Grand Canal Dock

Just as well I brought minimal supplies, as it turns out I partially dislocated my clavicle. I don't know about the partially, actually. It's sitting above one of my ribs, so I personally think that qualifies as a full dislocation. I'm writing this on 30th September, so if you're seeing this on Instagram in November, I haven't dislocated again. Although it's entirely possible that I will dislocate it again, apparently! Anyways, my minimal supplies were not very well thought out. A bunch of acrylic markers, a pink pencil, a thick black Posca, and watersoluble graphite crayons. I did try to apply the acrylic markers on top of the graphite. It gave a nice subdued colour, but made the markers really dirty. I think that if I had brought my black Fude pen, I could have done a lot more with these sketches. 

 

Small experimentation

Sometimes painting large feels like too much. I don't know why. I have painted large for the last few years. But now, it feels like too much. So, rather than not painting at all, I'm back to painting small, postcard sized. Some of these made me happy while painting, watching pigments mingling on the paper. One makes me very happy. But I have no idea how I achieved that effect! All on Hahnemuhle Cornwall paper. 

Sketch with Suhita

Loved this session with Suhita's group, where we were exploring sketching people in front of a background, and how to separate the two while keeping a sense that they are in the same environment. There were a number of images to choose from. I probably picked the easiest one!

Experimenting with dark darks and white pigment in watercolour

Love the sky, hate the foreground. It's ok, this is not how I want to paint, but it's useful to experiment with these pigments (UB, Bloodstone Genuine, Blue Compose, Grey of Grey, Grey Yellow - I think that's it). I want lots of dark granulation - balance of pigment, water on the page, water in the brush and paper of course. This was done on Saunders Waterford cold press (300 gsm I think - must try on heavier paper too!)

Pencils4Tea 24 September 2026

Glad I'm getting back into the groove of attending Pencils4Tea, although the routine will be broken in October. Still, every practise counts. 

Mountjoy Square

Mountjoy Square is not a part of the city where I spend much time. Always good when there is a group of us sketching in the one location. Safety in numbers and all the rest. It was a beautiful sunny day in mid-September. The clouds were gorgeous and I was sorry I didn't bring my watercolours. But it was a good practise in using a small set of acrylic markers, which was my intention.

Creative Shift Week 3

Introducing visual elements - I think this could take three weeks for me! I chose 1 image from Naomi Tydeman and 2 from Marc Taro Holmes, and a few of my own for comparison. Quite a difference between what I am attracted to in these artists' paintings versus how I paint. It was good to analyse what visual elements they use to create the mood.

Here is a little video of what I have posted in my studio book for the week.

Please forgive the sound in the background of the video - a neighbour is getting her garden done, and there seems to be excessive use of the leaf-blower! But then it seems that my turning the pages actually makes more noise than the leaf blower!

Sketching on Meath Street

Another beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon - third Sunday in September - we're lucky with the weather. One of my favourite areas of the city, Meath Street. Still feels very much like the Dublin I came to forty years ago (October 1986!!). Yet, we can see with the work on the footpaths that it's in the process of being gentrified. Even the pub we went to, Lucky's, is more of a cool place than a neighbourhood Dublin pub. Thankfully very few tourists in this area still. I started with this tall house that I had noticed a few months ago, on my way back from Nuala Clarke's workshop nearby. I often know straight away what I want to sketch, and this was it. When I was done, I wandered about for a bit, and I was attracted to the chaos of the work in progress on the footpath. Two very different sketches. PS: loving the Tombow lavender marker for shadows. Must check what number it is so I can order it again.

Love granulation - want more of it!

Going in the right direction - not quite where I want to be yet, but I'm excited about this. You will still recognise the same landscape. Well, I do anyway. But I'm pushing it more towards abstraction. And I'm having fun with granulation. Need a lot more paint to get to what I want. This was done on a cold press Canson paper, the grain of the paper shows more than I would like, but it also contributes to the granulation! And I'm proud that I showed restraint with my soft pastels

 

Pencils4Tea 17 September 2026

Continuing my exploration with Lyra watersoluble graphite chunky pencils. Took me a little while to warm up. Should have done a few self-portrait warmups before starting!

 

Exploring a darker mood

Holding two thoughts in my head at the same time isn't easy - Been thinking about these landscapes as an embrace, havens protecting me. And now also looking at a darker palette and more granulation.  Enjoying the interplay between the pink watercolour pencil and the darker mood! From a technical point of view, I want something richer, so need to take note and explore that.