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!
I was tired, and this view was so ambitious for half an hour, but we all did it. I ignored the top of the Cologne cathedral - there was enough to be doing with the people, doors, windows and arches! I would probably tackle this differently if I was there in person, but then again maybe I would be so overwhelmed that I would walk away!!
High-rises are hard to sketch! Starting with a watercolour wash was a good strategy, as I didn't have to worry too much about accuracy. And inktense pencils applied when the paper was still a bit damp gave a nice softness to my lines. I overworked the trees a bit, but I enjoyed the time sketching with Suhita and friends!
@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!
A wonderful session on Zoom with Suhita Shirodkar and her Substack followers. We sketched cherry blossoms, each in our own way. Looking forward to our cherry blossoms in Ireland very soon so I can sketch them for real.
This month's Street View World Tour was extra fun, as we went under water, guided by Nina Khashchina, who regularly sketches while diving. She does it for real, we were doing it virtually!
Sometimes all you need is a sketch-along session to inspire and motivate. Eleanor Doughty has a monthly session on Vivify where you can just watch her sketch (and listen to her commentary, which is a treat in itself - I didn't know that brick buildings are not good with earthquakes!). And you can sketch along. She was working with markers and pencils. I started in watercolours so my sketch went down a different path, but I found it fascinating to hear her describe her thinking process when sketching a scene like this one. It helped me a lot. But nothing could save that water puddle. Maybe if I had just done the one?
Always love these monthly online session with Suhita Shirodkar. They always energise me. It's not a taught session. It's simply sketching together as a group, from the one photo, all our energies combining.
Worked with Ecoline markers (yellow, magenta, turquoise, and orange), drew on top, added some pencil, then tried to retrieve some lights (failed at that, but I like the overall view).
Had a great time practising this technique from Andrew James on the Vivify platform in preparation for lines, shapes and madness in Poznan! Writing this less than 48 hours before I travel, and I already feel like I'm missing out as sketchers from around the world are gathering in Berlin and Poland ahead of the International Symposium. I am so lucky to be going. Maybe it's just excitement I'm feeling?
It was a while since I had attended one of these Street View World tour sessions. But I'm glad I attended this one. It was challenging and fun. And I moved some of the street furniture around to serve my purposes.
Pencils4Tea 10 April. Graphite pencil and Stabilo Woodies have become my tools of choice for these sessions, as I'm working in a sketchbook and the poses are short (the time of a song), so I have no time for waiting for watercolour to dry.
I knew I wouldn't be able to attend Pencils4Tea this week, so I decided to try Drawing is Free. Essentially the same format, but with over 400 people online, it didn't feel quite so personal. I do enjoy these portrait sessions, though. I'm learning hands, bit by bit.
I never get to sketch magnolias in real life. They come and go so quickly. Plus, it's still bloody freezing here in mid-March. Always feel sorry for the Texas majorettes at the St Patrick's day parade here in Dublin!
But Suhita had lovely photos for us to work from during one of her monthly sessions. Like everyone else in the group, I feel I'm getting bolder with my materials. Tempera sticks and Stabilo Woodies. Can't go wrong with these!
Plus I'm still exploring working to the edge of the page, as part of Liz Steel's Patreon group.
Each portrait is the time of a song. I'm loving pencils and crayons these days. As the days get warmer, I will get back to watercolour. Soon.
Thank you to Suhita, Liz Steel, Mark Taro Holmes for making One Week 100 People happen again, in its 9th year. I can feel I haven't been sketching people much in the last while. But it's amazing what a few days of practise can do! I even did a few on location. But most of these are from the Zoom sessions that Suhita organised. I have even included my warm-up sketches before these. Every little bit counts! The faces are from earthsworld - always great photos to sketch from!
The week was from 3 to 7 March
