London and St Ives

A trip to London and St Ives. It wasn't a sketching trip, but I managed to fit in more sketches than I expected. A 5-hour train journey was a great opportunity to practise little views in squares. And on the way back, a good excuse to try some new magic pencils I bought at the Tate. Weather in St Ives was cold and showery, so I didn't sketch much. But our hotel had a spa and a pool, so I enjoyed some much-needed relaxation. Our cat was happy to see us home. Though he doesn't look happy in the picture!

 

Yellow and red in Phibsborough

After aimlessly walking around for a while, I decided to sketch everything yellow that I came across in this residential street in Phibsborough (inspired by a recent USk Malaga theme!!). When I ran out of yellow things, I moved to red. Not a big vista sketch, but better than going home empty-handed.

The little book of everything

 Random sketches, from observation, playing with repetition. Inspired by Andrew James.

More circles

A thought - is it about protecting my energy, setting my boundaries? I have had something pulling on my energy lately. It's taken me a long time to realise, than it came to me after I had painted these little beauties and I was writing in my studio book.  A series of protective circles.

Various papers (cold press, Etchr, Seawhite of Brighton, etc.). The ones I like best have Glacier Green in them. And Haze Indigo, I think.

Each is about the size of closed fist. My hands are small. Can I make them larger?

Street View World Tour 7 May - somewhere in Brazil

@matlet took us to Brazil for Street View World Tour. I couldn't stay for the last location, but it was a fun session. I still have my copy of 28 m2. Memories of lockdowns!

Just dropping watercolour into water

In reverse order of execution. Done on different papers, some really smooth and thin, some more textured.

Some days, I know that I can't paint "a painting".  There can be many reasons, too busy, too tired. Or just energy sucked out of me. But I want to turn up anyway. That's who I am. I always turn up for myself. And I'm always glad I do, particularly when I would rather take to the bed and distract myself with doom-scrolling or dark thoughts. So, on those days, I might just scribble. On this occasion, I painted big water shapes on the page and dropped watercolour in, no thinking, no judging. So happy I did.

Just off Capel Street

Still lots to sketch on Capel street. This time we were looking at some old shops that are just a façade at this stage, probably awaiting demolition. You'd think we would try to preserve some of our heritage! I had brought a tiny tin with 6 half pans of watercolour and it was lovely to play with this reduced set. Then I returned to my inktense pencils and Ecoline markers. I wanted to capture the people on the street. That's a whole other journey! But removing cars and adding benches has certainly brought people back on the streets, including urban sketchers of course! 

Freemasons Dublin Grand Lodge

Another great location for USk Week - Louise contacted the Freemasons and got us access to the Grand Lodge. Such a treat! And yes, I sketched the same room again! Worked in inktense and markers. I added some acrylic markers when I got home, including some gold which seemed appropriate - although I was probably a bit heavy-handed. We had lunch there afterwards. It felt very special!

Previous times I sketched there, in 2020 and 2018!

• https://mhbd.blogspot.com/2020/03/freemasons-hall.html
•  https://mhbd.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-freemasons-hall.html

Urban Sketchers Week - Dublin Sketchers' special sketchwalk

Loved our sketchwalk with Dublin Sketchers on Sunday 3rd May, in celebration of International Urban Sketchers Week. We had a map of locations, starting at 11 am and finishing at 4pm (in the pub), with about 45 minutes at each location. It can be challenging, but also exhilarating, to sketch quickly and then move and settle and start all over again! All while chatting to sketchers from Dublin, and also Galway, Gorey, Northern Ireland and other parts. You could say it was our first National event for Ireland! 

As the International logo for this year was green, I tried to incorporated green in all my sketches. Worked mostly with pen, inktense and ecoline. Some watercolour when I had more time. I enjoyed the fast pace, and the chats along the way. Text added at home, everything else done on location. Was completely exhausted the next day! And Brendan took some photos and put a video together.  A great memory of the day.