country houses – Africantapestry

Posted on October 6, 2015October 6, 2015 by Myfrenchkitchen · 2 Comments

Different sketches of the same street.

Right opposite my physiotherapist are some interesting houses in Beaulieu sur dordogne. I arrived early for the previous sessions and did these 2 sketches of the same street from opposite directions on different days. One of my goals is to move towards change in my sketching; my subjects, the way I approach it and the way I do it. In a next post I will lay it out in more detail. For the moment then, these 2 sketches: the same street, different angle and different approach.

..Street view 1 south..

watercolour and prera pilot pen in moleskine aquarelle sketchbook 21x13cm.

..Street view north..

watercolour and rotring tikka pen(0.1) Daler & Roney sketchook, 21X14.9cm

I tried a different technique for each one. The view north is similar to how I paint in oils .more impressionistic if you will. The view south is more true to my original way of watercolour washes. In both instances I wanted to keep the sketch loose and light. I also tried to complete a sketch under 45 minutes and I succeeded in doing the top sketch in about 30 minutes and the bottom one in about 40 minutes.

..à bientôt

Ronelle

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Myfrenchkitchen · 4 Comments

Sketches from Beaulieu and Les Jardins Marquessac.

My artist friend Sarah visited and we visited les jardins Marquessac.I am totally inspired to finish my garden here at Coin Perdu, not to mention painting! I worked in different sketchbooks and I am considering going back to Moleskine, all three sizes.

..a sketch done in Beaulieu while waiting for my physiotherapy appointment..

pencil, pilot prera pen and aquarelle in LANA watercolour sketchbook, 14x22cm(this is a lovely sketchbook with 300g paper, 25 pages and a great size, with the only drawback being the spiral back.)

..a sketch of a street in Beaulieu..

watercolour in Daler & Rowney Ebony sketchbook, 14.9X21 cm(this paper still buckles a lot with washes, but it is not too disturbing. I like the hardback so it makes working across 2 pages quite easy.)

..the marketplace in St Céré..

watercolour and prera pen in Daler & Rowney graduate sketchbook,22X14.9cm(this is suitable only for drawing…a nightmare for washes..but it was all I had in my bag.)

..Jardins Marquessac..

watercolour and prera pen in Daler & Rowney Ebony sketchbook, 14.9X21 cm

à bientôt

Ronelle

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Myfrenchkitchen · 6 Comments

EDM art 8: Handles.

I first considered sketching my seductive love handles in a mirror and I even started, but in fear of having my grotesque image become viral on internet, I thought the better of it. So I stuck to an ordinary door handle. On the stable door. Our 2 year old filly loves this handle and discovered that it is a great scratching tool for her nozzle and head and everything which can reach so far. She also discovered that she can open it. She fits her nose right under the latch and with a quick swift she lifts and pushes at the same time, making the door swing backwards. And then of course she just casually steps out as if this is normal everyday routine and hits the road. Fortunately the door has swollen now from all the rain and gets stuck at the bottom. She couldn’t yet figure that one out. To her utter dismay, I might add.

..Dumêla and the stable door handle..

watercolour and nib pen and J. Herbin inks in Stillman and Birn Alpha sketchbook, 22.9×15.2 cm

à demain avec “something with an interesting label”.

Ronelle

Posted on May 5, 2015May 5, 2015 by Myfrenchkitchen · 6 Comments

EDM art 5: A hot woodburning stove.

Few things are as comforting and warming as an old woodburning stove, or coalstove as we used to call it. during the day it gets stacked with wood and at night with coals which can simmer all night long with closed vent; Coming down to a kitchen, smelling the heat from the coals and just moving the kettle over for an old fashioned coffee,…it is a joy few people know about today and many might remember it form childhood. In winter this is our chef in the kitchen.. For heat, for comfort, for a homely ambiance, for cooking , for keeping the kettle ready, and warming the hands. Of course this thing can push out some mean kilowatts and I have a few scars as evidence. But boy, a tajine or a boeuf bourguignon or a rosemary leg of lamb coming out of that little oven…it gives total a new meaning to the term oven baked. As the thermostat is long gone, I am obliged to step back in time and test the oven temperature by sticking in my hand in the oven and counting….warm, hot or freakin hot!

..kettle and woodburning stove..

watercolour and pilot prera pen in Stillman & birn Alpha sketchbook, 22.9X15.2 cm

On this hot note I leave you until tomorrow when I will hopefully be back with “bristles”.

Ronelle

Posted on April 24, 2015April 24, 2015 by Myfrenchkitchen · 1 Comment

A sketch in centre ville in Beaulieu.

The weather is so fantastic lately…if only I could be that fantastic…

..Centre ville à Beaulieu…place Marbot..

Pilot Prera pen and aquarelle in Daler rowney artis’s sketchbook,14.9X21 cm

Until next time

Ronelle

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Myfrenchkitchen · 4 Comments

Sketching at the Dordogne.

Today was a burst of sunshine and blue skies. I decided on a much needed break and took off with my sketch tools to la Dordogne in Beaulieu sur Dordogne. It was beautiful by die river, under the trees, with only a jogger here and there. Sat on the edge, I sketched the opposite side with its quint homes on the river. Hunger drove me to Café Douceur for lunch, before I could get in another sketch. The empty table next to me became a second sketch.

..la Dordogne..

watercolor and TWSBI-mini pen in Daler & Rowney sketchbook, 14,9X21,0 cm

I tried a new pen today after reading about on a blog and I am highly disappointed. The TWSB-mini struggles to write over dried aquarelle and it scratches. When it does draw, it is thick and unforgiving, even though it is a fine point. Back to my preferred pilot prera.