Tag Archives: Pen and ink sketches

Building conservation, New LAnark, Scotland

Behind the walls of New Lanark

February 12, 2020 ronniecruwys 4 Comments

New Lanark is a World Heritage Site set in native Scottish woodland next to the River Clyde, here in South Lanarkshire. This Cotton mill village was founded in the 18th century and and has been thoroughly documented with a digitised survey of all the buildings – you can read more about it here. It doesn’t need ‘Drawing the Street’ to record it! However, the interiors are irresistible to draw!

They are full of objects that remind me of my earliest childhood … some from our ‘old house’ and others from our neighbours in York which held hand-me-downs from generations before. Take for example the table above. This could have been Mum’s kitchen table in the mid-sixties. However, I’m not that old….the sketch below is of the Millworker’s House of the 1820’s.

We often go up to New Lanark to walk in the wildlife reserve or to see the Falls of Clyde, once visited and painted by Turner. However, it was when my American family came to visit last year that we did the tour inside and around the mill including the workers’ accommodation and Robert Owen’s House .

I managed to take a few photos knowing that I wanted to sketch some of them later. I only get to notice things when I sketch such as this mouse and the clay pipes tucked behind the packs of tobacco. All reconstructed but still appealing.

Beer, whisky, fish, cheese, bacon ….can you spot the mouse?

Hope you enjoy this inside view of just a few of the sights within these magnificent buildings. It’s a fascinating destination in a beautiful location – well worth a visit.

Thanks for reading,

Ronnie

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, 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.