Sue's News
This is not going to be a blog of the minute-by-minute activity in my life.
So you won't see things like 'Added some more brown to the Alsatian's ear' or 'Stirred my coffee anti-clockwise for a change'.
July 18
Been to Whitstable beach to see the huge Newfoundland dogs on sea rescue display and got some photos. Tomorrow is Scallywags dog show at 11.00 and we have friends for lunch at 1230. It's going to be a rush.
July 17
Visited Kent County Show to get animal pictures. Do you know how CUTE Alpacas are? Watch for a portrait soon. I can't wait. Also got pictures of dogs, horses, sheep, ferrets, otters, pigs' bottoms ( you have to see the pic to appreciate that one)and cows. Prince Edward aand Sophie were there too but not so photogenic! Oops. There goes my OBE.
July 16
I have been asked to send a scan of Windy Day to a magazine for publication. High quality please, they said. Did you know a 1200dpi scan takes 40 minutes, produces a 340 megabyte image and locks your computer up because it's too big to handle? No? Well I found out the hard way. I don't want to be a computer person or a photographer. I just want to draw portraits!
July 15
Photography is so much more difficult than drawing portraits. I have a complex camera that just cannot produce a good photo of the three ladies I have just drawn. I have spent a whole afternoon and evening and taken over a hundrefd pictures at every imaginable setting. In the end a friend from the local camera club has helped. It's not me after all. Apparently black-and-white originals are horrific to photograph because they include lots of white, lots of black and little in-between. At last I can frame it and send it off.
July 3
Got a call from the RSPCA wanting a free gift voucher for their Open Day in Essex tomorrow. OK. It's a good cause and more publicity. And I might get another bouquet!
June 30
Retired-accountant husband obviously bored - again.
Did I know that in the first three months of this year I've done nearly as many portraits as in the whole of last year? If I keep it up he can change his our car!
He says that charity begins at home. In the garage.
June 29
Had a totally unexpected delivery of a bouquet of lilies from the DASS. What nice people!
June 27
Michael Jackson may be dead but not Elvis. Saw him at the Whitstable Playhouse, looking really good for his age. Arrived home to find an order. At 2300 on a Saturday night. And at last it's a cat. And the most fabulous looking cat - with attitude. Can't wait to draw it.
June 26
Sent off the German Shepherd, Tobias, to the Dog Aid Society. Got a call saying it's arrived and everyone in the office is delighted with it. My picture of Tobias is now on their website.
June 22
There's a Fun Dog Show coming up in Whitstable. I called, to discover that there's a rescue charity right on my doorstep. I've agreed to donate a portrait to the show winner, and they have agreed to hand out my business card to every entrant. Good local publicity.
June 21
Visited the local community centre fete and saw Lurch the Vulture again. He's as handsome as ever. He's the one in my June 4 competition entries.
June 10
Woken up by delivery man. David's bought me a new vacuum cleaner to replace the one he bought for his old office in 1988. I hope he likes using it as I'm far too busy drawing.
June 9
Another day off! This time a day out to Boulogne from Dover on the 2-day-old high speed catamaran. Great visibility from luxurious seats. Good lunch, then filled car with cheap wine and beer ready for the promised hot summer. Hopefully we'll organise a few barbecues.
June 8
Very interesting enquiry for a whole series of pictures - could be 20-40 over a long period. Spent some time on research and creating mock-ups.
June 4
Just sent off three entries for an international coloured pencil competition. Two on drafting film and one on paper.
Now I have to wait until August to hear the results. It will be a major achievement just to be selected to be in the exhibition. Fingers crossed!
June 9
My UKCPS show prize from Derwent arrived today. A huge box of art supplies, pretty much everything they sell. Last year it was valued at over £300 so it's my biggest ever 'payment' for a picture. David would have preferred real money, though!
June 2
Went, with friends, to Nice - for the day!
We'd seen a cheap flight with Aer Lingus from Gatwick. Horrendously early start, left home at 0330, but got to Cote D'Azur in time for breakfast. Glorious weather. Walked the Promenade des Anglais looking at the beautiful (and not so beautiful) people. The beach is stony, just like Whitstable, but the sea's blue, not porridge colour. Had a leisurely lunch and took the little tourist train round the town. Got back home well after midnight.
31 May - In shock
Got a call to say I've won Best in Show at the UK Coloured Pencil Society Summer Exhibition. Amazing.
I was delighted enough last year when I came second.
My experimenting with drafting film has really paid off. (See February 20th news).
28 May
Just realised that earlier this year my orders were all pictures of people, now it's all animals. I've got eleven dogs and two horses to draw. And it's ages since I had a cat to draw.
As many orders are for special occasions I often have to hold back putting finished pictures on my website or it could spoil a surprise.
May 22
Now back from Fuerte, trying to balance my commissions and my love of gardening. Now in second summer at Whitstable and have a better idea of what's needed gardenwise. Got a man/men in to remove trees and replace fences. David is better at planning than action. I love to garden but work takes precedence so weeding and watering minimal. Planning to plant shrubs and perennials that require minimal attention and hide weeds.
May 20
The Dog Aid Society winner is Tobias, a German Shepherd, and I will be drawing his portrait just as soon as I receive photos from the owner.
April 15
Doing my bit for charity. In this case, a personalised portrait for 'Dog of the Year' at the Dog Aid Society of Scotland,who re-home unwanted dogs, and help dog owners on low incomes with veterinary bills and neutering (the dogs, not the owners).
Owners send in pictures of their rescue dog with a caption stating why they think their dog should win the title and become the 2009 face of DASS and feature on all of their advertising. The pictures are posted on the charity's website and viewers vote for their favourite.
Vote here. (Now closed)
February 20
Between commissions, I experiment with different materials and papers. I've just discovered the joys of working with coloured pencils on drafting film - which is like plastic tracing paper. The film has no texture so I can't build up layers of colour but I love it because I can add colour to the reverse of the film to create almost a 3D effect.
The film needs a backing sheet of coloured paper beneath it and different colours changes the effect dramatically. I've used drafting film for my border collie puppy picture for the UKCPS competition with a bright white backing sheet to make the colours stand out.