Sketch Therapist

Just a few minutes to greet you on this Christmas morning. A small break follows but I’ll be back to you in the New Year. Have a good week!

It’s been unbelievably cold this week in Ireland and I’ve managed to get out to capture the beauty of the diamond- shining landscape in watercolour, albeit from my car. I also - as is my wont - mull over the vagaries of luck, of artistic success and fulfillment, and how to ride the ups and downs of it all.

In this week’s episode I travel the length and breadth of the aisles of German discount retailers to find a glass suitable to sketch a hot mulled wine for you! No success alas but one was had in a hotel nonetheless, the sketching of which I explain to you in detail. Also, new segment: Grievances. I suspect it will (not) cheer everyone up!

A bit of a mish-mash today, with some pretty rambling thoughts about France, some tips for painting Christmas cards and some superhero stories about (me) putting the world to right!

I spend a further week in the Auvergne but things go poire-shaped halfway through as I catch a terrible virus. Still, the show must go on and I get the job done! At least the locals are lovely…

This week I share the first leg of my trip to Clermont-Ferrand, in the heart of the Auvergne in France where I attended the 22nd Rendezvous du Carnet de Voyage, or the Meeting of the Travel Sketchbooks (sounds so much nicer in French!) After a slightly sticky start, I’ve had such an inspiring time, and I simply can’t wait to start putting the new tips I’ve picked up to use. I just love France…

In this week’s episode I have my VERY FIRST GUEST - drum roll - my sketching companion himself, my son Paddy. We chat sketching and the nature of creativity, and his upcoming driving test! I explain how to capture frosty and sparkly surfaces in watercolour and share my excitement about the Rendezvous Carnet de Voyage in Clermont-Ferrand next week.

A short episode this week - I think I need to catch my breath! But short can be sweet and this week it’s all about capturing those in-the-way folk who come into your frame of view JUST as you’re drawing something…here’s a way around that!

This week I explain how to capture light in glass, I evangelise once more about fully experiencing the seasons through sketching - and I tell you about my idea for an upcoming podcast subject!

This week is all about ink: how to use it as a scribbly sketcher and how to use it when you’re coming up with cartoons. I try as best I can to explain how I come up with, and draw, the cartoons I’ve been doing for Inktober, but only you can tell me if I’ve got anywhere. Of everything I do, cartoons are a window into my brain, and I don’t have eyes on the back of my head so I can barely see in myself! I hope you enjoy this week, I loved recording it. Don’t forget to share your thoughts with me - send me an email!