Nothing Like Spring Flowers To Buoy The Spirits

I missed last week’s post but I have an update on the Sketchpocket.

Colourful Crocuses: The Results Are In!

But first! Last week I hosted a free class on sketching crocuses in pretty blue floral pots. Perhaps it was an easy subject, or I am a terrific teacher, or the world at large is much more talented than they believe, but the results I saw were so impressive. Beautiful, in fact. Actually, the truth lies within all those possibilities. Firstly, drawing just isn’t rocket science. Secondly, it may well be that I’m good at explaining and demonstrating. But the main truth lies in that third possibility: I believe people have a much greater aptitude for drawing and painting than they give themselves credit for. Everyone can pick up a concept if it’s explained one step at a time, and I think my particular style, with its blend of neatness and scribbliness, is quite accessible to many.

Feast your eyes on this magnificent array of crocuses, done by people all over the world following the class:

Aren’t they just stunning? Why don’t you give it a go? It’s STILL free and you can access the recording here: https://roisincure.com/product/hocus-crocus/

If you want the reference image beside you as you work, screenshot the image. I’m going to guess you have more than one device, so I hope that works for you. Tag me on instagram and I will share it!

Sketchpocket

I had a wonderful surprise in the post last Friday. It was a sample bag from the second factory I had contacted about having my sketchpockets made. I’ve seen so many samples at this stage – albeit, they are all but one made by me – so I was not excited about the fabric, pretty though it may be. That happens when you’ve been knee-deep in scraps of your own specially-designed branded fabric, in two colourways, for four years. Then I took a closer look and I saw how nicely the bags were made. Take a look:

And the best bit? The bag comfortably fits an A5 sketchbook in the space between front and back, not inside one of the pockets but perfactly secure en route to your sketching destination.

There were a few glitches, but nothing too serious. There were a few design changes, but nothing too dramatic. I made a neat little diagram itemising the changes and sent it on to the woman in charge. And then she dropped a bombshell.

“We won’t be able to produce your bag,” she said. “It’s too complicated for us.” I was so disappointed. I had raised my hopes, and had happily pictured myself keeping at least some of the manufacture within Ireland and being able to slap a lovely “guaranteed Irish” label all over my bags. Now I was back to square one. True, I have a wonderful manufacturer overseas (for whom I am very grateful) and the process of manufacturing the bags is well underway but I am Irish and wanted to also have a local provider, with all the convenience that a local supplier would offer. I guess times have changed, and Ireland’s manufacturing scene is now a higher-cost proposition than its European and Asian counterparts.

I will keep you up to date!

More Flowers…

I keep my late-winter spirits buoyant by sketching beautiful flowers in bouquets. My new technique is working so well, I can barely stop sketching flowers…there’s not much to tell about this clever technique, it’s that easy, but you can see the below sketch of yellow flowers in action over on my YouTube channel. It’s simply a question of sploshing down bright, clean colour before e’er an ink line is laid down…

This technique is a way to get over the problem of making your flowers sketches too tight, or just plain wrong. You need waterproof ink and artists’ quality watercolour, and you will find a white gel pen and white gouache will come in useful for highlights.

Another Free Class On The Way!

You know, the response to the free crocus class was very enthusiastic so I will be offering another free class very soon. And I mean it when I say I want to spread the true joy and peace of sketching to as many people as I can. So how about one for St. Patrick’s Day? Suggestions? Let me know if there’s a topic, preferably with an Irish theme, that you’d like to sketch for March 17th. It could be fun, romantic, moody, even “Oirish”, which is the word we use when we mean something theatrically or stereotypically Irish…I am open to ideas! You can comment here, or you can send me an email to sketchwithroisin@gmail.com.

Bring on the green!