Sketching Blog

I have been asked by several people about buying my sketches, so I have decided to offer some for sale. So unless they are marked 'not for sale' or 'sold', each is priced at £40 + P&P. The sketches are roughly A5, each comes mounted ready for framing (overall mount size 12x10 inches - standard frame size).

28/7/10 - Well here's sketch 100 from the current crop. It's a warm sunny day, with little wind and lots of holidaying people about. (They are also being quite noisy outside the car, but fortunately the 'little fella' doesn't wake any earlier than usual!) - Looking across the Otter Estuary and again I am struck by the lushness of the greens in the middle of the estuary compared with the ochres and browns of winter. (Watercolour)

25/7/10 - Just a quick pen & ink study today, parked by Exeter Quay, as the 'wee man' woke up early.

23/7/10 - Warm summers day down at Exmouth Beach, just right today not barkingly hot, warm breeze and some cloud cover coming & going. Hazy off in the distance. Lots of people enjoying the beach and sun. As the tide comes in a small congregation of people always seem to settle on the last of the rocks before they disappear. Must be part of the human mind set. When the 'little fella' awakes it will be our turn to do some digging and paddling. We are fulling equipped with diggers and lorries to play with! (Watercolour)

22/7/10 - Parked up at Exeter 'Swing Bridges', just in time to see the bridges opening to allow through two boats. The crew of one was managing to bash their boat about quite a bit and generally look pretty unprofessional in their stooging about, with the kayakers doing a good job of getting out of there way! I hadn't seen the bridges opening before so that was interesting and I wished I brought my camera with me. Showery day again today, though warm. (Watercolour)

21/7/10 - Parked on the front at Budleigh Salterton, grey showery day, with low cloud swirling in. Still quite a few people about, some wetsuited swimmers and fishermen along the beach. There are always lots of boats drawn up on Budleigh beach, either for pleasure or fishing and lobstermen. (Watercolour)

15/7/10 - Drove over to Buckerell near Honiton to see all round good egg Steve. Not many places to park there, but found a little spot with this view of the church. Showery day with one or two sunny patches. (Pen)

14/7/10 - Windy day down at Budleigh Salterton, strong on shore wind driving in the waves onto the beach. With the sound of the under-tow moving the pebbles about. The sea is a disturbed sandy colour, with a few white horses. Also the sound of popping gun shots carried on the wind from the firing range. Lots of coastal flowers out in bloom all along the road margin. (Watercolour)

13/7/10 - Grey showery day today ('little fella' was asking me what had happened to the blue sky!), parked up again at the Estuary beach at Exmouth. With a slightly different angle, that I saw last time I was here. (Trying to add variety, with the limitations of parking the car. Anyway I was pleased with this one.) In the distance there was large group of people out on the sands - end of term school class? When the 'little fella' awakes we are off to the Bank and the 'Swordfish Gallery', who have just taken some of my paintings. (Watercolour)

7/7/10 - Parked up at Exe Estuary today at Exmouth, looking north down the estuary. Low tide - with the tide on the turn, a bit of drizzle and a grey day today. Gulls pecking about on the waterline and two swans taking off in the distance. We're off to the beach on the east side of town when the 'wee man' wakes, as he wants to play in the sand with his digger and lorry. So we have coats to put on in a minute and I think we'll have the beach to ourselves! (Watercolour)

6/7/10 - Sat again in Tesco's car park on the weekly shop run - deep joy! Still it does give me again the opportunity to sketch that cheeky little fella asleep in the back of the car. Which is always a challenge - not only from the point of view of getting the proportions of the face something 'like', but I also have limited colours in my watercolour sketching paint box. Which does not include white, so that makes skin tones more interesting to do. (Watercolour - Not for sale.)

2/7/10 - Sunny spells and breezy (on the Exe anyway!). Parked up at Exmouth looking across the Exe to Starcross, tide slowly on the ebb. The fields opposite are a lovely soft yellow ochre colour. Two kite surfers on the water, picnickers and land based kiters too. Also an older bloke with a small hover craft, who spent about 10 minutes roaring around the water. Making a right racket. Whizzed up the slip so fast that he lost control of his machine, hit a wooden bollard and knocked it straight out of the ground. Then he stopped, looked around grinning, bent back into place the panel that he had just mangled and spent the next half an hour washing and polishing his pride and joy. Before loading in on its trailer and driving off. For the 10 minutes he was on the water it didn't seem worth it, still he seemed to be enjoying himself! We're off now for a stroll around the estuary looking at boats and keeping an eye out for sandy bits and shells. (Watercolour)

30/6/10 - Another overcast day today, but still warm. Parked on the Budleigh Salterton coast road with a high vantage point, looking along the coast towards Exmouth and beyond. On Budleigh beach all the small boats are pulled up, with a four or five fishermen at work. The 'tiny lad' has woken earlier today, so we'll head down to the beach and also pop into the shops for supplies. (Watercolour & Pen)

29/6/10 - After so many hot days today is the first overcast day we've had, with a few light showers. Parked at the east end of Exmouth Beach, on the ebb tide. The first thing I noticed was the bright green of the seaweed! A few families on holiday making the 'most' of the weather. (Watercolour)

21/6/10 - Scorcher of a day, parked up in as much shade as possible on Woodbury Common, close to the hill fort. With this one I was trying to capture the dappled light in the woods, with the brightly lit ferns underneath. (Watercolour)

17/6/10 - Well it's another great day weather wise, we're nestled in the shade of the trees in Topsham's car park. Sketching over the road, where a lady is waiting for her bus and who is maybe getting nervous that I keep staring at her. Ah good here's her bus to whisk her away from strange bearded artists!

16/6/10 - Parked up over looking the Otter Valley again at Budleigh Salterton, lovely sunny day with a breeze blowing. The view across the Otter today seemed very green, compared to how it has been before. Fair few people about and I've just realised, that I forgotten to bring enough money to buy some new sketch books from the art shop. Doh!

15/6/10 - Here's a drawing I did, instead of sketching. For our local Toddlers group Father's Day card (I also did a footballer, but I preferred this one). Brush & Pen.

8/6/10 - Here's a sketch from last week, when we were down in Cornwall. We had a great time down there and it was mostly dry! With our 'little fella' enjoying staying at Nanny & Grandads, paddling in the sea and looking at the sea life at 'Blue Reef' & the 'Seal Sanctuary'. The tide was coming in quickly when we arrived, with all the boats and mooring ropes in their semi-circle, around the harbour. (pen) - Sold.

9/6/10 - Another sunny afternoon at Budleigh Salterton, here's some lads sat on their bikes, next to the no cycling sign - some things never change. (brush & pen)

6/6/10 - Another hot day, lots of people about. Parked at the east end of the beach, looking at the headland and rocks. We'll soon be digging and making sand castles again. Maybe the 'little fella' will be brave enough to do some paddling today! (watercolour)

4/3/10 - Scorcher of a day today. Exmouth beach was heaving with people. Parking along the front and car park across the road where full. So I am parked up on a shady hill, looking down a pleasant leafy drive. When the slumbering lad awakes we'll walk down the hill and try to find a spot on the beach. (Brush, pen & ink)

2/6/10 - Hot afternoon at Budleigh Salterton, parked at the east end in the car park, looking at the end of the beach huts. They don't seem to be so many this year or as brightly coloured. But the 'wee fella' still loves playing peep-oh between and around them!

27/5/10 - This was a very awkward sketch, trying to keep it in the shade of the steering wheel and look over my right shoulder. The Exe Estuary today was like a desert today, at low tide, with bright sun, strong whistling wind..... and oh, a fair in one corner. However, what attracted my attention was the Folly on the hill opposite, looking like a fairy tale castle (as no doubt , it is supposed to).

26/5/10 - Back at Exmouth Beach. Sunny day, but slightly windy, not many people about - which is surprising. A few boats coming and going. Having to work fast here as the tides coming in quickly.

25/5/10 - Parked up at the Exeter 'Swing Bridges' on the Ship Canal. Not much happening when I arrived, but some rowers paddled into view and proceded to sort out their boats. Most obliging of them.

21/5/10 - Hot sunny day today, parked Exmouth's Sea Front. Fairly busy considering its a normal work day, but it's not surprising as it's such a nice day. Lots of children playing and building sand castles. With the sea softly lapping on the sand, as it slowly retreats.

19/5/10 - Quiet grey, but warm day - dry at the moment. Parked overlooking the peaceful Otter Estuary, with quiet snoring coming from the backseat. Just a trickle of water in the pool at this point. We'll stroll along the front when the 'little fella' awakes and often he likes to play 'peep-o' around the beach huts.

17/5/10 - Parked again at Tesco's waiting to do the weekly shop. (Pencil - Not for sale)

14/5/10 - Parked at Otterton, sketching a lady sat on the opposite river bank eating her sandwiches. Bit of a damp grey day today, the Nuthatches are still flitting backwards and forwards, feeding their young in the chestnut tree. Also a flock of Long Tailed Tits have arrived, plus some Martins swooping above the river. We're off in a minute to look at the Waterwheel, chickens and ducks. (Watercolour)

13/5/10 - Flood tide at the east end of Exmouth Beach. Sunny day, with a heavy shower at mid day, not many people about. Didn't feel that I got this one right, so I'll have to try this spot again, I think. Now we're off to make some castles and sand arches on the beach - it's a hard life!

11/5/10 - Parked on the Tesco's shopping campus (waiting to do the weekly shop). As far from Tesco's as I could get to achieve this view - of some interesting old spires that are now in the middle of a housing development.

6/5/10 - Parked at the west end of Exmouth (Devon) seafront, not parked here before. You get a great view of the channel between Exmouth and Dawlish Warren. There are one or two fishing boats and yachts navigating the channel today. It's a sunny, showery day with a brisk wind - good sailing today. Heading home in a minute to get a couple of jobs done, small boy allowing!

6/5/10 - It's a grey, showery day and we are back at the Nuthatch's. The Chestnut leaves are now fully out and shading the tree & nestbox. The coming & going is now pretty frequent, but they are very quick birds. Though they usually seem to have a quick look around before entering the nestbox.

5/5/10 - Parked up at Exeter's 'Swing Bridges', waiting for the 'little fella' to wake, so we can head on to Granma's. A restful scene, with this chap quietly fishing in his lunch hour.

3/5/10 - Scudding clouds blowing through the Otter Valley (Devon). Parked on east side of the river, overlooking the reed beds. Bright day with occasional showers. When the 'wee fella' awoke we had a very pleasant walk along the estuary and coast, with grand views along to Dorset.

30/4/10 - The great view of the Exe Estuary and beyond from Woodbury Common, with three crows falling & tumbling in the sky. (Watercolour) - Sold

29/4/10 - Grey overcast day with occasional showers blowing through. Low tide at the east end of Exmouth Beach, a few baby & dog walkers strolling past. (Watercolour)

28/4/10 - Drove down to our local garden centre to buy some bird feeding things. So here's another sketch of there interesting car park. The 'wee fella' likes pocking around inside too, looking at tools, gnomes, plastic birds on sticks and other assorted things. (Sketching pen)

27/4/10 - Low tide on the estuary, looking the other way today to usual. It's a sunny quiet day, with low cloud being blown up river. (Watercolour)

26/4/10 - The 'Wee Fella' did not sleep very long today and he kept moving too. So I only have a quick sketch of him asleep, in Tesco's car park. (Pencil) - Not for sale.

23/4/10 - Eating fish & chips overlooking the flood tide at Exmouths Estuary Beach. Attracting dogs, but no seagulls! (where were they then?) Warm sunny day, flocks of birds on the estuary, with an egret probing on the tides edge. (Watercolour)

22/4/10 - Warm sunny day at the busy River Park 'car park'. Looking across the marshy grassland through the trees. Robin rootaling about & looking at me. Had to stop this sketch and wake up the snoozing lad in the back, as he was starting to sleep for to long. (Pencil)

21/4/10 - Kite flyers on Exmouth beach. Sunny day, with a slightly chilly wind, not many people about though. Sand castle building when the 'wee man' awoke. (Pen & ink, watercolour wash)

21/4/10 - I'm going to call these surf paddlers for want of something else to call them. At Exmouth beach you often see people standing on surf boards paddling along. I assume you can do this here as there is a sand bank a few yards off shore, protecting the beach. (Pen & Ink)

20/4/10 - Parked down at Ottermill. So that the 'little man' could have a look at the mill wheel when he awoke, as we have been watching the making of flour on 'Tractor Ted' (he also likes the chickens & ducks here too). I was just settling down to sketch the water going under the bridge, when I noticed a pair of nuthatches going in & out of the nest box above me. So a quick change of plan. They themselves are very quick, nibble and didn't hang about much. The sketch is the male bringing the female food when she is in the box, before flying away again. Hope to get back again as they are in a good vantage point for me and the car makes a good hide. (Pen, brush & ink)

19/4/10 - Quick loose watercolour at the 'Swing Bridges' on Exeter's Ship Canal, as time was pressing before the 'wee fella' awoke. Thought this was more pleasant than being sat in Tesco's car park. Warm sunny day. (Watercolour)

16/4/10 - Quiet sunny afternoon in the Otter Valley. A Jenny Wren rootaling in the undergrowth near by and midges dance in the sunlight outside the car window. Down to Budleigh when the 'wee fella' awakes to throw stones in the river. (Watercolour)

15/4/10 - The National Trust's sixteen-sided house A La Ronde, Exmouth. The house was closed today and there was much work going on with mini diggers etc. However I managed to slip into the car park and if I was noticed, nobody bothered. Warm sunny day today, with the distance in haze again. From the car park the house was in shadow, but I still liked the view of it. Off to the beach when the 'little fella' wakes up. (Watercolour)

14/4/10 - Today is grey and overcast in contrast to yesterday. Parked in a surprisingly quiet Budleigh car park. When the 'Small Lad' awoke he complained of being cold quickly, so we went into the town to do some shopping (him in his 'rucksack'). (Sketching pen)

13/4/10 - Woodbury Common & Hillfort (lost in the trees in the background). Lovely sunny day, Skylarks singing at times and the gorse starting to come out. A few people coming and going, but the 'big' view of the Exe Estuary was to hazey to paint today. However there is now a large group of of Ramblers all gazing at it at the moment, while they get their drinks out. When the 'Wee Man' awakes I'll pop him in his 'rucksack' and go off for a walk myself. (Watercolour)

8/4/10 - Back down at the Ship Canal at the 'swing bridges' today. Pretty busy with people out & about enjoying the sunny afternoon. Not that you can tell that from this peaceful looking sketch of rural idyll (though those blobs on the horizon is traffic on the motorway, I have another main road right behind me and that's not mentioning those obvious pylons!).

7/4/10 - Huzzah! It's a sunny spring afternoon, so we're back at Exmouth Beach (Devon). For some sand castle building and rootaling through the flotsam & jetsam, when the 'wee fella' wakes up. It's Easter Hols so there are a fair few folks about, but not overwhelmingly so. The car park man is also now much in evidence (have to pay from 1st April) and as the meter refuses to take my pound piece, I am keeping a wary eye out. Parked elsewhere in the end.

6/4/10 - Lad outside Tesco's smoking and texting. (pen & ink + Watercolour)

6/4/10 - Another 'bod' sitting outside Tesco's using their mobile.

1/4/10 - A better day today, weather wise, could this be spring? He asks optimistically. Parked at a slightly different angle on the Estuary Beach. Low(ish) tide. Heading into Exmouth when the 'tiny man' awakes to buy new shoes for him - mine are worn out as well, but thats by the by. My feet arn't growing at a rate of knots! (Watercolour)

31/3/10 - Started out driving round the narrow streets of Topsham today trying to find a view and parking space, with no luck. Then decided to head to the 'swing bridges' (as you can see from the title one is a bascule bridge - pedantry over) on the Exeter Ship Canal. Which is a great view and I can see myself coming back here. An odd mix of weather today, sunshine, shower, but mostly grey & damp. But this was not deterring the kayakers there - though the two instructors looked a bit chilly, with their hands shoved in their buoyancy aids. (Brush & Ink)

30/3/10 - Back in Tesco's car park, which is looking very busy and it's another damp day. My cup flowith over! (Biro)

28/3/10 - Paradise Park car park (We go down to Cornwall to see the folks & I sketch in another car park!?!). Another damp day, though Paradise Park is good for the kids on a wet day. (Brush & Ink)

26/3/10 - Otterton Bridge from Otterton Mill's car park, mostly dry at the moment. When the 'Wee Lad' wakes up we shall go and investigate the Honking Geese, the Crowing Cock and the Waterwheel, what more does a small boy want! (Pen & ink)

25/3/10 - Heavy rain on the Exe Estuary. High tide today and a lot more birds because of it, Gulls, Oystercatchers, Moorhens and Dunlin (presumably no dog walkers to disturb them). Hope spring starts soon, I'm getting fed up of these grey wet days. (Watercolour)

24/3/10 - Today I'm sat in the 'Toys-R-Us' car park, waiting to go a modal 'Scoop', before heading over to Granma's. The shop has only just been built and to build it they have cut the Devon sandstone like layers of a cake. Which being unmellowed at the moment have a lovely texture and form. Giving an industrial looking landscape. (Another wet drizzly day.) (Watercolour)

22/3/10 - Sat in Tesco's car park again, waiting to do the weekly shopping. Staff hanging around in the drizzle on tea break. Wet & windy. When the 'tiny man' awoke he was sick down his front, so we had to go straight home! Back to Tesco's tomorrow to complete the shopping. Oh joy! (Pen & Ink + Watercolour)

20/3/10 - Exmouth Beach (not much time) with Carey, Oliver, Henry , Tom & Toby. Very overcast day, we were lucky and had a dry weather window, when we were there. (Still quite busy on the beach though).

19/3/10 - Parked up looking across the Otter Estuary in the mist and rain. Very quiet here, not many folk about and a few gulls in the distance. As soon as the 'wee man' wakes up we are off for some shopping in the rain. (Watercolour)

18/3/10 - Topsham (Devon) parked at the end of the Goat Walk (slightly tenuous as far as parking goes). Grey day spitting with rain. Small flocks of birds going past Curlew & Sandpiper. This was just going to be a quick sketch, but as often happens, became more involved as I got into it. It's interesting how each sketch could have been different - depending on how it goes along/time etc. (Watercolour)

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