Sketch of Trees

I found myself with a little bit of free time, waiting for someone in the car; and what else could I do but get out my sketchbook?

I love this brush pen which allows me to play with different thicknesses of stroke as I work.

Sketching at Kelvingrove Art Gallery

I decided to do some sketching at Kelvingrove Art Gallery.

I had my trusty fold away stool, conte pencils, a clipboard with different coloured paper on it, and most importantly my iPod and favourite music.

From a bronze bust

My music is the only way I can block out the rest of the world, and allows me to enter my own as I nod away to favourite songs.

Well, except when someone comes along wanting to look at my work. Most people do it subtly over my shoulder or as they pass, but this one was a new one. She stood right in front of me peering down and then asked me what I was drawing and why I had stopped. I took a deep breath, and calmly pointed out that I was drawing the bust directly behind her, and that she was standing between me and my subject, so I could no longer see it. She just shrugged and walked away. I think she was surprised I couldn't see through her.

I really did have  a brilliant day. Sketching away from the studio should be done far more often.

World War Z, Drawing and Brad Pitt

It has been a while since I last posted, summer holidays having taken their toll with my time. I have been painting (a little and I'll show you the results in another post - when I am happy with the work), spending time with family and going on holiday.

But I did do something I've never done before. I have been an extra in the new Brad Pitt Zombie film, World War Z, as they were working on it here in Glasgow; and as an artist, I had a bit of an advantage.

We were not allowed mobile phones or cameras with us (fair enough), but security were happy with me taking my sketchbook, so I did some drawings while I was waiting around. How often do you get to record things from the filming point of view? It was very odd seeing Glasgow all Americanised (or should it be Americanized?), with US street lights, signposts and flags, never mind the yellow taxis (used in my case to shelter from the rain) and large police cars.

Here is one of my quick sketches (and I mean quick).

View towards George Square, with camera.

Oh, and if you want to ask about Brad Pitt, I'll just smile and go all cagey.

Time Constraints

Time limits seem to have an effect on my sketching, a positive one. Maybe it's not having time to think that forces me to put down on paper exactly what I'm seeing. I wish I could do this more often without needing to have a clock ticking. Maybe I should start wearing a watch. Below is a drawing of a sleeping child, I knew I had moments before he woke up.

Image: Sleeping Child (www.tracybutler.co.uk)