Camden Street on a miserable day

5 January 2025 -  it was cold and it rained non-stop. I was worried the rain would turn to snow. It did in many parts of the country, but thankfully not in Dublin. I was flying to Belgium the following day for my Mum's birthday and I was very stressed about the possibility of flight delays or cancellations. So, I wrapped up well and went sketching as a way to calm my anxiety. 

There was no way to sketch outdoors, but I knew a café that has good views over Camden Street. It's Caffé Nero. There's a counter at the window and a big convivial table where a few of us mad Sketchers sat - we just sketched what was in front of us. It's always interesting to see how we all can be in the one location, but we sketch very different things.

After a couple of hours of sketching, I went home. I was still worried the rain would turn to snow. But it didn't. I was anxious about nothing. But some days, it's hard to control it! Still, I got some nice sketches out of it! And, yes, I should have added an extra bin bag in front of that bin. I didn't notice the shape until I got home and it was too late to fix it!!

Street View World Tour

My takes on the Street View images for January's Stretview Worldtour. I had to leave early for the last one, so just took the essence of the scene as I saw it! Can you guess the locations for each of these?

Same colours, different mixes

I have used the same colours again. Well, more or less the same colours. I have added Blue Compose to the mix, for the feel of a sunny day, as I'm looking at a few pictures I took near Allihies last February! In the second set, I continued mixing what was on my palette and got some gorgeous neutrals. I've got a good few sketches I have done in an accordion sketchbook, so plenty of inspiration to keep me going.

On a roll

It feels so good when I paint again. In the old days, I used to only have time to paint while on holidays or between Christmas and New Year, a time where most people who work in an office take time off in Ireland. Now, it tends to be the week when I don't paint. It's a time for eating too much and watching movies together and going for nice walks if the weather is dry enough. And it feels good. But I miss painting, even if it's only for a week. So by the 3rd of January, I was ready to get back into it. Still obsessed with the landscape of Beara, and I keep finding new little corners that I want to paint, working mostly from photos I have taken over the years. This one is a zoomed-in look at a big hill.

Abstract and representational - just playing

Using the back of watercolours that I don't feel strongly about is a great way to trick the brain into loosening up! I was planning to go abstract, but the quarter-sheet format called for another go at that landscape. For the next one, I taped the paper into a square, and felt free to explore in abstract.

I always like the close-ups. I really want to zoom in in my next version!

Incognito

I have sent my three pieces for Incognito, in aid of the Jack and Jill foundation. I'm very happy with the three pieces I painted for this. I will post more information when I know exactly when and where they will be on display. But all information will be on the Incognito website in due course.

Moving to another view - I need to be patient with myself

Again, working too closely from a photo, without a plan. Tomorrow, I'm using my prompt cards again or I will go abstract. But this is probably telling me I need a change from these Beara scenes - 

Or I just need to keep pushing - since it was one of those situation where I had nothing to lose, I decided to attack it with gouache. Much happier now!! Never leave a painting at a stage where you're not happy!!

Cool and warm blacks

Still trying to figure out how to paint this Beara scene. But it's not working out, even when I try it in black. Composition is probably too balanced, and I'm sticking too close to the photo I'm working from. I will need to rethink it.

Cat bowl, again

Embracing the wonkiness! 

Love my new art display shelves

A quick and colourful selfportrait, with my new display shelves behind me. Got those in Ikea and I'm thrilled with them. It's a great way to have my work in progress present in front of me. Well, it's behind me, but I've got big sliderobes with full mirror in front of me, so it's even better, as I often see what works and what doesn't work in a painting when I look in the mirror!

Exploring Beara, still

 

The red rock reminds me of an octopus. I like that. Exploring and feeling completely absorbed in the doing.

That's it for the Christmas teapot

 

I haven't drawn any of our Christmas decorations this year. Just wasn't in the mood. But I did enjoy drawing my Christmas teapot. It's there for purely decorative purposes. It was a cheap thing from Woodies but I love it to bits. And my cat bowl, with lemons in it. It doesn't take much to bring joy in my life.

Just a quick one - but I love those colour pencils together

I sketched this in the period between Christmas and New Year. A time of eating too much, watching films on TV, going for a walk when the weather allows. And not much else. Maybe it's a reset. Or a time for reflection? But this is my first year without setting goals or looking back at the year. I tried. But it just didn't feel right. I'm not 45 and planning the rest of my career anymore. So I've decided that I don't need to prove anything to anyone, least of all myself! Maybe some of the films and programs I watched over the holidays had an influence on this new-found attitude. Kind of "you live, you die, just make the most of everyday, nothing you do will change the outcome". Also, I decided I would not send lots of New Year's Eve messages. Instead, I just replied to the ones that came. Not many. Interesting. 

I picked 4 watercolour pencils that appealed to me and drew literally what was in front of me, including my reflection in the mirror.  

National Library

I was determined to sit outside and to use my watercolours, even at the end of December. It wasn't too cold, but still not very pleasant. I did an everything everything sketch, including the tree, the garda security hut, the lamppost and the National Library across the way. I would have been better off picking just a detail, but that's the way I see the world, so you will always know it's my sketch!

I'm including a crop, so you can see what I was really interested in!

Rock formations

I may be getting near the end of this series - went a bit crazy with pastel on top of watercolour. Didn't work out. I might glue some paper on top.

It might also be that we're in the dark days of winter and I can't see a thing in my studio. The current bulb is not strong enough. I need a daylight bulb.

 

Maybe another view to try?

I thought I was done with this series, but I am going through my photos and I keep finding views that inspire me to paint. And I'm having fun with textures and markmaking. This one isn't looking like much yet, I'll have to figure out how to arrange the composition. I might go on Google Maps to go on this narrow road again and see how I can arrange the elements to create a bit more drama.

Another look at that landscape - am I done?

I keep thinking that I'm done with these views of Beara, yet each time, I find something new that excites me. This turn in the road, as you drive up after leaving Allihies behind you. I just love it. I pulled over to the side of the road, and took it all in. I took lots of photos and a few videos. I painted this one from a video which I kept on a loop. I hope my painting conveys that feeling of joy that I felt. It was February, but the light was amazing, as is often the case in Ireland - better light in winter than summer.

 

Tea and Lemon

A mix of old and new. I do love that teapot, although it's probably never been used. And these bowls were a treat to myself before Christmas. Well, they were not expensive, but I do love Japanese bowls with cats! And we had lemons and limes for my non-alcoholic gin an tonic. The lime looks more like a nut of some sort - it was quite small and dark, you'll have to believe me. But I have never really cared about accuracy in my drawing - for many artists, drawing is a form of communication. For me, it's about capturing a memory for myself - as long as I know what the drawing was about, I'm happy! It's taken me many years to reach that understanding about drawing - never too old to learn!

Happy Little Squares

If in doubt, Faye Bridgwater's little sketch square come to the rescue. Great to explore colour and composition. Although I don't paint in a square format, so I don't translate these into actual paintings. Yet. But they are so much fun. Ideal for a time when you don't feel like painting, but you want to do something all the same!

My only problem is that I didn't write down the colours. I'm not sure what brown I used. Was it Mars Brown or Imidazolone Brown (I'm not even sure I've spelt that one right)? And did I use Moonglow or Indanthrene blue? Looking at further experiments, I am leaning towards Moonglow. All that means is that I will have to explore some more!

But the Umber and Mauve Neocolor definitely add a buzz to these colours. And I love it!

A closer look at those rocks.

Using the same colours again (and a light blue Neocolor that makes me very happy), zooming in on some remnants of a stone wall that appears in the landscape, b.ehind the tall grasses. And I do love a long format

And more swatches

 I'm pretty sure the yellow is Permanent Yellow Deep (Holbein), but I didn't write it down, so I'm not 100% sure. It could be Quin Gold, but I don't think it is. The other two colours are Moonglow (Daniel Smith) and Lavender (Daniel Smith)

I'm really enjoying combining watercolour with Neocolor crayons. And of course, the little squares win my vote every time. They're not trying to be anything. They just are - happy. With lots of dragging, scratching, dry brush, little dots, and a beige mix that I love - will have to try and reproduce that again!

How I see Beara

There's always a build-up. Feeling like I'm going through the motions. And then, boom, when I'm painting with Shelley, two paintings pop out of nowhere. Perfect state of flow. Exactly what I wanted. Let's see if I can push it further?

Details

At the Hairdresser's

Passing the time while my colour is cooking. I like the blind drawing best. Always.

 

And this, something I rarely do, draw from imagination. As you can see, my imagination is pretty dull, so that's why I draw from observation instead.