Tag Archives: Sketch Book Skool

Childrens' Art, The Big Draw 2015

The Big Draw goes Psychedelic

October 29, 2015 ronniecruwys Leave a comment

large coloured drawing — Pyschedia alive and well in Newcastle’s Borough Museum and Gallery

A short post here as the art speaks so well for itself! Been getting stuck into The Big Draw with a few other members of Gallery at 12, home of Staffordshire Artists Co-operative.

It’s been a delight to meet these lively, creative youngsters – they need no encouragement, only coloured chalks and papers and they are off. Newcastle Borough Museum and Gallery have done a great job hosting this drawing event throughout half-term.

Saturday and our first artist Ashton with his beautiful drawing. — Ashton with his beautiful drawing.

Saturday’s star was Ashton, our first artist of the week who really set the standard high.

Monday’s star was Charlotte – or rather ‘Team Charlotte’ with their much admired triptych:

Serious stuff from this table... — Serious stuff from this table…’Team Charlotte’ with Craig and Wayne from Gallery at 12

Today, Thursday, was full of activity but the work of these three young artists made a great splash of colour on the walls.

kids paintings for the Big Draw — Natalia, Isabel and Georgia pin their work up in the gallery today.

kids drawings at borough Museum and gallery — Wall of Colour

As any grad student of #SketchBookSkool knows, a morning spent drawing is best followed by a pick-me-up coffee and yes, another sketch. Cheers Embassy Grind – great new destination for us here in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

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

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

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.