Month: Jan 2021

Trying a new approach

~ Jo Dungey ~ 2 Comments

I continue my aim to do a quick flower sketch every day during the January lockdown. Lately I have been trying different media combined with watercolour. Here are three simple flower pictures, drawn from life, which use watercolour with oil pastel. The strong colours and more chunky form of the pastels encourage a bolder approach. I am learning from this every day.

A virtual trip to New Delhi

~ Jo Dungey ~ Leave a comment
The sketch above, in sepia ink, was done sitting in the Lodi Gardens in New Delhi in 2014. Today, I visited New Delhi again, more or less. This was as part of a virtual world cruise run by Urban Sketchers Oxford, with sketches posted on their Facebook page. As meeting in groups to sketch on location is neither legal or safe at the moment, the core activity of Urban Sketching groups cannot happen. Groups have found a variety of alternatives. Members of the Oxford group have made virtual visits to other places such as Singapore and Sydney. Having been to Delhi, real world version, I thought I would have a go. Here are two versions of one of the most famous landmarks, the India Gate. The first is done in chinagraph pencil, the second is an attempt at a freer watercolour style, trying to find an alternative to too much architectural line drawing.

Practice, practice

~ Jo Dungey ~ 2 Comments
I have not painted for several months. Under pandemic restrictions in London I have done some pencil drawing on location, but in midwinter that is even more unlikely. So I need to get some painting done indoors, even if that would not be my preference. The past few days I have made a start, tackling flowers and pot plants which I have in front of me. Small, quick studies are enough – “be kind to yourself” is definitely a necessary principle at the moment. Here are some examples.