There’s a street in Peterborough which, when I started sketching from benches, I’d have said had about 10 to 20 benches in it. I was convinced of it. Hey, you know, there must actually be more like 25, they’re in groups of four so there’s probably about say, 4, 8, 16, maybe 32? Nah, surely not. That’s heaps of benches, will take me a while to sketch from them all.
I can’t tell you how many times I mentally tried to count them. One day I walked the street and made a sketch of the locations of the benches and worked out how many were there and which I’d already sketched from and which were left to sketch. I know, I obviously don’t have a life..
But you want to know too now, don’t you?
If you’re strict and take the count from Bourges Boulevard to the entrance to the Cathedral we’re talking, wait for it.. Forty Six.. I know.. And as I write this I’ve sketched from Twenty Five of them. Just over half. Here’s one of the sketches of views from benches in Bridge Street I’ve done so far. This one shows a few benches but mostly the benches merge into their surroundings and aren’t that obvious in any of my sketches.
My AtoZ Blogging Challenge is all about sketches I’ve done this past year and some benches I’ve met along the way. Most but not all of the sketches were done from benches during my walk to work and around town where I shop.
If you’ve enjoyed reading this post why not see what others are doing too during 2015 AtoZ Blogging Challenge. I look forward to seeing you back here tomorrow.
lynnelives 
Blogging about benches, that is so cool! Your artwork is fab.
Thanks Catherine. I can’t wait for the weather to pick up a bit so I can sit out for longer and not get such cold hands when I sketch.
Amen to that!
First B post I’ve read (I’m in North America, so still looking at A’s mostly). I do sketches now and then, but they are not good enough to publish. More of a writer here. Happy A to Z, and I am going to try an image embed here, because there is no way I am leaving a post link on a thread at a blog I am visiting for the first time. If it comes through, it will display a photo I took 🙂
Lovely bench.. Really glad you posted it. We don’t have any so distinguished here. I’m intrigued to know what I’d see if I sat on it. Thanks for popping by, I had to wait a day to read any A posts.. I’m sure your sketches are better than you think. they usually are. I don’t care what others think, someone usually likes what I do and I won’t get better if I don’t practice. I love writing too.
Thanks 🙂 those rust-colored silhouette-shapes are from sweaty people sitting on the bench for so many years that the sweat wore the black paint off. Is a resting bench that sits beside a walking/running track in my hometown.
I love this idea, and I think this post really goes to illustrate how often we can be somewhere, see something, or even engage with it like you do these benches you sketch from and never really notice everything about it.
Thanks Ashley. Drawing definitely changes how you see and reminds you that we all see differently. Taking of see’s I’d better go write tomorrows.
Forty-six benches is a lot of benches!
I can tell you I was shocked Sandra! I keep recounting as I’m sure there can’t be that many.. It’s not that long a stretch either. And.. That’s less than a third of the ones I walk past regularly. Not including any in the bus or Railway stations of inside shopping areas.. We obviously like to sit a lot in Peterborough!
I love reading about places. As a writer it always helps to know certain little things that makes a place real and stand out to someone. Awesome. Thank you.
Thanks Ronovan. I agree that about knowing about a place helps with writing and am now thankful for all the moving around I did following jobs. It means I can draw on lots of locations to set my novels in. I must use chickens and carrots as my theme for the next one..(oops that’s the next post but I’ll leave the thought here….)
Just stopping by on A to Z. Original idea to be sure.
Thanks Denise. It didn’t occur to me it would be original. I just sat on a bench on 28 August last year, sketched what passed me by and am still working out where it’s taking me..
I might try that but with a camera. I’m sure benches provide wonderful people watching.
I will be interested to see more of your sketches.
Visiting from A-Z.
It’s easier to people watch while sketching to a point. There comes a point where I don’t notice what’s in front of me at all though. Thanks for the visit, I’ll hop over soon.
Wonderful! I love your sketching style. Looking forward to reading the rest of your entries this month 🙂
Thanks Fee. I’m looking forward to seeing what I write for the rest of the month too.. A bit less planned than usual..
I really like your theme.
Lovely sketch. Who’d have thunk benches were this interesting? I see them in a new light now because of you. It’s amazing how many things we take for granted in life, benches included. 46 is a ridiculous number.
Thanks Ula. Beware of the bench obsession.. it creeps up on you and before you know it you know exactly how many benches are where.. 46 is only the number in the main shopping street. My walk to work and where I shop in town passes roughly 144 benches (I think I keep missing one) so I’ve still got 50+ to sketch from. Then I’ll move to another place in town which probably has almost as many though I’ve not counted those yet but the draw is almost getting too much.
Your sketches are really wonderful. I lived in Gerrards Cross for six years, piror to our move back to the states. I do love England, and especially the English countryside and village life. Visiting from the challenge today. Best of luck as you sketch through the alphabet!
Thanks Jodaley, I hope you manage to pop back to see C.. I’m not sure Peterborough counts as village life but to some degree it is more of a village community than a city which is what makes it so special.
J here, stopping by from the #atozchallenge as part of the A to Z Ambassador Team! (I’m a minion/volunteer under Arlee.)
Great post. I’m looking forward to more. Let me know if I can help you in any blogging way this month. I’ve followed you on your listed social media sites.
@JLenniDorner
Beautiful sketch!
Thanks J. Well done for volunteering. You’ve got a full on job there so any visits or comments are greatly appreciated.
I love your sketch! And I really like that you’re blogging about benches. What a neat idea. Definitely original. I’m visiting from the Challenge and will be back to see more of your sketches and where you did them from.
Glad you like it Jessica and thanks for the visit. It could only be benches this year as that’s what I currently spend my life thinking about and wanting to sit and sketch from.
I love the idea of just sketching the surroundings from your place on a bench, especially as you’re trying to draw the view from each one. What a great collection of pictures you’ll have by the end!
I will and they’re already taking over my house.. It wasn’t the intention at the start. I might not have started if I’d thought about how many benches there were or that I’d be driven to sketch from each one. I’m 2/3rds of the way around the ones in town. Then I have another place I can’t wait to sketch from..