Begin with Brussels, the veg #AtoZchallenge

I could just as easily have called this Start with Sprouts. This challenge was responsible for getting me sketching more than I ever had and I thought I’d suggest some ways you too can expand your drawing capabilities. Cabbages are very good for these exercises too.

Most houses have some veg or fruit in them and they’re great for some simple drawing techniques.

First pick your vegetable, a pencil and paper. I’m using watercolour quality as I’ll finish off mine with a bit of paint but you don’t have to. You might eventually get a bit obsessive with different pencils but to begin, any pencil will do. It’s the technique and practice that’s important not the finished article at this point.

Ponder your object. Then, with your pencil on the paper and only looking at the object, draw what you see without taking your pencil off the paper or your eye off the object. You can go as slow or long as you like but beyond five minutes and I tend to give up. Others might not.

Next, stare at your object for five minutes. Then, without looking at the object anymore, draw it for the second time.

There is another exercise I do but not with these Brussels sprouts as they’re not really suitable. I’ll explain when I choose another fruit or veg to draw later in the month.

We’re nearly there. Now draw the object as you would expect to, referring back and forth from object to paper. You can, if you fancy, colour this one and and finish it with a bolder line.

Here’s mine. Remind me to take the photo’s in full sun next time.

Begin with Brussels, the veg

My AtoZ Blogging Challenge is all about err, I had every post topic then I changed my mind, It was going to be about Peterborough Cathedral since that’s my current obsession. This year I have no theme..

Even if you’ve not enjoyed reading this post why not see what the other 1937 are writing about during 2016 AtoZ Blogging challenge. You know.. there’s still a day to enter.. You could join 1938 people world wide for a month of learning some amazing things. I look forward to seeing you back here on Monday though I have little idea of what it will say..

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Arithmetic Architecture #atozchallenge

I have you here under false pretences. That heading. I know little about architecture and forgot most of my Arithmetic years ago.

This year I’ve become rather interested in a little building near my home in Peterborough. The Cathedral. I’m delaying this as a theme but wanted to start with a post using the cathedral in this random of years.

It appears that often the things we like about a building are in the artistic design not the precision. Peterborough cathedral is a thing of beauty. When people walk round the corner I hear ‘WOW’ often, when they first see it. Apparently some architects over the years are less than happy with it’s West front. One even designed an alternate shape to it since he was convinced the original architects and builders got it wrong. How can something that looks amazing but may not be following another architectural periods style be ‘wrong’?

Peterborough Cathedral will be my theme for 2017 or 2018 since it’s coming up for it’s 900^th birthday but for now here’s my sketch of a bit of the front which has some architects disagreeing over the centuries. Yes, I hope my sketches improve over the month too. A rather rushed sketch today. Ho hum.. Better get B done before I go a wandering along the A-Z road. Good luck to everyone.

Arithmetic architecture

My AtoZ Blogging Challenge is all about err, I had every post topic then I changed my mind, It was going to be about Peterborough Cathedral since that’s my current obsession. This year I have no theme..

Even if you’ve not enjoyed reading this post why not see what others are doing too during 2016 AtoZ Blogging challenge. Since I’m having an a and B day today, I look forward to seeing you back here shortly, I’ve just got a little drawing to finish first..