Donna has posted a book of dog drawings by the British artist Lucy Dawson. I'd never heard of her, but turned to google to discover that she had lived for many years in Bristol, just a stone throw from where I live now. Donna's post prompted me to look in my old sketchbooks. I've always drawn dogs, usually when asleep, sprawled out by the fire or curled up in a basket; my parent's old spaniel, Meg,
and a friend's fox terrier, Bertie,
but especially Maisie, my beloved smooth fox terrier, so much missed.
Asleep on her feet!
The drawings that crowd out most of my sketchbooks are of our children. I started to draw them soon after they were born. Once again I most often sat to draw them when they are fast asleep. I particularly like this double page spread of Wee One in her bedroom - it was always a rather chaotic space.
I think that on this occasion she must have had a cold!
Watching television was another time to catch them in a fairly static pose.
The sketchbooks are full of little snippets of everyday life. When I look at these drawings I remember every small detail of cloth and colour.
They were so used to me looking at them that they took not a blind bit of notice!
I'm so pleased to have a record of their progression through childhood.
You are so talented - i love your sketches. I love old school drawing and painting. You could do commissions!
ReplyDeleteI spent my working life doing commissions, but people wanted more finished work, they weren't interested in preparatory drawings. I much prefer the immediacy of initial studies, Constables little studies of skies, for example, rather than his large finished paintings. The examples on this post were drawn simply for my own pleasure.
DeleteLovely! I hope you take up your pencils and sketchpad again. So nice to see "real" art in this super-digitalized age.
ReplyDeleteNo dogs and no children about me any more, Michelle! But I do have a notion now to record corners of our home. I'm old-fashioned, I just love the feel of paper, pencil and paint.
DeleteWhat a wonderful book to have. The love you have for your family shows through in these sketches.
ReplyDeleteAfter all these years I still find drawing magical, the act of looking enables you to capture and retain so much. And, yes, I LOVE my family.
DeleteI can tell, Rosemary, I think, that you were trained as an artist. I always wished I could do that kind of loose/quick sketching which is usually taught in art school. I am self taught. I love your sketches and will look through your blogs for more of your work. I don't do commissions either. They either want this or that or a unicorn. I am readying my art studio to get back at it.
ReplyDeleteI studied fine art at Leeds College of Art, painting and sculpture, where my father had studied, then on to Goldsmiths' College. London and finally a course in illustration at Bristol - a long apprenticeship! I earned my living first as a lecturer in drawing and analytical studies and then as a freelance illustrator. No desire anymore to work to commission, I found that they wanted this AND that AND a unicorn!
DeleteSo exciting! Tell us more, please!
DeleteBeing able to draw with a confident, quick hand is such a gift/talent/acquirement!
Your past is beautiful in so many ways.
I rave about your life(style) more than ever.
I wonder if you preferred drawing over taking photos, back then?
I could tell Rosemary. I think when you are self taught, you don't learn the right way to do things and it is hard to overcome bad habits. I just love your work. I think I've done it all, but am going to work on some really large pallet knife paintings - again self taught. The first and last one I did was lots of fun, very freeing instead of realistic. Type in oil painting (I think) on my blog to see it. I titled it Lipstick On Her Reefer from an old Laura Nyro song.
DeleteThese sketches are wonderful Rosemary, what a talent you have. No loved the one of the child playing the cello, and the last two coloured sketches are perfect. I am so envious I have no talent for drawing at all. It must be lovely to just pick up a pencil and record the world before you for posterity. And yes, what a record to have of your children to remember their childhood.
ReplyDeleteIt is Wee One, our younger daughter, who plays the cello. Work commitments have stopped her joining an orchestra but she is occasionally asked to play for friends at their wedding ceremonies. I like the dps of her asleep in bed with all her toys about her!
DeleteI just love these sketches!!!! You are so talented. How nice to have a record of your children. I so envy those of you who can draw. Oh please don't tell me that you also have a lovely singing voice. That's another thing that I can't do!!
ReplyDelete