Tuesday 7 June 2011

I'm loving it!

I try to leave early in the morning to cycle to work but sometimes (and I do mean sometimes, honest)  I stop off at McD's for a cooked breakfast! After munching my way through my McMuffin and hash brown, and whilst slurping a nice hot milky coffee, I took out my sketchbook and a very black 8B pencil and quickly sketched the rather uninspiring view through the window. I added the colour and a few pen strokes later this evening.

Outside, beyond the car park and the giant advertising hoarding, loom the shiny metal silos of the local plastic cup factory which seem to be in some strange harmony with the straw dispensers on the waste bin and tray storage unit inside. I just liked the composition with the counterplay of all the different vertical structures close by and far away and the shadows cast by the slotted window shutters across the side of the unit.

Did I learn anything from this little exercise? Well, yes. Sketching in public isn't really so scary after all .. Oh, and next time I'll only pour myself a half portion of tomato sauce to dip the hash brown in:) Happy Tuesday!


Huntingdon, View through McDonalds window

15 comments:

  1. Wonderful sketch Michael. Now wasn't that fun? I had to re read your 'tomato sauce line?' Then I realized (I think) that its ketchup? Yes?

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  2. Great sketch and congratulations on being brave and seeing it's not scary.

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  3. Hi Bj, thank you very much! Yes, I'm showing my Northern roots - it's ketchup :)

    Hi again, Sue and thank you. I feel more and more confident each time I sketch in public. It's just getting the time that's difficult :)

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  4. Great sketch! It shows that interesting subjects are everywhere. Very brave to sketch in public, never done that.

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  5. Dankje Judy, I've sketched quite a few times lately and also long ago, but not in such a public place! You really ought to give it a go. Just keep your sketching kit really basic and lightweight or else you spend more time wondering where to start and what to use! I will try to write a post soon about what I take out with me and why :)

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  6. Hats off to you Michael for 'doing it' in public. I keep telling myself I MUST, but never do. Note to self: must try harder. ;-)

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  7. Thanks, John. It gets easier - you just have to be as inconspicuous as you can - so no wearing that beret and gripping a paintbrush between your teeth LOL!

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  8. What a quirky sketch! 'I'm luvvin it', lol!

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  9. Hi Sandra, it is a bit quirky isn't it? Glad to hear you're luvvin it too :)

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  10. Well done you!
    It isn't so scary - and you came away with a full tum and a fab sketch :) xx

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  11. Thanks, Pat. I certainly did come away with those things, and a slightly lighter wallet too :)

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  12. Super composition Michael. Some of the most uninteresting appearing views can turn out to be gems. Going to try to be brave myself tomorrow - sketching in a hospital!

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  13. Hi Anita and thank you for your comments. Good luck for tomorrow :)

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  14. Love your sense of humour Michael , and your sketch is very good too! :)

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  15. Thanks, Ingrid. I'm glad you liked the humourous side of this post. I love the styles of a lot of the journalling artists out there but I think I need a style to begin with! I'm sure one will develop in time :)

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