bridge. It was fun to do and a bit of a different style to what I usually do. The next module will be fun. I’ve just got to find a good chunk of uninterrupted time to do it! I’m surprised that you said you wouldn’t link up with the show ‘n’ tell linky! You occasionally do posts on your collage and calligraphy creations and even some leadlighting in the past. I’m not sure if it will go ahead but if it does I think I’d have it monthly. I’ll wait and see if there’s much interest and then decide whether to give it a go or not. A few years ago I would have been swamped with eager bloggers all keen for it but sadly the blogosphere is not the same place anymore. Have a great week!
Hi Min – I would love to link up, it was more that I don’t have anything recent to share and a lot of my ‘creative’ stuff is added into my monthly update rather than being a stand alone type post. If you’re happy to have older stuff added to the linky then I’d be there each month with something I’ve done previously – I do have several older posts about stuff I’ve tried my hand at x
Hi Leanne – sorry I’m late to reply – life has been so busy! I’ve decided not to go ahead with the linky idea, and briefly explain why in today’s post.
Oh! I love seeing all your art! Your eye and color choices are very appealing! And yes, I’d be interested in participating in an Art Chat link up. I could contribute crochet, photography, and/or the occasional art piece (paint, colored pencils, etc). Hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
Thanks Melissa! Great that you’d be interested in the Art Chat Show ‘n’ Tell link up. That makes TWO (2) people interested so far! LOL If it goes ahead I’d make it a monthly thing. I’ll ponder a bit longer over it. Hope you have a wonderful week too!
Beautiful artworks Min and a great little challenge for your group. I don’t really do ‘creative’ work but I’m sure you would have many linking up if you decided to start a monthly Art Chat. It’s a great idea!
Thanks Sue! I’m sure you do some creative work – like your cooking for example and those gorgeous cakes you make for your grandsons birthdays! I’m not sure if the linky will go ahead anyway. I’ll have it monthly if it does but I’ll ponder longer over it. Hope you have a great week!
I occasionally do arty photography and posts about art exhibitions – but rarely my own drawings/paintings. So I’d link up when i could not regularly. It’s always interesting to see what you’re doing tho. #LifeStories
Thanks Lydia! So sorry it’s taken me a while to reply. Life has been so busy for me. I’ve decided not to go ahead with the linky & explain why in my post today.
Hi Min, you are so good at the various ways in which you express yourself in art media. I would possibly be interested in a link up..Currently mine is, as you know every 2nd Monday and I link up on last Fridays of the month with Sue, Deb, Jo and Donna for Word of The Year. Sometimes I link up with Natalie for Weekend Coffee Share…so for me, I could contribute but would need to fit in a day. I am doing my best to stay connected on line in blogging but not as much as before. Love your description of your Dad’s chair.
Thank you so much for linking your blog post up for Life’s Stories my fortnightly blogging link up at Denyse Whelan Blogs.
I appreciate your support and continuing blogging connections and friendships.
I will be back with the next #LifesStories link up on Monday 25 April 2022.
Denyse.
Hi Denyse, I’m very late to reply to your comment and apologise. My life has just been so busy lately. I’ve decided not to go ahead with my linky idea, and briefly explain why in today’s post. xo
These are so lovely Min, your style is captivating and i always enjoy learning about how you go about creating art like this, so thanks for sharing the insights. I ,like dabbling in photography so could possibly join you in your proposed linkup, but will wait and see what you decide to do.
Thanks Debbie! Your photography would have been most welcome in the proposed linkup but I’ve decided not to go ahead with it at this point. I explain why briefly in today’s post.
love your drawings, love that bridge! urban sketching is a wondrous thing.
Thanks so much Sherry!
Min, I adore these teacups and saucers. When I was a little girl, the neighbor across the street decorated a room in her home for her granddaughter. She used rose and gray as the color palette. And decorated with teacups and saucers. The effect was so pretty. So feminine. I have never forgotten that beautiful room created with love. Your paintings would have been icing in the cake on the walls of that bedroom. Just beautiful.
Please tell me what type marker or pen you used to create such a delicate line? How I love this.
Oh thank you so much Leslie! I framed and gave all three teacup and saucer drawings/paintings to Mum. I use a variety of ink pens – Sakura Pigma Micron, Etchr, UniPin. For really fine lines I use 0.05, 0.03 and others used are 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3. I only go thicker than these if needing to colour in large areas. Thanks so much for your kind comment! xo