HAPPY CHRISTMAS

 

 

I went to an art expo last week at Ploumanach to see an interesting display of textile inspired cards sent from around the world and of course I was inspired to have a go myself.  First I had to think of a theme and surprise, surprise, as I was in the kitchen and looking at my mushroom picture it came to me straight away!

 

I came home and had a rummage through my fabric stash looking for suitable scraps.  This piece of duster was perfect to depict the canterella and I used my writing programme on the sewing machine for the lettering.

 

This one was inspired by the inktense picture I drew a few weeks ago.  I used some of Luba's samples from her designing days, the black has lovely bumpy texture and the mushrooms are shiny satin with a bit of inktense added for the shading.

 

 

A handful of delicate mushrooms growing in the grass down the lane, already sketched and now depicted in satin and damask with some straight stitching for the grass.

 

 

This is my favourite, originally a sketch inspired by a photo taken by my sister in law Trish last year of an Amethyst deceiver.  Luba's fabrics came in handy again for all the autumnal colours, stitched onto satin and enhanced with some inktense scribbles.

We're off to England tomorrow for the holidays so I'll wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous new year.

 

 

LAST FEW TV SKETCHES

Here are the last few of my sketches from the telly sketchbook.  This news reader has a beautiful strong face and fortunately the programme lasts for half an hour so I have plenty of time to capture the likeness.

A costume drama starring Keira Knightly and Ralph Fiennes.

Beautiful costumes.

Intricate hairstyles.

A documentary about Henry VIII

Matthew McFadyen as Mr Darcy, yummy! 

I liked the costumes in this Agatha Christie series.

Difficult to capture  Benedict Cumberbatch, I'll just have to watch more Sherlock!

Recent series: a London Spy.

Saga, the detective in 'the Bridge,' she's such a moody character.

 

 

And finally, the sketchbook cover that attracted me in the first place with the 3 magic pencils I've used in the sketches.  My favourite is the one on the right with yellow, red and blue combined in the lead, I'm already onto the second one as I've completely used the first one to the end.

See you soon, hopefully in time for Christmas with my latest creations.

 

TELLY SKETCHES FILM STARS

 

Here's another handful of TV sketches, some better than others.  The only one I like from this page is Bruce Willis, probably because I didn't overwork it!

 

Richard Gere has fascinating sloping eyes so hard to capture.

 

The bearded man was fun to do, just lots of scribbles.

She doesn't look a bit like she should, does she!

A young Meryl Streep in Kramer vs Kramer and a very bad Tom Cruise.

I like the one on the right, I think it's Meryl again.

Daniel Craig went a bit wrong but I love Tom Hanks even if it doesn't look like him!

Paul Newman's nose is wonderfully hooked.

TV SKETCHING: STRICTLY COME DANCING

 

We've nearly come to the end of this autumn's Strictly Come Dancing series, a highlight  on Saturday evening television.

 

It's very difficult to draw the dancers as they move around and the dresses appear at many different angles.  I have been trying to memorise the clothes but it's a lot harder than you would think! 

 

It's easier with the faces as they come up again and again and it's possible to keep on adding to the sketch.  I loved Darcy Bussel in her Morticia make up and hair, it really suited her.

 

I'm planning to start a new sketchbook in the new year to concentrate on fashion drawing, using a lovely book Justine has given me as inspiration.  I am hoping to remember and draw all the clothes I have made myself over the last 55 years.

 

My figure drawing is seriously rusty so this will be quite a challenge, getting the proportions right and coming up with my own 'look'.

 

Next time I'll show you some of the film stars I've drawn, some recognisable, some definitely not!

 

 

TV SKETCHBOOK

 

I've just filled another sketchbook, this time it's the one I keep on the coffee table with a magic multi-coloured pencil ready to use when I'm inspired to draw.  I bought it at Lidl in the spring for only 2 euros and it's got very thin paper which means that you can see the previous drawings on the next page but it stops me being precious about wasting paper!

 

The Last Kingdom, a series based on the books by Bernard Cornwell has just come to an end after 8 weeks  and we've been enthralled by the characters, the history and the closeness to the original books.

 

It's the story of a Viking who is brought up as a Saxon who ends up as an advisor to Alfred the Great.  There's a lot of mud and violence but plenty of passion and intelligence too.

 

Alfred is depicted as a sickly man but his charisma shines through and he finally becomes the victorious king we know him to be.

 

Uhtred of course is the star of the show played by an unknown actor, Alexander Dreymon who I am looking forward to seeing again!

Next time I'll show you my impressions of Strictly Come Dancing, my Saturday night favourite.