Scottish holiday sketches

The  various views from our cottage.. had to draw quickly as the midges were about!

Edinburgh Book Festival

The Edinburgh Book Festival      http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/visiting-the-festival
A feast of goodies today when I spent ages in the children's book  tent - so many wonderful picture books to look at. Bought some books by Polly Dunbar - who does the most delightful illustrations.



Missed  the illustrator Shaun Tan  giving a talk about his work... the que was really long!

Sketched a bit in one of the cafes, always a bit tricky but I have a tiny sketchbook and a big bag to hide it behind!

Well here I am in Edinburgh - a beautiful vibrant city and full of many events for the festival. Whilst ambling around today I saw a poster about illustration and found this wonderful exhibtion - Take Five Illustrators
http://www.nationalgalleries.org/whatson/exhibitions/take-five-illustrators/events-23392#.UDKiRKPN6Sq

Not only that, but the gallery is running a  master class  with famous french children's book illustrator Barroux - so on a whim I am all booked onto that this week.
I really love it when things happen spontaneously - it's been one of those days.. but will I let on I have illustrated children's books at  the master class? Tempted not to!
Here is some of Barroux illustrations - I really like the fact that he states he works traditionally using pencil, paints and printing because it is fascinating to wonder at the process - how he got there and how he makes the mediums work together.

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Silly cat

A doodle of my cat Misha - he always looks perplexed!

New Forest donkeys

Some sketches of local residents - I often pass them on my daily walk, here in the beautiful New Forest.

Sheep sketches

Here is a very quick drawing from my sketchbook   of sheep on my daily walk. I have an idea for a story from walking past them every day... yes it involves wool!

Re worked illustration for a project.

A re worked idea - using pen, ink, watercolour inks and acrylic paint thinner. Working in layers and timing the next layer of ink so it's just right.