John Webb
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A NOrth Devon Wedding

28/4/2015

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Pembroke Lodge and Richmond Park were a bit of a means to an end.  I have been asked to take my sketchbook to a wedding in North Devon so needed practice with people/figures.  Not easy.  Nor sure the practice achieved much.  Back to studying Hogarth and especially Dormier.

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As it happens Wedding Day was pretty rainy which curtailed sketching in pen – even my usual trusty waterproof pens need a moment or two to dry and raindrops don’t wait (I’ve asked but they are a stubborn lot).  So I resorted to pencil and quick capture in ink for working up in my makeshift studio.  Photos as references can help but as the main characteristics of freehand is seeing the oddball, grasping the atmosphere and feel it is not generally what is in photographers’ work.  So there was not much of what I wanted.  But they are useful for colours.

Two of the things drawing has above photography is capturing the feel/movement with brush stroke, sharpened colour and editing a view as you draw (Turner did that big time –  once moving a castle from one side of a valley to the other to enhance his composition). That is leaving out what you don’t want.  Photographers often wait minutes to get a view (I think they call it a ‘shot’) without people.  I just leave them out. Or if the sketch needs it – add them later.

But at a wedding they are the key!

Working at home from my sketches and the odd photo I became ‘tight’ and the results lost that ‘en plein air’ spontaneity. I’ve sent the first attempts which have been well received.  Need to work at them a bit more. 

PS.   Did so and whilst uneasy with the first I freed up, used bolder colours and am happy with the final go…..
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CASS sculpture park

12/4/2015

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CASS sculpture park near Chichester.  What a place.  

If you have not been there GO!  At the moment I can’t walk far so they lent me their buggy.  Brilliant.

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Back to Richmond Park

5/4/2015

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Back to Richmond Park to take my son to run with The Stragglers.  As I might have to wait I take my sketching bag and I did.  People walking with or without dogs and lots of cyclists.  I wanted to do the tree cloaked hill but was caught by the cyclists and chance to practice people.


An hour and a half - good time to be able to take time - really the correct way to sketch.  Fast is sometimes better but thoughtful observation scores more often than not.


Lessons learnt:
  • Because they are on a bike body proportions don’t change - if anything the legs appear longer
  • Drawing the ones crossing in front of me was an unwise choice - they go past so fast
  • Better to draw those approaching at an angle to me from a distance as relative speed gives more time - not much
  • Better to draw parts from different riders and compile.
  • But mainly if you have a repetitive moving subject take a long hard look and gauge key relationships before starting.

Useful exercise.


Trees on a hill - very sculptural.  With the careful observation required you do see so much more.


These two pages done with my trusty pens and water reservoir brushes.  Handy sketching tools but not my preferred brushes.  

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Artful Dodgers at Pembroke Lodge

4/4/2015

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Artful Dodgers met at Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park.  The Lodge is situated at the highest point in Richmond Park with spectacular views over the Thames Valley.  Once the home of Bertrand Russell.  It fell into uncertain prospects until Daniel Hearsum took it into his care and has transformed it into a fabulous restrained visitor place with excellent facilities.  


We’ve been there many times and so it is not a prime spot for me.  But with the weather not promising our head honcho decided that we meet at a table in the café.  That worked for me as I need to practice people and not those posing.  Museums, stations restaurants are good for this as I can work pretty much unnoticed and the subjects tend to stay for more than 10 minutes.  They move so it is tricky – but thus good practice.  It is hand eye co-ordination with careful observation and memorising.


The besuited manager Kevin – who has got to know us – is dapper with his waistcoat, fob chain and top pocket handkerchief and an ideal subject.  He cats to patrons but I think sensed I would ‘do’ him so concentrated in other rooms.  I’ll get him another time…..meantime one of a group of Park Runners, an Artful Dodger, a young family, a couple taking granny for coffee and as I was packing up a ‘Derby and Joan’ in fine spirits planning their day – rushed but fun to do….. 

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