Sketchbook Update 91

Part 1 of a double update! So a big chunk of this update is travel sketches from the same day, but because there's so much I've split this month into two! Part 2 is here! As usual there's notes in the image descriptions and also a photo diary type thing below!

I went to Sheffield to visit my mum, which was nice, but it was a long journey! I pretty much drew the whole way there and back, and had to buy a new memo pad once I got there because I used up all my pages on the train! It's actually almost finished now...
As with last month, I found a church and plonked myself down in it to chill out while waiting for the train. They had some beautiful windows, and a great carved wooden podium thing, I wish I had gotten a proper photo. Next time!

Because there's no shops or anything in the village, I find it very novel to buy food from butchers/greengrocers/bakeries, so here is a very plain photo of a very tasty pork pie. I did previously live in a city and worked in town and got tired of eating bakery food, it's fun how its gone back to being a treat. Also here is the only photo I took in sheffield, oops...! I definitely find that the people/atmosphere really...take away from cities, for me. It was beautiful, but it was so busy.

I did a lino block (a gift for my brother) for the first time since school, and I had the incredible realisation that I could print my own art and make it into lino stamps. Previously everything I've done has been drawn/designed for lino printing, and it was always quite arty farty, so it was really really fun to take my silly oc doodles and make them into something new!I did like all of these in one evening I think, I went mad. It was kind of addictive!

I was massively enabled in my cow drawing by the farmer, who when I walked past said 'come and see my babies!' and said I could go and see the calves whenever I wanted. I must have spent hours there over the month, and I'm glad I did, because they're out in the fields now the weather is warmer!

They're so fucking cute it kills me. I actually made a little zine for a village event, compiling all of my various animal sketches and everyone was very pleased haha. The people who own the donkeys and sheep said they'll let me into the pens if I want, and that they'll introduce me to the 'terrors', so I'm very excited about that ;P.

I do all of my nature and animal pics from life, so sometimes I mess up, but I love trying to capture what's infront of me! People kept asking if I used these sketches to make larger painted pieces etc, but for me it's more about appreciating and spending time with the subject (environment, animal). I think for a lot of people, they feel the end goal of art is having a piece to put on a wall, where for me my sketchbook isn't really a place I do prep work, it's just a place for me to have fun. I do want to make some larger 'wall worthy' pieces at home, I'd like to paint my cat more, and maybe paint some of the nice environment pics I've taken, but it's never quite as exciting to sit at a desk, and I have this compulsion to draw when I'm outside that isn't really the same when I look at photos. (I do have this feeling when I watch movies, though. I see a frame and I'm like! I have to capture that moment!!)

I've been so so excited that the plants are finally coming back to life, I kind of want to spend all day outside. I found a little stream with a little plank over it while following some deer* , which I've very much enjoyed sitting on and thinking lol. I love water! I love plants! While I was plotting the next Eugene/Cliff comic there a bird of prey whooshed right past my shoulder as it followed the stream, it was nuts!
* I wanted to get a photo so I just walked really slowly after them and froze when they looked haha. They eventually ran away but I found a new path to walk, thank you deer. Pictured deer is from the same place, but different day! They kept looking at me like, moving their heads side to side to get a different vantage like 'yes it's very still. but it IS white and orange and was not there before. We are not sure. We do not know.'

One of my new years goals was to do plein air april, but you know what, it was cold and everything was still mostly brown and I did not care for it! I did want to do a few to capture everything before it grew, and I'd like to do a few more before April is done. I think I'll consider doing plein air june... august.. or maybe I'll just paint randomly like usual. We will see.

More sketches from my walk, I usually walk/run on the morning, and take my drawing or painting stuff with me in my pocket or bum bag...fanny pack......? Here fanny does Not mean bottom.

Look at the cool shit I found! Two horseshoes within a few days of eachother, and I also got a fortune cookie the same day that said I will be showered in good luck...which was kinda spooky because I have not had a fortune cookie in like...5 years? I do feel very lucky, to live this life, though :').
(this is actually from last month but I forgot to say)

Part 2!
Thanks for reading <3<3<3!!