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On Topsham Quay

Today I am in Topsham with the enthusiastic members of OVAS, the Otter Vale Art Society, to give a workshop on sketching. Following on from last nights demonstration.
We are lucky with the weather, which for the most part stays dry, with just one shower blowing through at the end of the day. See my last sketch with all the raindrops on it!

Topsham is a great place for sketching and you can see lots of pictures where​ ever you look. It’s amazing how although we are all in the same place, different things catch our eye and inspire us.
Whilst going between everyone I managed two sketches:

The featured sketch above:

Topsham Canal Lock and Cottage

Watercolour ~ A4
Which is watercolour washes with a watercolour black pencil added into the washes, whilst they are still wet. The paper was very thin so it has ‘cockled’ rather a lot. But as I’ve been saying today ‘it’s only a sketch’ so don’t worry.

In the Museums Garden

Watercolour ~ A4
The other in the museums garden, the two figures (fellow artists) moved off before I had time to put them in – so they could get ice creams! However, I was running out of time and it had started to rain, as you can see from all the spots. It was also, getting a bit chilly by this point anyway​.

Materials I was using

The first sketch was on a drawing pad that I was given (just in a blank black cover). The second ‘garden’ sketch was on Daler Rowney, Langton 5 x 7”, ‘Not’ watercolour pad, using my Winsor & Newton, watercolour field paint box and a round, sable brush – no.6.

Finally

I enjoyed the day with them all and I hope they did too. Hopefully taking something with them to help with their sketching. To see some of the work by the rest of the group here’s a link to their post of the day: ‘Sketching Workshop‘ and another link to their friendly art society: ‘Otter Vale Art Society

Here’s a selection of the sketches by the OVAS members:

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