Tag Archives: Moleskine sketchbook

Anglesey, Moleskine sketchbook, Sketching, urban sketching

Pitch and sketch

July 10, 2017 ronniecruwys 4 Comments

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

July 9, 2015 ronniecruwys 2 Comments

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.

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.

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

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

Moleskine sketchbook, Sketchbook Skool

Sketching Fractures, Artists, Whisky and Song

April 20, 2015 ronniecruwys 2 Comments

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

Pen and ink drawing, Scotland, Sketching

Sketches from the North

October 13, 2014 ronniecruwys Leave a comment

pen and ink sketch of Loch Lomond seaplane — Waiting for our turn on the Loch Lomond seaplane

In between drawing streets and icon diploma course work, I love to sketch whenever I get a spare moment. It means that waiting for the dentist, or whatever, is now a great way of really looking at life going on around me. So waiting for our turn on a seaplane trip was one well worth recording. The flight was actually a present for Iain’s birthday back in February, but funnily enough, we ended up flying on my birthday!

We have just had a week on holiday up on Speyside in Morayshire, Scotland. It was wonderful but the best way of telling you about it is to share a few sketches.

Letterbox drawing — Enjoying a drink outside Sartis Italian Restaurant in Glasgow

Sartis glasgow sketch — Bottles on the shelves in Sartis Italian reastuarant, Glasgow

Willow tea Rooms Glasgow — Willow Tea Rooms, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. Beautiful details on this Charles Rennie Mackintosh building.

scottish delicacies — Taste of all things Scottish!

view from Loch lomond sea plane — Bird’s eye view from the Loch Lomond Sea Plane – stunning!

Thanks for reading! Stay well.

Drawing the Street

Tag Archives: Moleskine sketchbook

Pitch and sketch

Kindness of Strangers – Part Two

Kindness of Strangers Part 1

Sketching Fractures, Artists, Whisky and Song

Sketches from the North

drawing out the best in our streets