Bristol Docks

A quick lunchtime sketch. I'm not sure if this might have been better in pen. Probably should have extended it a bit more too. Ah well...A quick lunchtime sketch. I'm not sure if this might have been better in pen. Proabably should have extended it a bit more too.

Apple Tree

Here's another one of the garden. The apple trees at the edge of the vegetable patch. I must work out a quicker way of blocking in the foliage - there's just too many leaves...

Our Garden

I've had a few days off work and yesterday the weather was quite nice so I took the opportunity to sit around in the garden doing nothing but a bit of sketching. I was quite pleased with how these came out.

As I sketched my favourite corner of the garden with its birch tree (very good for hanging the hammock off) a grass-snake slithered past. It was about 2ft long with bright yellow markings behind its head and moved completely silently. I once saw one whilst out for a walk - it seemed quite an exotic visitor to be slithering across my lawn.

This shady part of the garden is also where my cat Tom is burried - at the back near the Alliums and daisies...

This is a slowly collapsing shed - not long for this world...

And finally some Pekin Bantam chickens - the newest addition to our garden. Named Julian and Emily by Finn after his school-friends. They don't keep still for long...

Miami

I was lucky enough to go on a business trip to South Beach Miami. I ended up having quite a bit of time to myself so I explored the town a bit and then retired to the pool when it got too hot.

This is the Raleigh Hotel...



... people sunbathing around the pool...

... on Saturdays they have mermaids...


This is a part of Lincoln Avenue - a pedestrian street with lots of shops and cafes...


And finally a few sketches done while waiting to board the plane...

Normandy

Had a few days in Normandy with the family. I managed to get a few sketches done - I'm not overly excited by any of them - but I am starting to enjoy using a bit of colour. I'll stick with it and try a few more.

Here's a fort in the sea at St Malo...The beautiful castle at Fougeres. (I was very concious of Cathy waiting for me so the lines are a bit panicky)...
A very heavy handed and out of proportion drawing of one of the towers at Fougeres...
This last one was done with no one waiting - much more relaxed - even though I was standing up. It's a farm building opposite the one we stayed in...