Ducks a ducking !

I'm trying to sketch animals on the move because, in reality,  they don't often pose unless asleep or stuffed. These are recent attempts at ducks ducking and diving in the local pond. Think I'd better take more bread next time.

Beauty is a Pot Belly PIg

The Blog "Postcard from my Walk" has restarted. This is my card sent to Robyn and Robyn's Post on the Blog. http://walk-postcard.blogspot.co.uk/

Beauty is a Pot Belly PIg

I've always wanted a Pot Belly Pig, so can you imagine my delight when this month's postcard arrived from Bridget...

Pencil, Gouache & Coloured Pencil - Bridget Hunter
Click on image for the big picture.

I've only seen black pot belly pigs before but this one would do Monet proud.  Bridget creates magic with her palette.

This little pig, she says, lives with her friends at Dean Castle Park in Kilmanock.  She (the pig) was a very good model, standing relatively still, snuffling in the mud, while an amorous boar was snuffling ..... well, use your imagination.

This sketch is particularly treasured having come right out of Bridget's sketchbook.  I was pretty pleased with the stamp too!

Thank you Bridget.  I'll treasure my pot belly pig.

An hour in Corsica.

A few more sketches from the cruising sketchbook this time while ashore in Ajaccio, Corsica. These were done "on the run" so to speak as the ship was leaving in an hour and we'd spent the time looking at a local market. I'd love to go back there.

I did end up buying herbs for fish from the Spice and Herb stall in the hope my attempts at cooking Sea Bass might improve !

Across to Holy Isle

Holy Isle, evening

Kingscross Point

Road to the Sea

The Witch Step and Goatfell

It's been a few days of sketching on Arran - so many places, so many choices. I wanted to use only pencil or pen but I always end up adding colour. 

Sketching on Arran.

Brodick Castle, Arran

I'm on the beautiful Island of Arran for a few days. The weather is changeable but the dampness brings out the midgies, especially today when I went to sketch at Brodick Castle. It wasn't a hard decision to go for a tour inside but I managed a few sketches later when the sun came out. 

A bit of Cruising

Pencil on cartridge paper

Bridget Hunter 2012

I recently returned from a bit of cruising around the Med with some friends I've known since school days. It was a first for me and and was a bit like being back on school trips - where's my tshirt, who's got a brush, that's it I've lost my purse and so on. 

These sketches were done while lazing around on deck. And, yes, that's a bit of red nail varnish - me trying to look the part !

In Rome trying out the camera in reverse. Just like cramming into a photo booth when we were 16.

Sketching Little People

Pencil on cartridge paper

Bridget Hunter 2012

At last a sunny day so took one grandchild to playpark and had time to do some very rough sketches. I love the shapes young children make with their almost flexi frames and the baggy trousers over nappies. I just wish they would hold the pose a wee bit longer.

A sketch from Skye

Pencil and gouache on cartridge paper

Bridget Hunter 2011 

I've been looking through my sketchbook from Skye for images as painting subjects. 

This drawing reminded me of the red corrugated tin roofs on some of the oder buildings.

Through the gate

Watercolour and pencil on cartridge paper

Bridget Hunter 2012

I love being among trees and  I would find it hard to live in an area where no trees grow. This is a view through to the woods beyond the Walled Garden at Culzean but I now realise I should have spent more time sketching the gate.

A pot of pansies

Watercolour on cartridge paper

Bridget Hunter 2012

A glorious Spring day and these pansies were turned to face the sun.

Liz's Garden

Liz's Garden

Watercolour in Sketchbook

The sun was shining today so sat blethering and in my friend Liz's garden. She has a special way with plants - an allotment lady who grows the most amazing vegetables. In a corner she had these baby chard and lettuce in pots and, Liz being Liz, a delightful small pale blue watering can.

Ivy Urn

Watercolour and pencil on cartridge paper

Bridget Hunter  2012

Went to sketch in The Walled Garden at Culzean and saw this old stone gatepost topped by an urn  almost hidden under ivy. Found it totally irresistible - one of those "must get this down in paint" moments.

A bit of slapdash !

Alloway Parish Church.

Watercolour in a Moleskin

Bridget Hunter 20012

I'm not sure what I think of Moleskin sketchbooks. I love the look of them but adding watercolour to a sketch can produce surprising results. There is of course the watercolour version but I'm not so keen on the format.

This was done very quickly as the weather was bitter and the paint was splashed on. But I like the effect of the finished wet paint on the slightly glossy paper. 

http://walk-postcard.blogspot.co.uk/

Acrylic on Paper

Bridget Hunter 2011

Across the road from the Parish Church is Alloway Auld Kirk, which features in Rabbie Burns poem "Tam O'Shanter" and was the subject used for my postcard to Liz in Austra;ia.

http://www.lizsteel.com/

A sketch from France

A French Chateau

Acrylic 

Bridget Hunter 2011

Had a rummage through an old pile of work done last year and came across this acrylic sketch which I'd hoped to use as a painting resource. I like the way the acrylic was very wet and the colours mixed on the heavy paper. I'm wondering if I could try that in a finished painting.

A bit of life drawing

Attended a life drawing group recently and came away exhausted - all that concentration. Looking at the drawings now I realise the next step should be to work more tonally. Most of the other group members were working in charcoal and I learned a lot from watching them and seeing their finished results. It's great to talk to other people about a shared interest and watch their skills and techniques.

Australia 2011

I spent 2 weeks in Australia recently in Adelaide and on Kangaroo Island. I'd taken hot weather clothes but  the weather decided to be more like a Scottish March - windy and a bit chilly. However, I got a lot of sketching done and had some close encounters with the wildlife which made everything worth while.

Not a pair !!

Two trainers - but not a pair - 2b pencil on cartridge paper. I love drawing and painting shoes.

Autumn Trees

Watercolour in Sketchbook
Bridget Hunter 2010

A watercolour sketch of trees in the Lake District trying to show the wonderful siennas and burnt oranges of bracken and follage.

Watercolour

Bridget Hunter 2010

A quick study of the kitchen window. 

Smudge relaxing!

2B pencil and Watercolour

Bridget Hunter 2010

Smudge had rearranged himself again - tried to quickly capture his complete relaxation. I'm not happy with the chair - I think I should have shown more of its form.

Smudge napping!

2B pencil and watercolour

Bridget Hunter 2010

Who can resist the curled up shape of a cat asleep in a comfy chair!

October Sun and Shade

2b pencil

Bridget Hunter 2010

It was one of those sunny October days today - jackets on but bright skies. Took a grandchild to Culzean Park and when she fell asleep in her carseat I took the chance to stop and sketch a lane with deep evergreen hedges. The shadows crossing the road were intriguing as was the bright field in the distance. I'm thinking of using this for a painting but making the darks darker and bending the lane more.

Child's Chair - my chair!

Pencil and Drawing Pen
Bridget Hunter 2010

I used to sit in this chair when very small. I want to include it in a painting and felt I needed to get to know the shape. It wasn't easy, took a lot of looking and redrawing.

Pepper Pages

Colour Pencil and Watercolour

Bridget Hunter 2010

Making soup and was fascinated by the view of a cut pepper. Tried to capture the image using colour pencil then pencil and watercolour. I think I prefer the first image.