Category Archives: Moleskine sketchbook

Anglesey, Moleskine sketchbook, Sketching, urban sketching

Pitch and sketch

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pen and ink sketch of tent
Pitch 41, Ty Croes Campsite, Anglesey

A few weeks ago, the weather was set fair so we took off to Anglesey for a bike ride and a night in our tent. I love these 24 hour mini-holidays. Not driving too far and getting fresh sea air is a tonic and I really enjoy exploring places new to us.

sketch of weeds in hedgerow
Sunlight on hedgerow weeds at the edge of dense woodland

I had a new tiny palm sized sketchbook to make a start in. The best sketchbooks are the full ones so I got stuck in. There’s a church tower rising over the dense trees opposite the entrance to the campsite. It’s dedicated to an early Celtic female saint – Saint Ceinwen. Apparently there’s a holy well somewhere in the area – finding where that’s hidden will be a destination for another day!

Saint Caenwen's church Ty Croes
Saint Ceinwen’s church, Ty Croes

Thanks for the subject of this next sketch Aunty J!

Last drops of Glenfarclas
Savouring the last drops of Glenfarclas

The following morning, we cycled out to the Cefni Reservoir from Newborough Sands. Most of the route is off the main road, alongside waterways full of wildlife.

Cefni reservoir boats
Boats on Cefni reservoir, Anglesey

I love this time of year. We went on this trip just before Midsummer when growth is at its peak. Have to grab and treasure these days when we can.

Jackdaws on the chimneys
Jackdaws chattering on the chimneys

Thanks for reading

Ronnie

Architecture, Moleskine sketchbook, Pen and ink drawing, Sketching, urban sketching

Kindness of Strangers – Part Two

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sketch of ice cream van
Perfect day for an ice cream

Only a few days after sketching my broken down car on the hardshoulder of the M6, I was sketching on the grass verge of Rosemarkie beach. Once again, I began to sketch a vehicle but this time it was Maureen’s ice cream van which caught my eye. I was lost in drawing so it took me by surprise when Maureen herself hopped out of her van to present me with an ice cream!

Following this kind gesture, my family were keen for me to sketch other eateries in Rosemarkie in the hope of free snacks for them too, but there is stiff competition from the local gulls.

Gull
Gulliver on the chimney of the Old School House, Rosemarkie

This is our sixth visit to Rosemarkie, a seaside village on the Black Isle, about 30 miles east of Inverness, full of lovely traditional buildings such as the Groam House Museum.

sketch of groam house Museum
Groam House Museum, Rosemarkie

For anyone interested in Celtic design, a collection of the work by George Bain is held here. He published the book ‘Celtic Art: The Methods of Construction’ in 1951, which did much to revive interest in the subject.

Beach Boule
Beach Boule, Rosemarkie

I will leave you with a sketch of the view from the Old School House.

Thanks for reading and keep on sketching – wherever you are.

Ronnie

sketch of Moray Firth
Moray Firth from the Old School House, Rosemarkie
Moleskine sketchbook, Sketchbook Skool

Sketching Fractures, Artists, Whisky and Song

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Sketch of Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar
Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar

It’s Sketch Book Skool time of year! I have signed up to six weeks of ‘Stretching’ with Jonathan Twingley as our first teacher and it has given me a timely nudge to loosen up away from my formal architectural drawings.  So, as a change from streets, here are a few pages from my sketchbook made over the weekend.

Starting with a long wait in the fracture clinic and a great excuse to draw a few faces, I’m pleased to say that all my fractures are well on the mend and I have now been signed off.

sketch of waiting room
Waing room at North Staffordshire Hospital Fracture Clinic

Our first Sketchbook Skool assignment with Jonathan Twingley has been playing around with ink splats – drawing freely in ink and seeing what takes shape. His work is extraordinary and well worth having a look.

5aa Jonathan Twingley Sketch Book Skool
Drawing the Sketch Book Skool teacher – Jonathan Twingley

This has been a great weekend to draw as we have had our friends Bill and Lucky Steve here, a winning Stoke game and another whisky festival to draw:

sketchof whisky bottles
There were quite a few more of these sketches but this one will do. They got considerably looser.

Finally, this great weekend was rounded up by a meal out and a musical treat.

pen and ink drawing of the Armoury Shropshire
Bottles over the fireplace at the Armoury, Shropshire

We first listened to Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar play at the 2014 Shrewsbury Folk Festival – they were brilliant! Last night they were playing in Shrewsbury at the Morris Hall. They really are excellent and worth a listen, you can hear some of their tracks through the links on their website.

pen and ink sketch of guitars
Waiting for Ciaran and Greg
sketch of greg russell Ciaran Algar
Quick sketches in Moleskine sketchbook of Greg and Ciaran
season in your arms sketch
Greg and Ciaran sing the beautiful ‘A Season in Your Arms‘

Back to normal with the next post – I have just completed Micklgate, York which will soon appear on the website www.drawingthestreet.co.uk.

Thanks for reading.

Ronnie