Z is for Zone #AtoZChallenge

Getting to the end of the A to Z blogging challenge is always worth celebrating and a relief that I’ve manage to complete some more difficult posts, those which have less words that fit my themes. You can probably guess which they are and the final one is always the z.

I’ve checked the words beginning with Z that I’ve used before to make sure I’m not repeating one which I’ve not done for all the other letters in the alphabet in this years challenge posts. The only word beginning with Z that I’ve found in my Bench View Revisited illustrations for this years challenge is zone.

It was an easier decision than most of the letters to pick the image to fit for this post as I could only find one obvious one but I’m sure I’ve missed more obvious words.. The sign saying restricted zone is the original reason for using this Bench View for z.

In the UK we’re heading towards a milestone Celebration of the Platinum Jubilee reign of Queen Elizabeth II. There’s a z in Elizabeth, so that fits too. This illustration was done on King Street and I’ve painted it in red white and blue. I can’t imagine what this street used to be like as it’s a little courtyard linked to the back of the Shopping Centre now.

I felt like I was in the zone when painting this and hope you like it.

Thank you for being here with me this month. I’ve not participated in this challenge since 2018 and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed completing them I hope you’ve enjoyed reading and seeing the illustrations. Best wishes, Lynne

My theme for A to Z Blogging Challenge is my Bench Views Revisited illustrations done from benches in and around Peterborough UK which I started in September 2019. I drew No. 88 in February 2020 then lockdown hit. I restarted the series in August 2020 which meant almost half the series were drawn pre-covid lockdown and the rest of the 190 illustrations were done post COVID-19 lockdown.

A to Z Blogging Challenge

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Y is for Yellow and Young #AtoZChallenge

The Young illustration isn’t finished so I’m adding one which fits with Yellow and is finished.

Young: Lots of my illustrations have young people in them as they seem drawn to what I’m doing and notice me when I’m sitting creating illustrations. Often I’ll show then the pencil drawing when done and if I’m painting in situ the finished painting too. Most young people, if given pencils and paper, love to draw. That changes for many as they get older and more self conscious in what they do and being judged by others.

I’m convinced that when young people see me sitting drawing most of them would love to join me and they often come and want to see what I’ve done or am drawing. Becuase of this I usually have a print showing what my finished drawings are likely to look like although, what they actually look like depends on how I’m feeling and my choice of paints and colours.

Bench Views Revisited No. 138 September 2020

This illustration for Yellow is a perfect example of when my choice of colour pallette goes a bit off kilter. I have no idea why but the bird was calling out to be yellow when I painted this. When I look at it now I see all sorts of things in this one.

My theme for A to Z Blogging Challenge is my Bench Views Revisited illustrations done from benches in and around Peterborough UK which I started in September 2019. I drew No. 88 in February 2020 then lockdown hit. I restarted the series in August 2020 which meant almost half the series were drawn pre-covid lockdown and the rest of the 190 illustrations were done post COVID-19 lockdown.

A to Z Blogging Challenge

X is for love and the x in oxfam #AtoZChallenge

I know, I’m clutching at straws.

There’s two shops in my drawings that have x’s in their logos and I think there’s three Bench View Revisited illustrations that have them in. For this post I’ve chosen the x in Oxfam but also use the x’s I use to show love in lots of letters. I end many notes with love and hugs xxx so X today is for love. Love that’s shown by all who give to charity shops and for the love shown whenever we use an x.

One of my many passions is for drawing as you might have gathered, and sitting on benches, you might have noticed that too. It’s also the swell in my heart when something happens in front of me which I want to include in my illustration at that moment. I hadn’t realised how appropriate this image is for x is for love.

Bench Views Revisited No. 175 September 2020

There’s the x in Oxfam, yes but there’s another charity shop next to it and that’s for the British Heart Foundation and has the word heart in the image then there’s a pooch, otherwise known as dog to many. When I draw dogs quickly and small I’m never pleased with the outcome but I love dogs. Then there’s the people, always love drawing people, particularly if they’re in the foreground and quite close to me.

I thought I’d finished this drawing and wasn’t it a shame there wasn’t something as a real focal point in the middle when someone from a nearby food van took their waste water and poured it down the drain in the middle of the pavement. Perfect, I loved that moment.

As you can see it’s not finished, sorry about that, but I wanted to still post before work so this is what you’ve got so far. I’ll update it if I get it painted later, love and hugs xxx

My theme for A to Z Blogging Challenge is my Bench Views Revisited illustrations done from benches in and around Peterborough UK which I started in September 2019. I drew No. 88 in February 2020 then lockdown hit. I restarted the series in August 2020 which meant almost half the series were drawn pre-covid lockdown and the rest of the 190 illustrations were done post COVID-19 lockdown.

A to Z Blogging challenge

W is for Watching, Workmen, Water, Watercolour, Wheelchair, Wonder of Wildlife #AtoZChallenge

There’s something about watching buildings go up and water flow and workmen work or wheels go past. Watching the world go by is what I do when I sit on benches and draw.

Bench Views Revisited No. 126 September 2020 with wildlife

What to use for W? What to say about w’s chosen? When is an illustration finished? I wasn’t sure what to put or say but I’d decided this illustration would be perfect for W. I could choose all sorts of things Watching, Workmen, Water, Watercolour and Wheelchair then out of the blue as I put the illustration into the sun to take a photo the wonder of wildlife appeared.

I have grasshoppers in my front garden, rarely see them in the back and most of the gardens don’t have much grass so I’m a bit precious of the insects in the front yard when I see them. Each year I wonder if they’ve survived and use them as my excuse for leaving the front patch rather rough with clumps of grass left in case any grasshoppers show. I usually don’t see them till they’re almost adult but the shadow of this one made it very obvious on the page as I tried to get a suitable picture for you today.

Wonder of Wildlife

It may not be the same as the camels or zebra shadows you see those classic images of but in it’s own way this recently emerged grasshopper is what makes me get up each day. The wonder of wildlife fills my heart and soul and I love that there’s a little bit of wonder in my unkempt front yard.

My theme for A to Z Blogging Challenge is my Bench Views Revisited illustrations done from benches in and around Peterborough UK which I started in September 2019. I drew No. 88 in February 2020 then lockdown hit. I restarted the series in August 2020 which meant almost half the series were drawn pre-covid lockdown and the rest of the 190 illustrations were done post COVID-19 lockdown.

A to Z Blogging Challenge

V is for Vegan #AtoZChallenge

There’s been a Vegan market in Cathedral Square since 2019. According to it’s website it’s operated for three saturdays throughout the year and has 40 stallholders.

There’s three bench views revisited illustrations which I drew this day while the Vegan Market was on in 2019.

Bench Views Revisited No. 50 September 2019.

This was drawn early in the morning I think, before many people were around. I didn’t know the Vegan market was on but was happy to do a bit of food shopping while I was there.

My theme for A to Z Blogging Challenge is my Bench Views Revisited illustrations done from benches in and around Peterborough UK which I started in September 2019. I drew No. 88 in February 2020 then lockdown hit. I restarted the series in August 2020 which meant almost half the series were drawn pre-covid lockdown and the rest of the 190 illustrations were done post COVID-19 lockdown.

A to Z Blogging Challenge

U is for Umbrella #AtoZChallenge

I’ve got a few sketches with umbrellas in them and love them. I can usually remember how wet I got while sititing there.

I’ve learnt the hard way how hard it is to keep drawing and getting pencil marks on watercolour paper when it’s raining. I still keep doing it though. In bad weather I carry a number of bin bags, one for the bench to keep me dry when i sit on it, one to go over my legs and one to keep the sketch pad in, or most of it, while I’m drawing. I also try to hold a big umbrella while I’m doing this. It must look hilarious but few photographers are out when this is happening so that’s a relief, I don’t think there’s any evidence other than I’ve just told you on a public blog.. tee hee.

Bench Views Revisited No. 74 October 2019

The half marathon should have given me a great chance to support those running and draw from a few of the benches I’d left for this reason. We sat and sat and sat and it didn’t start. Eventually someone told us it had been cancelled and people sent home because of how cold they’d been getting waiting. The weather was wet and cold. One person decided to go through the route at least, I’m not sure how far they went but they wanted to go for a run and they did.

The sketch pad I used got completely soaked The paper’s so heavy that it survived the soaking, the hard backing sheet didn’t and I have to treat this set of illustrations with care. the weather was very sunny when I painted this and I was tempted to go for a bright colour but looking at the picture reminded me of how cold and miserable it was sitting there waiting getting wetter and wetter and it was harder to use the brighter pallete than a miserable one. I have put in one or two slightly cheerier colours.

My theme for A to Z Blogging Challenge is my Bench Views Revisited illustrations done from benches in and around Peterborough UK which I started in September 2019. I drew No. 88 in February 2020 then lockdown hit. I restarted the series in August 2020 which meant almost half the series were drawn pre-covid lockdown and the rest of the 190 illustrations were done post COVID-19 lockdown.

A to Z Blogging Challenge

T is for Thank you #AtoZChallenge

There are many people to thank over our lifetimes. The past few years have shone a light on who in our neighbourhoods are key workers and who are less so. Who in our families and friendship groups have helped us and who have we helped.

To those who have helped me, Thank you. To those who are popping by and commenting even when I struggle to return the favour, Thank you. To the people who went about their daily work getting Bridge Street ready for a busy day with the street market and all that goes on with preparing a city street each morning, thank you, it was a pleasure adding you into my illustration.

Bench Views Revisited No. 107 August 2020

I sat on a bench then before I knew it there was a step ladder in front of me then it had been moved and the worker was further down the street then someone was moving their car after unloading and in between all of this the street market food stalls were being set up and tempting posters were in front of me.

Alongside all of this humming of activity was the street cleaner with the bright blue brushes which I’ve been trying to include but like many of the workers in town they appear and have past you before you notice they’re there. Ha! On this day, at this moment in time, I managed to include you!

My theme for A to Z Blogging Challenge is my Bench Views Revisited illustrations done from benches in and around Peterborough UK which I started in September 2019. I drew No. 88 in February 2020 then lockdown hit. I restarted the series in August 2020 which meant almost half the series were drawn pre-covid lockdown and the rest of the 190 illustrations were done post COVID-19 lockdown.

A to Z Blogging Challenge

S is for Schools, Safe Spaces #AtoZChallenge

Here’s what I wrote on the back of this illustration. “You don’t now how pure luxury this feels. I really should have walked here when allowed during lockdown.

It’s about 8am & for the rest of the day these benches will be busy with smokers mainly. They’re some of the more popular benches and it’s a bizarre honour to be able to draw from all three in succession. (I shouldn’t say that as I’m only on the second) with no-one else using them. they’re also some of the few older benches in town. Very comfy but chilly at this time of day. I forgot to bring my padded portable cushion!”

Bench Views Revisited No. 146 Sept 2020

During August and September 2020 there were many posters around proclaiming that the schools were safe spaces encouraging parents to make sure their children went back to school. This was drawn from a bench overlooking a large roundabout which has an underpass. The middle of the roundabout has lots of trees and bushes so the view makes it look rather different to how it is.

My theme for A to Z Blogging Challenge is my Bench Views Revisited illustrations done from benches in and around Peterborough UK which I started in September 2019. I drew No. 88 in February 2020 then lockdown hit. I restarted the series in August 2020 which meant almost half the series were drawn pre-covid lockdown and the rest of the 190 illustrations were done post COVID-19 lockdown.

A to Z Blogging Challenge

R is for Rubbish, Rowan and Revisited #AtoZChallenge

The initial text for this post has been moved to U. It’s no longer raining here, there’s Rubbish, Rowan trees and Revisited Bench Views.

As cities change and benches get moved, taken away and added my Bench Views Revisited have changed from the first series I did in 2014-2015. Before I know it I’ll be preparing for the Bench Views Take 3 or maybe I’ll call them Bench Views Third Time Lucky.

Another name for Rowan Trees are Mountain Ash. I think they’re beautiful, they have interesting bark, delicate leaves and beautiful bright red berries.The Rowan Trees by the Passport Office and Market in Peterborough UK are by two circles of benches which many people use. Often people waiting for passports, staff from nearby offices, smokers and occasionally the odd illustrator of Bench Views. It’s a favourite place for pigeons.

Bench Views Revisited No. 69 October 2019

This illustration was drawn from one of those circles of benches which I first drew from between 2014-2015 then revisited between 2019-2020. In between each set of benches is a rubbish bin. Like the rest of town it’s hard to see when the bins are emptied because the staff are so efficient and will have been and gone before you realise it. I’ve honed my observation skills to make sure I include them more often in my drawings and am pleased to have done so in this one. It was only one person swiftly emptying the bins around me as I finished my drawing.

I got used to seeing the Rowan trees in all seasons and they looked like pretty lollipop trees breaking up the lines of the market roof and the carpark in the distance. The carpark has since been removed, the market closed and I wonder what the view will be like or if there will be any benches to draw from assuming I start again in 2024. It might take me till 2024 to finish this series but I hope not.

My theme for A to Z Blogging Challenge is my Bench Views Revisited illustrations done from benches in and around Peterborough UK which I started in September 2019. I drew No. 88 in February 2020 then lockdown hit. I restarted the series in August 2020 which meant almost half the series were drawn pre-covid lockdown and the rest of the 190 illustrations were done post COVID-19 lockdown.

A to Z Blogging Challenge

Q is for Queue #AtoZChallenge

This could have been Queensgate, Queens Street or Quay as all those names are featured in Bench Views Revisited. I settled on Queue because I’m wanting to show some of my paintings which illustrate events which happened late 2020.

Bench Views Revisited No. 116 August Benk Holiday 2020

This was the queue outside a popular restaurant on the final Eat out to Help out day of August. The government paid half your meal up to £10 if you eat in on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday in August 2020. I’d not been out much by this point and was happy sat on a bench watching people queing to get in. They were brilliantly behaved with masks and standing socially distanced.

I’ve painted it with a hint of rainbow colours, I never seem to have indigo and violet to hand when I want to show a rainbow colouration. I digress, the use of rainbow colours is to show the image which was used to support the NHS and others working with patients. I also hoped it would make the queue stand out from the image, I hope it does. oops, I’ve noticed I need to add a couple of masks to some in the queue. I’ll do that now while I remember. Added. I’ll leave the photo of the unchanged version here.

My theme for A to Z Blogging Challenge is my Bench Views Revisited illustrations done from benches in and around Peterborough UK which I started in September 2019. I drew No. 88 in February 2020 then lockdown hit. I restarted the series in August 2020 which meant almost half the series were drawn pre-covid lockdown and the rest of the 190 illustrations were done post COVID-19 lockdown.

A to Z Blogging Challenge