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Part 2, Project 2, exercise 1 – natural objects, detail and tone

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

I’m feeling enormous resistance to this exercise; partly because static objects bore the socks off me [and I know they shouldn’t but there you go], and partly because it takes two pairs of glasses to switch between the looking and the drawing [grr]. But, after having a word with myself about sucking it up and getting stuck in, I ripped a piece of bark off a large section of log I use as a door stop and deployed my secret weapon – a ‘brass rubbing’ of the surface to give me the guidelines. This is 6B pencil + Faber-Castell coloured … Continue reading Part 2, Project 2, exercise 1 – natural objects, detail and tone

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Part 2, Project 1, Composition 3

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

Going tiny today; two ceramic birds that fell off a wind chime in the garden, a shell, a pencil, and an eraser on a black paper background. The sketch took about 10 minutes because I’m trying to be quick and loose (careless? casual? nonchalant?). 9B pencil and my trusty Derwent battery operated eraser with a new bit in its teeth. Conte crayon with objects picked out using the eraser. Similar quality to those first photos of Ultima Thule! The next page is that (totally self-inflicted) mauve. And the still life has been rearranged; cheers Flora. I set out to pinch … Continue reading Part 2, Project 1, Composition 3

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Part 2, Project 1 – Composition 2

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

A pair of quick sketches just to see what I could achieve by being a little less concerned about messing up sketch books. This is [please forgive me!] the Parrot Sketch* I covered the paper with orange and yellow charcoal to break the pristine feel of the white paper, dribbled yellow ink down the centre where the parrot – a balsa wood object that I’ve repainted several times and now sits in my conservatory in front of a large red container I’d given to my parents some years ago and that came home after they died. They’re both surrounded by … Continue reading Part 2, Project 1 – Composition 2

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Part 2, Project 1 – Composition 1

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

After faffing around with what might be called drafts, I’ve realised that only a couple meet the criteria for Part 2 Project 1 by being akin to compositions. I’ve posted them already but with multiple others that aren’t part of that set so now they’re here. This is honestly one of the most unimaginative compositions (to me, anyway) that I could have inflicted on myself and it shows. I used charcoal to render a basket filled with pebbles and a glass of water with cress from my pond. The result was even less attractive than the arrangement and, my the … Continue reading Part 2, Project 1 – Composition 1

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More local galleries

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

I began this search because, for a number of reasons, travel to the major galleries is not an easy option. My semi-rural location, the state of public transport, a few physical inconveniences that don’t bother me at all unless they collide, and choosing not to drive in reduced visibility (dusk to dawn, or lousy weather conditions). Luckily, I live in an area that has art at its core. One look at that Pavilion on Grand Parade and you realise you’re in a town that really doesn’t know how to sit down and shut up. Built by the maverick Prince Regent … Continue reading More local galleries

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Sketch-fest

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

Continued from yesterday and with another bird. This time a cockerel watering can made of welded metal with a bronzed finish. It’s in the front room which was in shade when I started and then the sun came out and revealed more shape and shadows. I began ambitiously (after yesterday’s birds) with a brown pencil but found it difficult to ‘feel’ the shapes. Conte crayon helped but I need to persevere with sketching to get a good sense of this thing.   Second attempt, still too little tail and no handle but the rhythm of the drawing felt a bit … Continue reading Sketch-fest

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Cow

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

This large lady with the world-weary expression is an enhanced version of the one in Not Being First Fish where she illustrates a story about townies not shutting gates because why should they, huh? She may be appearing in a shop near you*, well near me anyway, in the new year. There’ll be a copy of the book too, for perusal, and copies for sale over the road in Steyning Book Shop, bless ’em. *The Basement93, Steyning High street. You’ll find them on Facebook, and also Instagram where the whole shop-full of loveliness is presented in pictures. Continue reading Cow

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Christmas presents

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

My sister and I bought each other the same present – little metal birds* – and my niece bought me a set of Faber-Castell coloured pencils, so today I put them to use. Or at least I put the black pencil to use. These are lovely little sculptures/models and, as I have bird feeders outside the window and a web cam on one of them, I can honestly say they feel authentically ‘bird’. As drawing models, they’re wonderfully still and these are in three different poses so I reckon I can get some valuable shape and form practice out of … Continue reading Christmas presents

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The Wild Rose and the China Doll

Suzanne Conboy-Hill

I was messing around with charcoal yesterday and made some sweeps across an A2 sheet of cartridge. Another couple of sweeps and I saw what it was – a scene from a story I wrote some while ago which had been triggered by that extraordinary track by Nick Cage and Kylie Minogue – Where the Wild Roses Grow. I’d heard that track just a day or so ago. The story is called The Wild Rose and the China Doll and you can find it here on Full of Crow.     Continue reading The Wild Rose and the China Doll