I'm hoping to crack on with the Walton Hall interiors. I've been down there a few times to do some site sketching and take a few photos. I've got four lunchtime slots booked to do some painting work so I can get the best information directly from the subject (photos wouldn't give the full story in terms of tones, colours etc). I'm hoping to include a figure but it's been quite tricky working out the best sort of composition. I want to create a bit of narrative and experiment with using the figure to do this. It might work better as a triptych. One thing's for sure, I'll be keeping the studies small until I've decided upon a format that works. Here's a few of the studies...I used my tombow wash pens to quickly throw in patches of tone

I've been keeping the art brain active with some regular drawing (almost but not quite daily!). I often do a little self portrait in the evening, mainly because I'm a reasonably reliable model (as opposed to any form of vanity). Painting wise, I've been easing myself back into the fold and have about five or six bubbling away. Two or three seem to be working OK but the jury's still out the others. Anyway, here's a sample of a few of the drawings just to prove I have been doing something!





and here's a few from lunchtime sketches...



(this one was done in the doctor's waiting room..a guy who didn't move much at all for about 20 minutes!)