February Sketchbook Part 1

I've reached the half way point in my February sketchbook ( continuing  using the A6 format). Having been inspired by the #30daysketchbookchallenge19, I've  found I don't need a prompt, I'm recording  what's happening every day ( there have been a couple of times when I've  done 2 in one day but trying not to get too behind) 

 1st Feb : On Ian's Birthday  we went to a funeral  of an old family friend.  Ian  listening  to 'Spel in Alium '  on his tablet  while travelling ( we had an early start due to 'Winter Timetable') 

2nd and 3rd Feb: A short break in Deal  with  plentiful Fish and Fortifications (Deal and Walmer castles)

4th and 5th Feb: Drawing a map of the  walking route from the train station to my house via the rec led to a more imaginative version

6th Feb:  Another map , the 07.59 train journey from Faversham to St Pancras 

7th Feb - working on  "the Tiny Islands of Sewingland" , my contribution to the #tinysketchbook project of Brooklyn Art Library ( posted it on 11th) 

8th Feb  Meeting of CQKent group at Creek Creative and the Hot Tin, planning our exhibition for September. I had a brainwave of how to liven up my rather boring Chatham piece - cut some areas out and put indigo shibori behind.  A few of us came back to my house afterwards ( workmen had finished for the day) and despite studio still in chaos , had a  delve in my indigo boxes .  

9th Feb  was spent ordering  replacement vinyl  for bathrooms, ending with new twist on 'ring the bell and run away' : steal the doorbell and re-programme it  from a distance. Took the batteries out of the base unit. 

10th Feb: Fantastic   members drawing workshop at British Museum . Exclusive access to draw  in exhibition after the museum closed was magical ( more in another post if I get round to it!)

11th Feb  Morning clouds and contrails 

12th Feb Drawing Tuesday at Tate Britain: multiple views of sculpture "Mother and Daughter" by FE McWilliam 

13th Feb  Ink splatters collected on paper below  enormous drawing ( 3 x A1 sheets taped together)  in EDAM class ( more in another post)

14th Feb Roses from Ian on Valentines day

Sketching at British Museum :Assyria Lion Hunts

 Another Tuesday  drawing with Margaret Cooter and Co at the  British Museum , this time in room 10A, Assyria Lion Hunts

 The carving of this 'doghandler'  ( and the pattern on his belt ) were exquisite. I've never really drawn reliefs before and it's difficult to capture the quality of line and the 3D aspect that is neither like sculpture or painting but somewhere in between. I wished I'd chosen something a bit simpler than the stylised hands. Love those thumbs but  an object lesson in drawing what you see rather than what you think you see.

 I  worked with pencil first then moved onto pen  when I got too frustrated losing the structure- and  found I was getting  things wrong in a different way!

  Still a very satisfying morning, not thinking about  being creative but just getting stuck in and observing.

No sketching next Tuesday as it's my birthday but I will be returning to the British Museum for the ' Indigenous Australia'  exhibition which opens on Thursday - these bright poles were already in position.