Category Archives: Sketch Book Skool

Sketch Book Skool, Sketching, Uncategorized, urban sketching

Urban Sketching #HomeSweetHome

June 20, 2017 ronniecruwys 3 Comments

pen and ink cartoons dayin my life — *Sketching a day in a life*

This week, Stoke Urban Sketchers celebrated international recognition as they were granted the status of ‘Regional Chapter’ within the global community of Urban Sketchers.

The group met up for a sketch this Saturday in the New Vic and the group founders, Laura Green and Rhomany Klair Scattergood were interviewed by the Sentinel for a feature as part of the Stoke bid for City of Culture 2021. There’s a taster video of the sketching session here filmed by Rhomany.

Instead of sharing my recent sketches, I thought I would rewind a bit to where I began keeping a sketch book. A few years ago, it was a wish of mine to become a member of the Urban Sketching community. I loved the confidence and simplicity of sketches from life and how people would share their sketches from all over the world. The range of skill is quite dramatic – from hurried sketches to accomplished works of art.

sketch book diary of my day — *Breakfast part one and two*

Even with my background in architecture, I still found it quite daunting to sketch out on the street, but that was only until I came across the work of Danny Gregory and his genius idea of Sketch Book Skool.

morning sketches tortoise, dog and cat — *Pets and washing on a sunny day*

I think I was the eighteenth person to enlist on ‘Beginning‘, that first round of Sketch Book Skool lessons, which was such a brilliant experience. There must be thousands enlisted now. Danny and his co-teachers taught us all to just go for it – to sketch our days and in so doing we sketch our lives.

For these sketches, I was following a lesson given by Prashant Miranda, recording a day from start to end, my early dip into sketching from life, which is all urban sketching is about.

sketches of ordinary scenes — *Peg out washing, sand windows or sketch?*

5 easter monday crop 5 — *At the end of Easter Monday – it’s bubbles!*

If you are thinking of joining a local group of Urban Sketchers – it is really informal and you’ll be made very welcome!

8 loch lomond Thanks for reading!

Ronnie

Pen and ink drawing, Sketch Book Skool, Sketching

Kindness of Strangers Part 1

July 9, 2015 ronniecruwys Leave a comment

pen and ink drawing of lorries on M6 — Broken down but my pen is still working!

A couple of weeks ago, my car broke down in the midst of a tailback after a pile-up on the M6 northbound. It’s an alarming experience to be stranded in the central lane as the rest of the traffic began to surge ahead around me. As I rang the emergency services, a chap leapt out of his car beside me, beckoned to a few others and they pushed me over to the hardshoulder. It happened so fast that they were back in their cars and gone in a matter of seconds.

My heartfelt thanks to these strangers.

sketch of hardshoulder — View from the hardshoulder

Safely off the road, I had my handbag, sketch book and pen so I got stuck into a few sketches. I never travel without these thanks to Sketchbook Skool.

sketch of weeds and insects — Scratching insect

drawing weeds — Spikey leaves and flowers

drawing feet — Feet make a good subject to sketch

drawing in sketch book of hands — Saddle Sore

Eventually, the recovery vehicle towed me back to the garage shortly before closing. The AA man and Kwik Fit lads pushed my car into shelter in pouring rain ready for Ryan of Rytech to work on it the following week. Thanks lads.

I was supposed to be collecting my American family from Manchester Airport and my husband was supposed to be going to his friend and colleague’s funeral, but none of this went to plan. This day could have felt a write-off but with the kindness of strangers and a sketchbook and pen, I can reflect on it in quite a different light.

Thanks for reading.

Ronneie

Architectural Drawing, Pen and ink drawing, Sketch Book Skool, Sketching

Sketches from a London Bus

December 9, 2014 ronniecruwys 1 Comment

Pen and ink sketch of London Chimney pots — Chimney pots from the 253 Euston bus to Nag’s Head, Holloway

Over the summer, I spent some time down in London, with our son. I was in the middle of Sketch Book Skool drawing frenzy, making the most of every moment I could to draw – even on the top of a London bus!

Pen and ink sketches of London windows from the bus — Windows from the 253 bus from Euston to Nags Head

Once you start sketching, you can’t help but notice how much more you want to draw and it was during this time that I made the rash promise to myself that I would draw the Holloway Road.

After a few months preparation I have begun to work on the first of what I hope will be many more drawings, but thought you would like a flavour of what’s to come with some of my summer sketches.

Thanks for reading!

Ronnie

Pen and ink sketch of Croissant D'Or Holloway Road — Le Croissant D’Or, Holloway Road, London – a great place for breakfast!

Sketch of the windows on Albermarle Mansions — Windows on Albermarle Mansions, Holloway Road.

Pencil and watercolour wash drawing of a window on Albermarle Mansions — Detail of Window on Albermarle Mansions

Pencil and watercolour drawing Albermarle Mansions Holloway Road London — Detail of another window on Albermarle Mansions, Holloway Road, London

Pen and ink drawing of Windsor Road London N7 — View from top flat, WIndsor Road, Holloway, London

Pen and ink drawing, Sketch Book Skool, Sketching

Dougie Mac at Station Stores, Whitmore

May 18, 2014 ronniecruwys 2 Comments

It is the big Douggie Mac Bike Ride today. It’s terrific to see all the cyclists out in their jazzy colours for such a great cause, all very chirpy and making an early start on their bid for LLangollen. I have been meaning to sketch some of the buildings close to home so, continuing in the spirit of Sketch Book Skool, I sat outside the Sheet Anchor and sketched Station Stores along with a few cyclists!

A few examples of the smiles, waves and colour below. Thanks for reading!

Newcastle-under-Lyme History, Pen and ink drawing, Sketch Book Skool, Uncategorized

English Kitchen, Brunswick Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Image May 14, 2014 ronniecruwys Leave a comment

No 7 Brunswick Street, The English Kitchen

I’m back from a wonderful family gathering and one of the first jobs on my list was to MOT my car. I popped the car into the garage but this time, packed my pens and sketchbook as there is a building close by that I have wanted to draw for quite some time.

No 7 Brunswick street stands out as a reminder of what was once a street of elegant town houses. The building next door is shrouded in scaffolding at present but the English Kitchen was just the right size for me to complete in one hit, standing with my back to Jubilee Pool.

First and second floor of 7 Brunswick Street — Look up!

Thanks to my friends who have encouraged me to get out there and draw – I completed the line drawing on the street and applied the colour at home. Here is the final sketch. Thanks for reading!

Pen and ink sketch of 7 Brunswick St — No 7 Brunswick Street in full technicolour!

Pen and ink drawing, Sketch Book Skool, Sketching

Sketching the Week

April 12, 2014 ronniecruwys 2 Comments

Half a Guinness and a Pint of Pale Rider

Some years ago, I came across a book called “Everyday Matters” by Danny Gregory. It’s a moving and uplifting book, all sketches and handwritten notes, a jounal of the everyday moments of his life. I’ve since bought several other books of his, noticing each time how his sketching changed as his skill grew from daily practice.

I have just completed my first week of Danny’s online sketching school, six weeks and six different teachers offering their tips on drawing. Some 800 plus sketchers have signed up from all over the globe, sketching and posting our most ordinary but meaningful moments. I’m hoping that this will give me the practise and discipline to join that wonderful community Urban Sketchers, so I can really get into the ribs of drawing streets on the hoof.