Art

Welcome to my art page. The newest stuff is first, so if you visit frequently, you will instantly know how lazy I am. The stuff toward the bottom is historic, and some things were experiments which didn't work out too well, but I include them so you can see how my drawing style developed.

A view of Poole Quay. A drawing in pencil, size A2. Drawn Easter 2011. The water is to the left of the picture, behind the flood protection wall. I sat by this roundabout so I could see a lot, without it being obscured. That also meant having a lot of boring tarmac in the picture. Behind the railings on the right is an ice-cream shop, and other fast food outlets off picture. One is a chip shop, which I frequent on occasions. You can see people under the shelter, enjoying their fish and chips, but they had better watch out, because the pigeons and gulls have attitude. Behind the shelter is the Lord Nelson Pub, a much recommended establishment, which sells Tanglefoot. There are new warehouse style blocks of flats on the top right. On the left is the ticket shack for boat trips, and in the street, just behind the wall, the Noddy Train waits to ferry tourists around. This picture was done around William and Kate wedding time, hence all the bunting outside the pubs.

The New Inn at Oakdale, Poole. A drawing in pencil, size A2. Drawn in 2011. This pub is between Canford Heath and Poole town centre and sits on a peninsular site at a busy junction. Four roads come together with lots of traffic lights. The road to the right leads to Poole town centre, while the road on the far side of the pub gets me to Sandbanks. We are looking into the sun here. I pass this pub all the time, and it has begged me to draw it for decades, although I've never been in it. Perhaps I should rectify that.

The Pilot pub at Adastral Square, Poole. A drawing in pencil, size A2. Drawn in 2010/2011.This road leads from Oakdale to Canford Heath. The shops serve the southern part of the Canford Heath estate. You can see the railings where a pedestrian subway runs under the road. The pub is at a high point of a very shallow hill, so I can get halfway home from here on my scooter, with just one push.

New appartment block on Poole quay. A drawing in pencil, size A2. Drawn in 2010. The foreground shows the flood protection wall, and a huge hump to allow vehicle access to the quayside to the right. Palm tree and assorted kiosks, on the right, and an open sided shelter on the left. Out of view to the left is the Lord Nelson Pub (live music friday nights, washed down with Tanglefoot). The spectacular building has shops at lower floors, and italian restaurant on that first floor. Being a tall building, perspective was important, and with curves everywhere, it was difficult to draw.

Stonehenge. A drawing in pencil, size A2. Drawn approx 2001. Stonehenge is around a one hour drive from Poole, so I made a couple of day visits to draw this. After walking round the footpath to find a good angle, I sat at the nearest point visitors are allowed. The path comes in close at just one point. I once saw an oil painting of stonehenge done by some woman artist, with loads of artistic brush strokes. The trouble was, it bore little resemblance to what is there. For my own drawing, I tried to be as accurate as possible, and every mark I made is what I saw in front of me. When I'm out drawing in public, there's usually a fair bit of interest from passers by coming to look. Not this time. I was well and truly upstaged by my subject, with bus loads of world tourists not even noticing me.

I do not draw from photographs, but while I was in position I did take this photograph:

The Queen Mary Pub in Poole. Pencil and watercolour, size A4. I think I went in this pub for a shandy, after drawing it. It just deserved to be drawn.

Athelhampton House, Dorset. A sketch in pencil, size A2. Not far from Poole,this house is full of character, inside and out.

Poole Quay. A drawing in pencil and coloured pencil, size A2. Drawn approx 1986. This was an experiment in using coloured pencil, instead of paint. It was drawn from a small vantage point on the industrial port area opposit the quay. The buildings went OK, but the water was very difficult, as the darn stuff kept moving.

Not a picture, but a pottery masterpiece. I joined a pottery group, at what is now called Poole 'Lighthouse'. I thought a brick would be a cool project, and placed the text 'LONDON BRICK CO.' in the dip on the top, like a great many bricks in England. The brick is hollow, and has a tiny hole underneath, or else it would explode in the oven.

Looking at Poole quay, from accross the lifting bridge. A sketch in pencil, size A3. You can make out the Poole Arms pub in the centre, and the Portsmouth Hoy pub two buildings left of it. Harbour commissioner's building to the left, and to the right you see old warehouse buildings.

The Poole Arms pub on Poole quay. A sketch in pencil, size A3. This is a striking building with its front elevation entirely in glazed green tiles. Although the pub is a bit pokey inside though. To the left of it is a tall thin building, which I think houses a chandlers.

Outside Burger King. A sketch in pencil, size A3. Accross the road off the left is the old Poole Library. We see the high street continuing on the right toward the quay. The people are not quite right in scale, as they were hurrying accross the road as I sketched.

Modern and old along Poole high street. A sketch in pencil, size A3. Burger King is over the road to our right. The building with dots on the front is a 1960's contribution.

Purbeck Pottery building on Poole quay. A sketch in pencil, size A3. This was drawn from the industrial area opposite the quay. You can see the yatchs moored on the quay. I took a bit of liberty with the sky.

Poole lifting bridge. A sketch in pencil, size A3. I thought this was a bit ambitious, but it worked. We have the pontoons, with police launches moored. The raising section pivots up to the left of that structure on the bridge. That large vertical building in the distant right is the old power station which was demolished years ago, to make way for the new lifting bridge (currently under construction 2011).

A war memorial at Corfe Castle. A sketch in pencil, size A3. The castle ruins are on a hill to our left. You can see the buildings going down into a valley. I appologise for the bent car. You try holding a pad, and drawing on it. The picture's ok non the less.

The old library, off Poole high street. A sketch in pencil, size A3. Some ornate brickwork. It hasn't been a library for years now. I think its a gym. Plenty of street furniture though.

Paradise Street. A sketch in pencil, size A3. This little street is parallel to and just to the rear of the quay. It is old and interesting. The low butressed building at the left once continued accross the road to our left, as part of what is now the King's Hall pub. The tall building rear left is a warehouse, with bulging walls. I wouldn't loiter under it.

Some cars parked on Poole quay. A sketch in pencil, size A3. You can no longer park on the quay, as there is a flood defence wall now. Spot the Mercedes. The building on the right is the Jolly Sailor pub.

The deck of a boat moored at Poole quay. A sketch in pencil, size A3. I really like this one, with its bold scribbled shading.

Looking up Poole high street, from outside the Old Orchard office block. A sketch in pencil, size A3. The office block has since been redeveloped into appartments, and a ground floor shop.

A tug moored in the industrial area opposite Poole quay. A sketch in pencil, size A3. The warehouse on the right is now part of the Sunseeker luxury boat empire.

Burger King in Poole high street. A sketch in pencil, size A3. The large vertical structure in the distance is the landmark Barclays Bank office block.

The Helmsman Pub at Poole quay. A sketch in pencil, size A3. This pub has been renamed umpteen times over the years. The building curves around the corner, leading into a side street. I do like the bicycle.

A boat moored at Poole quay. A sketch in pencil, size A3. Looking toward the lifting bridge.

The ruin of Scaplens Court. A sketch in pencil, size A3. It has been re-roofed and is now a museum. On the right is the King's Head pub, not to be confused with the King's Hall pub just up the road.

The old customs house at Poole quay. A sketch in pencil, size A3. The right hand side of the building fronts onto the quay, while the left hand side fronts onto Paradise Street.

A yacht moored at Poole quay. A sketch in pencil and watercolour, size A3. This is a real sailor's boat, with the automatic steering device, and those footholds for climbing up the masts. The rope ladder is quite nice.

A small motor-boat at Mitchel's Boatyard. A sketch in ink and coloured pencil, size A3. This was an experiment, with bold black lines, and cartoon like colouring.

The old lifeboat house by Poole quay. A sketch in pencil and coloured pencil, size A3. It is a lifeboat museum now, and the shallow water in the foreground is popular for crabbing. Families sit along the stone wall, casting their lines. Adding colour to a sketch like this, gives it some life, I think. You can see fishing nets hung up in the background.

Here are people crabbing today, by the lifeboat museum:

Yachts moored three deep at Poole quay. A sketch in pencil and coloured pencil, size A3. At busy times, you often see boats stacked up alongside the quay. The picture is pretty unremarkable.

This was Maggie, an old art teacher. A sketch in pencil, size A3. Although no longer with us, she ran a portrait group at Poole arts centre, attended by some very capable amateur artists. She would arrange for a model to sit for us, and we sat around at tables and easils. This was a very quick covert sketch I did, and she never knew. One of the artists spotted it though.

Portrait of a boy. A sketch in pencil and coloured pencil, size A3. This was at Maggie's portrait group, and the boy was one of her press-ganged neighbours. You can see my art bag in the foreground, on a table.

This is the same boy's legs. A sketch in pencil and coloured pencil, size A3. Also experimenting with a dash of colour, here and there.

And the same boy's shoes. A sketch in pencil, size A3. This must have been a different day, as the shoes are not the same.

Vanessa. A drawing in pencil and coloured pencil, size A3. Drawn approx 1986, at Maggie's portrait group. Vanessa was a 17-year old student Maggie roped in to pose for us. She wore her dad's leather bomber jacket over her shoulders. I thought I'd jiggle things up a bit, and add a touch of colour. That solitary line in the lower middle is her nose.

A thatched cottage at Pamphill near Wimborne (Dorset). A sketch in black ink and coloured pencil, size A3. On summer evenings Maggie's group would get out and about. The foreground is a graveyard, with a colourful tree. Rather cartoon-like, I think it has appeal.

From my 'red period'. Abstractish drawing in pencil and coloured pencil, size A1(ish). Yes, an experiment. Drawn as lines with pencil, and then coloured in with block colours.

The ducking stool at Canterbury. A sketch in pencil and coloured pencil, size A3. This is a bit of a grubby mess, but the old buildings are interesting This would have been 1981, when I was at Kent University.

Here is the young turk in action, photographed by Neale, photographed by Russel. I went down into Canterbury alone, from the university, to sketch the cathederal. The 'boys' just happened to find me there. I knew they were up to something, but as I was engrossed in my sketch, I didn't know they were taking photographs. Notice all that hair.

Canterbury Cathederal seen accross a memorial garden. A sketch in pencil, size A3. Another experiment, looks better in monochrome, but all that shading was done in hideous colours.

The Malvern Hills. A sketch in pencil and coloured pencil, size A2. Drawn approx 1981 at Malvern, where I lived for some years. I drove around the countryside in my VW beetle, looking for a subject, and spotted this view of the hills accross a field. I pulled over, and drew it. The hills are seen here from the east.

Here is the trusty beetle: (actually, it wasn't all that trusty)

Ledbury market square. A sketch in fine felt pen, size A3. A tranquil rural townscape. Er.. not quite. While I sketched this on a sunday, there was a youth nearby with a ghetto-blaster belting out rock music.

Freezing near Malvern. A sketch in pencil, size A3. This was maybe 1979, and somewhere west of the northen end of the Malvern Hills. It was a miserable freezing day, with snow on the ground, and no sunshine all day. I figured a 'real artist' would go out drawing even on the lousy days, so out I went. My fingers were like icicles. On the left, you see a footbridge crossing a small river. All the normal people had driven to that pub.

A disused quarry at rhe southern end of the Malvern Hills. A sketch in pastels, size A2, 1979. This was my first (and only) attempt at using pastels. I still have the pastels in their box, decades later. The colours are gawdy.

Some trees on the Malvern Hills. A sketch in blue ball-point pen, and coloured pencil, size A2. This was done the same day as the above picture, just a bit higher up the hill. Yet another experiment. It was about sketching with a free scribble style.

Two old fogeys. A sketch in pencil, size A4. This was done during an art class on a cruise ship. It was a covert very quick sketch (seconds). You just don't worry about details, and get the pencil moving. They were total strangers.

Christchurch Priory (Dorset) with trees in the foreground. A sketch in pencil and coloured pencil, size A4. This was 1974, as were the next two pictures. As a youngster, I decided it would be cool to go out sketching buildings.

A row of small shops close to Christchurch Castle. A sketch in pencil and coloured pencil, size A4. I remember doing this, with the small-pane windows. I got my mum to drop me in Christchurch with a sketch book.

Old building being refurbished in the Purewell area of Christchurch. A sketch in pencil, size A4. We are getting close to where it all started. I remember eyeing up this building from a bus, a few times, and eventually went back with a sketch pad. One of my first drawing expeditions, when I was still at school.