Florence Sketchbook

Reportage Illustration with Rachel Gannon

On Saturday I took part in a reportage illustration course at the House of Illustration, led by illustrator and educator Rachel Gannon. We spent the afternoon in and around King's Cross Station completing a number of drawing tasks. These included:

• quick 5 minute continuous line drawings
• figure drawing
• drawing a narrative 
• buildings and grids

It was a really good chance to practice some areas of drawing that I tend to shy away from, such as people. It was also nice to see the work of others and have a very quick and friendly feedback session. It was a bit like being back at university - except without the impending threat of grades! 

I certainly won't be framing any of these, but it was fun to try something different. Below is the only sketch I really liked, which shows some quick scribbles of people I stalked- I mean drew at the station. One thing that really struck me was how many people were on their phones for considerable amounts of time. What is the world coming to!

You can find out more about courses on offer at the House of Illustration here and Rachel Gannon here.

Greenbelt 2015

This is a video of the sketchbook that I completed at this years' Greenbelt Festival. I feel very honoured that Rhythms asked me to attend Greenbelt as an illustrator. I had a great time, in spite of loathing camping! I had the opportunity to hear a lot of very good talks, particularly on the conflict in Syria. The last illustration is a response to this; I've tried to convey that it's more complicated than good guys fighting bad guys, and that in reality it's a jumble of all-too-similar people opposing and killing each other. It's such a messed up situation, and I have no solutions to it, except that I think we, all of us from World Leaders to our own households,  need a little more compassion. While there are people who need help, we must still keep helping. 

Greenbelt

This weekend I am illustrating at Greenbelt Festival. Keep an eye for updates on the Rhythms Website. 

Space Walking - NASA Sublime

Last Saturday I visited the Breese Little Gallery in London to view an exhibition of Vintage NASA photos. It was like looking through an astronauts holiday snaps. The space walking photos were my favourite, but also seeing early photos of Mars and Saturn was a treat. These days, we have so many amazing, breath taking shots of space and no, these were not on par with them; but there was something so charming about them.

So I drew one, as you can see.

I've always loved the stars, but I've never been very interested in visiting them. I think Earth is beautiful, why would I want to go somewhere else? But I have decided recently that I would like to go into space, just to look back at Earth. And, as far as I'm aware, nobody has ever painted or drawn earth from observation in space. I want to do that. So if you are an astronaut/space person/connected to the ISS/really rich, can we make this happen please? I'm serious.

Travel Sketches

It's been a long while since I shared anything from my travel journal, so I thought I would do an update post. A travel journal isn't a work of art, it's just thoughts and sites you experience as you go about daily life. 

This was from St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. It's beautiful there, peaceful. The the castle is, well, wow. Go when the Queen's not in and you get to see a lot more of it. The quote of the left is from George VI's tomb, great-great-grandfather of the newly born Prince George of Cambridge. I think it would be a nice passage for the new Prince too.

This is a battle scene I saw in my head as part of a story I'll probably never get around to writing, about a girl called Norah, and her horse with no eyes.

I drew this in an East Sussex wood, while on a women's ministry course in June. We'd just had a session on hearing from God, and I, in my obstinate nature had inwardly refused to do co-operate. I then went for a walk, away from the conference centre (I climbed over a fence and got out!) And finally after an hour of debating with God on why I was right, I sat down in a slight clearing, and listened. This drawing followed.

And this was a leaf I found there and stuck in. I always carry Pritt Stick on me.

And this one I drew today. I've read a lot about Killer Whales in the news this week, and this just came out. I imagined a girl who tamed two young orca's out at see, until she could ride them over the waves.

I've been a bit undisciplined with my travel journal this year, I must get back into it. Looking at it now, I think but where's Sicily? Where are my friends? Where are those beautiful National Trust properties I've visited? Where I the stories I used to jot down while waiting for other people to hurry up? I carry this book everywhere, with it cluttering up my bag, I need to start making the most of it again.

Things Are Going Swimmingly

Another whale, I won't apologise.

If anyone sees any nice jumpers with whales on please let me know, I would love one. Wait... I just had the best idea, why don't I make one? Oh my gosh.

Burghley Horse Trials

I, and my family, try to go to Burghley Horse Trials every year. It takes place at Burghley House, my favourite house ever. It's beautiful, seriously, visit it. Anyway, the house itself isn't open while the Horse Trials are on, instead you can wander around acres of shopping village where you can buy almost anything. I spent all my pennies at the antique book stall buying pony books. I don't think I'll ever grow out of this.

The Paralympics

One in a crowded stadium. Surrounded by murmur. Watching. Waiting. Watching. Waiting.

Boy, about seven - maybe eight - doesn't get chocolate. Cries for half an hour. Gets chocolate.

Bell. Watching again.

I could do with some chocolate.

Lee Bay, Devon

Bay. Rocky. Secret.

Tide. Salt and rain.

There are children playing, waves crashing, rocks falling, a guitar playing. Yet, in my heart and my head it's still, quiet.

It's beautiful here.

One Year On...

My blog is one year old today. How time flies. This means that this time last year my degree show exhibition was running, and I'd pretty much finished being at uni. Actually, that does seem a really long time ago now. I'm definitely far from being a student now; I have a "proper" job, I go out to tea rooms on Saturday afternoon's, and I wear pencils skirts a lot. All of these things must mean I'm a proper adult now (let's just ignore the game of ultimate frisbee on Thursday.)

A lot can happen in a year, and a lot did happen. But not so much in an arty sense. I few bits and pieces here and there, but nowhere near what I'd hoped to have achieved in a year. So I'm spending a good deal of time planning; how can I get the money/space/time I need? What direction should I go in first? How many forms would I need to fill in if I did 'A'? How much of a risk would it be if I did 'B'? I'm not getting many answers yet, but I'm starting to know the questions I need to ask. I know that I want to start being more creative again. I have a few projects I'd love to get off the ground. And I know I really don't want to work in an office my whole life.

So, the quest continues...

Madrid

Last weekend three of my friends and I descended on Spain. We attended a conference at an evangelical church in Alcala, near Madrid, through a connection of one of my friends' family. She took a hip hop workshop, and another friend and I took an art workshop...but more about that soon. These are some sketches from Madrid, which was beautiful in the sunshine.

A scary dancing, glittering goat.

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