Pen & Wash Winter Sunshine

We had a lovely Pen and Wash class today, sketching Sturminster Newton Mill, an old flour mill in Dorset.

The group started the morning with a light pencil sketch to position their Mill, weir and the walkway.

This was followed with permanent black pens to create tones.

A Watercolour wash was then added.  The paints had been mixed with alot of water to create tints of colour.

And from one Mill to another ......

Today we used paper from St Cuthberts Mill in Somerset,  Saunders Waterford 200lb 425gsm watercolour paper, which is the perfect weight and has a great surface for this technique.

St Cuthberts Mill has been making paper since the 1700's, taking advantage of the pure waters from the River Axe.  They manufacture high quality artists papers using one of the few remaining cylinder mould machines in the world.

And here are a few sketches to round off the day!

Thanks everyone for a great day.

Pen and Wash In the Garden Day

When Claire and I planned this class many months ago, calling it 'In the Garden', we didn't expect to actually be able to be outside in the garden sketching!

I sent everyone an email saying hats and suncream, we are heading outside!

We found plenty of shady little spots for our artists to settle and make little pen sketches of flowers, plants, trees and even the house!

It was an incredibly chilled day, although Claire was kept busy having a larger area to get round and see everyone.

Once the sketches had been done, some watercolour washes were applied over the top.

Great practice for summer holiday sketchbooks!

Well done everyone and thank you sunshine!