&David Bellamy present
L
ast year, Leisure Painterand artist-explorer David Bellamyinvited readers
to participate in a six-month sketchbook challenge. In each issue, David set a
task for readers to complete in a journal-sketchbook and offered practical
advice on how to tackle it. Here are the six winning entries.
TASK 1 Sketch subjects around a village, town or a single
building Alan Bickley said: ‘Drawing has always been an important aspect
of my art. Just getting out and about, mingling with other people and
making rapid studies of them chatting to each other, or hurrying to their
next destination, both fascinate and inspire me. David’s challenge allowed
me to utilise those figures, and include them into another of my favourite
subjects, architecture and buildings. What could be better than a cold but
sunny Sunday morning, observing a few shoppers at my local market
square? I included The Shire Hall, a lovely old courthouse, in the sketch.
The courts have long gone and until recently it was the venue of a
council-run art gallery. It was important to include this feature, as I had
exhibited there in the past.
‘Armed with my sketchbook and a couple of pens, I found a good
vantage point and spent around an hour just scribbling away, nothing
too neat and accurate, just getting down my impression of the moment.
I made a few colour notes on the page, along with some other detail,
which I wanted to jot down, and returned to my studio. A quick mix
from my watercolour box and I was soon dropping in some of those all-
important shadows, which added some solidity to the whole thing.’Your Sketchbook
Challenge
in association with Jakar International Ltd
WINNERS
TASK 2 Fill a page in your
sketchbook with a subject from nature
Joan Scott said: ‘I observed a squirrel
building a drey earlier in the year and I was
anticipating seeing the young squirrels,
however I hadn’t expected to find four weak
and hungry babies attempting to eat the
pebbles on our drive. It was obvious there
was no parent about and the babies were
starving. After advice from the local wildlife
rescue centre I started feeding them several
times a day but I didn’t attempt to handle
them. They were eager for food so I was able
to get close to the squirrels for quite long
periods and this allowed me time to study
and sketch them frequently. I made quick
sketches of their antics and spending time
with them, during their feeding sessions,
enabled me to sketch them in greater detail.’http://www.painters-online.co.uk JUNE 2019 63
Alan BickleyMarket Square – Stafford, line and wash
on Great Art Skizzenbuch 140gsm sketchbook, A4
tJoan ScottSquirrel, graphite on Daler-Rowney
200gsm spiral-bound sketchbook, A4t