Wacom’s Inkling is a digital pen that captures your sketch from paper. Recording your strokes and transferring your sketch digitally for further editing on your computer. The Inkling has a pressure sensitive ballpoint tip and can create layered sketches.

It’s exciting to see new technology unfold, bringing tools that bridge the gap between traditional, freehand sketching and digital input with a mouse or tablet. Both the iPad with its finger-painting and the Inkling give artists the tools to interact more directly with their devices, removing the clunky layer between your hand and your canvas.

A special thank you to my friend, artist Jamie Berry, who brought the Inkling to my attention. 

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Life drawing. Ink.

I’ve been experimenting with an ink pen during my life drawing project. It makes me think of the calligraphy master who meditates for an hour before making a brush stroke. Obviously, I’m not claiming to be anywhere close to a calligraphy master, but I do find myself working at a different rhythm, pausing, and then putting down my brush stroke. Ink is so definite.

I made a series of life drawings defining shapes as either white or black. Finding a quality of mystery emerge in the drawings when resisting the temptation to add outlines or boundaries. Which leads me to a quote about art and mystery:

The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.
Francis Bacon

Siri Derkert, self portrait, 1915 | Siri Derkert, 1966 © Photo: Anna Riwkin

Siri Derkert (1888–1973). A pioneer of Swedish 20th century art.

Early cubist, modernist paintings, fashion drawings from the 1910s, portraits of children and adults, experiments with materials such as concrete, iron strips and clay are all presented in this major retrospective exhibition at the Modern Museum of Art (Moderna). A show that also paints a picture of the life of multifaceted Siri Derkert.

In her piece ‘Ristningar i naturbetong’ (Carvings in Natural Concrete) in the underground station at Östermalmstorg in Stockholm, Derkert uses a special sandblasting technique to interweave the personal with the political. The piece thematically revolves around peace, environmental questions, dance, music and rhythm.

The peace movement and feminism were major themes of her work and are as relevant today as they were at the time she explored them in art and sculpture. A very inspiring exhibition!

Siri Derkert. Carvings in Natural Concrete. 1965. iPhone photo: Kate England

Life drawing: watercolour and ink

Life drawings in watercolour, pen and ink.

Watercolour croquis

As much as I’ve been enjoying figure and life drawing with charcoal, it’s fun to switch it up and work with different media. So I dug out my watercolour pencils and gave them a go.

At first, I found it rather impractical to work with colour as well shapes and shadows during the 3 or 5 minute life drawing poses. The time it takes to switch colours and dip the brush in water, and the act of holding a bunch of tools in your hand, all add to your attention given the short time. Then I discovered the water brush, and it’s revolutionised painting on the go for me!

Pentel Aquash Water Brush

A water brush has a soft plastic reservoir that can be filled with water. When you squeeze the barrel, water flows into the bristles, which removes the need for a separate water container. It also makes it quick and easy to clean the brush when switching colours or when you’ve finished painting. The barrel is flattened which prevents the brush from rolling off your work surface.

The water brush is fantastic for watercolour sketching and painting on location, life and figure drawing and journaling. Perfect for blending watercolour pencils or applying watercolour, gouache or ink. Highly recommended!

I used a Pentel Aquash Waterbrush for this watercolour life drawing of a 3 minute pose. I predict the water brush will come in handy for portable summer painting!

Flamenco

It’s been such a pleasure to go to the figure drawing events at Dansmuseet, the museum of dance, as part of my life and figure drawing project this spring. The dancers, the music, bodies in motion, the body as an expression. And it’s a humbling reminder of the daily practice that’s involved in the life of a dancer.

The dancer dances to music of their own choice and then stops for two or three minute poses, then goes back to dancing. This spring there was a ballet dancer, a flamenco dancer and three modern dancers.

It’s incredibly challenging, and this spring I’ve focused on the still poses, just relaxing and enjoying during the dancing. This autumn though, I’m going to try to capture the motion, the actual dancing.

The good news is, there’ll be ten figure drawing events at the museum of dance this autumn! Highly recommended if you’re in the Stockholm area!

Ballet

iPhone photography: life drawing

A page from my sketchbook. Charchoal feels soft and forgiving to work with. Almost like sculpting, adding, removing, adjusting…

This spring I’ve been going to two-three different life drawing sessions each week. There’s the traditional life drawing orgainised by the Organisation for Swedish Artists, there’s a life drawing event with dancers in motion arranged by the museum of Dance, and a funky club that organises burlesque figure drawing events inspired by Parisian cabarets, American circuses and Russian pubs.

I’m reaching the last pages of my third sketchbook.