Around Grafton Street

We often seem to be lucky with the weather. And also, we know how to read those clouds and when to take shelter from the sudden downpours. We were sketching around the Grafton Street area. It was actually sunny, but very busy, so I chose to sit outside McDaids, and I had a good view down South Anne Street. I also sketched the statue of Phil Lynott, and the people taking pictures of it (not as many as for Molly Malone, sadly). Then it was time to take refuge in the new (renovated) hotel on Exchequer Street, and sketch what I could see through the window. The light hitting the red brick building across the way was gorgeous, in between showers. Lots of sketchers (old and new) to chat with. 

PS: I'm trying photos from different angles, as my photos are never as exciting as the sketches themselves. As you can see, the paper I'm using buckles quite a bit, with watercolour and my strong pencil lines. I personally think that it adds a three-dimensional quality to my sketches, but it's not easy to photograph, particularly with low winter sun. Hey, I'm not complaining, we have a sun in the sky, after what feels like 40 days of rain!

The Bank

A great location. I love many of the buildings on Dame street. This one is as spectacular inside as outside, but I struggle with interiors, and it was such a nice mid-September day. I started with loose shapes in tempera sticks and built up with ink, watercolour, colour pencils, some white gel pen and whatever else was in my kit. Done completely on location, like all my sketches. But of course I forgot to take a photo, except at the start of my process, which I'm glad to have!

Green Green Green

Sketching greenery in the height of summer in Ireland is not easy for me. I am not good at differentiating the various planes - basically I see a jumble of greens, and that's what I sketch. No foreground, middle ground or background for me. Intellectually, I know that it's what I'm supposed to do, but I've reached a stage in my life where I just want to show the world as I see it, not as art conventions expect me to show it.

Anyways, I started by avoiding the greens. I chose a little spot at the back of the National Concert Hall where the angles of the buildings were really interesting. I also sketched my iced matcha latte, but placed it in a really awkward spot and angle. So this morning, I decided to hide it with a little flap of text. My choice of washi tape is a tad distracting, but I'm not too worried about that!.

After that, I went into the Iveagh Gardens, and got immersed in tree bathing, splashing so much green paint about that now I need to wash my beige trousers!!

And when we got to the pub afterwards, I couldn't resist the lemon tart. Had to sketch it quickly before eating. Picked a yellow pencil (yes, @cloboutrolle, you're responsible for that choice). And added watercolour at home later.

Building up my sketching stamina for Poznan. Going for quantity. Quality will emerge of its own accord, or not!

South Docks Festival

More sketches from around the St Andrews Resource Centre, Pearse Park and Grand Canal Dock. We had a full day of sketching and a lovely evening with our sketches on display as part of the South Docks Festival. Thank you to the amazing organisers and our very own Amélie who coordinated everything!

The first photo is the sketch I forgot to photograph on Sunday. Everything else is from our second outing. So much to sketch in this area. I love exploring an area of the city like this. And also, looking at everyone else's sketches, all capturing different aspects.

 

Dublin on a rainy day

It was an afternoon of sunshine and downpours. I was stubborn. I should have packed up earlier and retreated to a pub. The bones of my sketch got washed out. But 3 of us moved to a secret location where we had a great view. And my jeans were almost dry by the time I got to the pub.

Around Setanta Place on a sunny day in Dublin

An iced matcha helped to dispel my jetlag, and I enjoyed some time sketching in the city centre with a few friends.

And if you wonder about the Pink Elephant, have a look at this article. It's behind a paywall, I know, but the initial paragraph is enough for context. I think I was there once or twice in my day? Didn't see anybody famous, though!

I've left lots of breathing room on these pages. I will probably write something, but I like them as they are for now

Dublin Sketchers sketchwalk - USkweek2015

 And Brendan came along and took photos and videos and put this together for us as a memory of the day.

Coliemore Harbour from my video

While I was in Coliemore Harbour, I took lots of photos and some video footage too. I played the video on loop while I drew, and painted and scratched. Then tore the page and did some collage. Idea for an abstract painting. It might be months before I get a chance to get back to it! But it's all in my Studio Book to remind me when I start painting again! 

Dalkey on location

We were supposed to sketch the library in Dalkey, but I wasn't going to drive so close to the sea and not spend some time at Coliemore Harbour, with Dalkey island across the way. It was dull at home, and dull in Dalkey, but a 5-minute walk to Coliemore Harbour, and it was a different world, bright, sunny, choppy seas, swimmers in the harbour, birds flying over the rocks in the distance, palm trees, golden light on the stone wall. I felt so full of joy!

Then I went back to the town to catch up with the others, but I sketched the other side of the street. I just do my own thing.

Herbert Park

Easter Sunday. No sunshine, but no rain, which was something after the previous two days of downpour. Our sketching location was Herbert Park. It always has something that interests and surprises me. 

I started with the tall trees, gave out to a family group who walked behind me with a drone flying right in front of them. Well, I ruined their soundtrack, as I gave out to them for flying the drone in a public park. I can be the cranky old lady when I want to! Pilot parallel pne, watercolour and Neocolor II, all done on location.

Then, I needed something more structural. Walked to an area of the park I wasn't familiar with, found a gate and this lovely street, called Home Villas. Loved the shapes of these houses. Drawing and colour pencil on location, then added watercolour at home.

The third sketch - how could I resist them? The cherry blossoms! They had just peaked and were the main focus of attraction for the many family and friend groups that were busy taking pictures under them. It was quite dark given the grey sky, so I don't know how their photos turned out. There was even a photographer with a long lens. He didn't like the fact that I sketched him. I just said to him "the observer being observed". Then he got up and asked the two young women in saris to pose for him. They were only too happy. And also very happy to see my sketch!

One afternoon. Three sketches. Then to the pub to chat with my fellow sketchers and see what everybody else drew. It felt good.

 

Smithfield

 

Only one sketch this Sunday. Smithfield is a place I always struggle to sketch. It's a big space, with nothing in the middle. Perfect when there is an event, but nothing on this occasion. So I drew some detail that caught my eye.

Botanic Gardens

We've had glorious sunshine in this first week of April. It's not exactly warm, but such lovely light. A great excuse to go sketching in the Botanic Gardens with Dublin Sketchers. 

I loved observing the great variety of trees and vegetation, and the family groups enjoying the good weather.