Sketching in Durham

From Gilesgate passed Old Durham to Whinny Hill. Sketched from the manhole looking towards the Cathedral. Why there is a manhole on top of a hill I don't know!

Walked into Durham then lunch overlooking Elvet bridge from steps in front of the Swan and Cygnets pub.

The next week I walked along the river pass Kepier Hospital and sketched on the river banks.

Jon Hall aka Suncage was painting on the walkway near Framwelgate bridge. Not a spelling mistake only one L in the bridge but two in the village of Framwellgate Moor according to the Ordnance Survey and local business addresses. 

Had not done a lot since I passed about 3 hours earlier - too busy chatting to passers-by.

Construction of Rosthwaite Cumbria

First sketch from holiday in Rosthwaite in Clares Cottage

Re-drawn moving my eyeline up to the gutter line and moving the yew tree behind the chimney.

Random blocks of  acrylic colour ( Crimson, lemon yellow and ultramarine blue)  on watercolour 200 lb Bockingford paper using a 2 inch foam roller with lighter colours at the top. No photo available for this stage but this one was done at the same time.

Sketch added then white for the buildings and road then glazes of transparent acrylic to define the building shapes and foliage using a brush. 

Second glaze added to give more depth and more dry brush in the foreground.

Finished painting 15 x 11 inches.

Chester le Street Art Society Spring Exhibition 2015

Exhibition runs from Saturday 18th April to Saturday 25th April 2015.

South wall 

West wall - Olive adjusting the pictures

My entries three watercolours and an acrylic plus small collage above George's kitten on the west wall.

The Art Society is now changing its meeting days from Wednesday 6.30 to 9.00 pm to Tuesday morning 10.00 to 12.00 as from the 5th May 2015 in the hope of attracting new members.

Sketching in Durham

Drawing in A5 sketch book ( not my normal A4 ) resulted in me running out of space at the top and I had to condense the space between the Cathedral and the Fulling Mill.
Started in pencil then sepia drawing pen.

An artist was painting at the end of walkway of launching the boats for the students practising rowing. I recognised him as Suncage ( no real name given on his web page ) who encourages passers-bye to make their mark . I made mind as a horizontal splatter in magenta.

Did a second 3 minute sketch of the Corn Mill from the other side of the river.

0.5 mm pentel pencil.

Suncage website

More Lake District work

Sketch of Croft House near Applethwaite

House on Applethwaite Gill

Mountain sketches from photos on internet

Painting on 200 lb Bockingford paper 15 x 11 inches.

Holiday in Applethwaite near Keswick in Cumbria

Sat
Arrived at 3.00 pm at Croft Corner via Alston and walked into Applethwaite village on the evening.

View looking down Raven Lane in Applethwaite

Day 2 

Sunday walk into Keswick and down to Friars Crag and back via the path to Skiddaw. Called into the Viridian Gallery to see the work of Bill Talyor.

Bill Taylor

The gallery owner and artist Diane Gainey said Bill was due in sometime that day but we could not wait as we had to continue our walk.

Also work by Diane Gainey

Barn at Udderskiddaw near Applethwaite

Castle Crag from Friars Crag over Derwent Water.

Day 3

Monday - Rain on the morning- walked to Millbeck after it cleared along the footpaths and back along the road.

Day 4

Tuesday- Another walk to Millbeck along the bottom footpath and up the valley above the village for lunch at seat overlooking the Derwent Valley. Returned back along the road to Croft Corner.

Map of walk to Millbeck

Sketch of the Old Post Office at Applethwaite

Sketch of The Farm at Millbeck.

View from the seat above Millbeck looking south to Derwent Water

Day 5

Wednesday. Drive to Maryport and it started to rain and never stopped all day. Then on to Workington and lunch in the car overlooking the harbour- still raining. We were joined by a heron which seems very tame.

Day 6

Thursday. Park in the layby on the A66 after Keswick at Newlands Beck Bridge and walked around Braithwaite.

Day 7.

 Walk from Great Wood car park £5.50 for four hours-crazy price after yesterday was free.

Walked south to Ashness Bridge and lunch at Surprise View and down via Watendlath beck and along the road back to car.

Ashness Bridge.

Map from Memory Map.

Day 8. 

Left 9.00 am and back home by lunch after shopping at Sainsburys at Bishop Auckland.

Excellent week at Croft Corner, accommodation was spot on and our hosts very friendly.

Wednesday Morning Art Club at Chester-le-Street

Joined the morning art at the Community Centre. Demonstration by Chris Bowen - a watercolour and calligraphy artist.

Example of his work

Used watercolour straight from the pan onto wet paper on everything from sky, background hills and foreground tree. Did not work for me on the background but yes to the foreground which is a similar method I use on my harbours scenes with black lines. An artist of some 40 years teaching experience he seemed rather nervous and told some awful jokes to the point of annoyance. 

My example of the method he used on the foreground