ink

Animals in Winter – January 2026 – Saturday

/ tracyqp / Leave a comment

Twenty two artists met at the hall last Saturday, whilst one poorly artist painted at home then sent in photos of her pictures. It was a lovely relaxing day with arty friends catching up with each other over a cuppa and biscuits. To all members ill with this sore throat/cough bug, get better soon!

The suggested subject of ‘Animals in Winter’ was a popular one and several artists produced two pictures during the day. There were squirrels, highland cattle, foxes, squirrels, deer, birds, puffins, a snow leopard, hares, butterflies, a rabbit, ladybirds, a dormouse and robins. Several different mediums were used, such as watercolours, soft pastels, graphite pencils, acrylics, coloured pencils and inks. Some pictures are finished and others are works in progress, such as a landscape waiting for the animal to be added. The last 5 pictures were created at another art group but are of the same subject.

Some artists chose their own themes to draw and paint with pencils, pastels and watercolours.

Well done, everyone, it was a very productive day!

Ideas for next month will be published on 1st February and the next session will be on Wednesday 11th February from 7-9pm.

Back to Basics – January 2026 – Wednesday

/ tracyqp / 1 Comment

On a cold, dark Wednesday evening fifteen artists met for the first session of 2026. There were twelve members and three ladies who came along to experience drawing with the art group. We hope you enjoyed yourselves, Christina, Jackie and Isabelle, and want to come along again and join us!

The suggested session was ‘back to basics’ to draw in monochrome pencils and get used to drawing again after the Christmas and New Year break. Many pictures were produced including some drawn at home and at another art group. If you can’t come to a session you’re welcome to do the suggested subject at home and sent Tracy photos that day or the next for inclusion in the blog post.

Some references have been included so you can see the images and objects that we worked from.

Brenda was very productive sketching with ink and her subjects were other artists at the session. Can you see who she drew?

Good work everyone, it was great to see you being creative as we haven’t had an art session since last November.

Our next session is on Saturday 24th January from 10am to 3pm. This will be on the 4th Saturday of January not the 5th one. Hope to see you there!

Tracy’s pictures

/ tracyqp / Leave a comment

Tracy took part in Inktober 2025 by drawing an image every day using a 4-coloured ball point pen. By dividing up 2 pages of a sketchbook each box was only 5cm x 7cm. Each small picture took less than 5 minutes, including a quick sketch in pencil.

Every day was suggested by a list of prompts. Tracy’s favourite days were the 4th – ‘murky’, the 20th – ‘rivals’ and the 26th – ‘puzzling’. The 30th – ‘vacant’ was the easiest!

Tracy also finished her ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ picture, now called ‘Zentangle Girl with a Holographic Earring’. Drawn using a black waterproof pen, a Faber Castell Polychromos coloured pencil in Cold Grey III and some holographic nail varnish.

Inktober 2025

/ tracyqp / 1 Comment

In addition to our usual two sessions this month, why not give Inktober 2025 a go?

Started in 2009 Inktober is now a worldwide event for artists to draw a picture in ink daily (you can use pencil underneath) and share their work or just for the pleasure of being creative every day.

Use a sketchbook for your images or any surface. If you don’t have much time, use a Post-it note pad for a small picture every day.

Website here… https://inktober.com

Please send Tracy photos of your images if you try the challenge.

Paint on a postcard – August 2025 – Wednesday

/ tracyqp / 1 Comment

Last Wednesday fifteen members attended the session on a very warm evening. Most painted on the black and white and lightly tinted postcards, bought from eBay for a few pounds. They were mostly views from the West Country, Kent, the Lake District and Scotland, with a few other places too.

Acrylic paint applied thickly and thinly worked really well to add the colour, as did thick watercolour paint, ink, coloured pencils and felt tip pens. Some of the postcards had been used and the earliest message and stamp dated back to 1908!

Some artists drew and painted to their own theme.

Well done everyone, the painting on a postcard challenge was well received and very enjoyable.

Our next session is on Saturday 23rd August in the private gardens behind Rochester Cathedral. Please email Tracy asap if you can come or not.

Peta’s sketches of independent London shops

/ tracyqp / 1 Comment

Peta’s sketches of independent London shops have been published online on the Spitalfields Life website. Drawn in pencil then coloured in brown, black and blue ink, the subject evokes life as it was with independent shops on every High Street.

They’re fantastic sketches, Peta, you have such an amazing skill with a pencil and brush.

Good luck with your exhibition that opens this week in London!

The sketches have been screenshot to add to this post, but to see the images on the Spitalfields Life site click here… https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/02/24/peta-bridles-shops/

Click on the first image below to see the writing under each picture, then scroll right to see them all. If you’d like to comment please do so on the Spitalfields Life website at the bottom of the page.

Peta’s exhibition

/ tracyqp / Leave a comment

Peta has an exhibition soon of her amazing London sketches, full of character and skill.

From Wednesday 26th February to Tuesday 25th March in the cafe of The Good Shepherd Building, 15a Davies Lane, Leytonstone, London. The nearest transport is Leytonstone Station on the Central Line.

The private view is on Thursday 27th February from 6-8pm and all are welcome!

The exhibition will be a collection of pencil and ink sketches made on location around London, with 12 framed giclee prints on show and a selection of giclee prints for sale.

Please see the flyer for the exact address and opening times…

If you’re on Instagram do give Peta a follow.

Good luck with the exhibition, Peta, your artwork deserves to have a wider audience!

Peta’s sketches of City of London Churches

/ tracyqp / 1 Comment

Peta has had her sketches of several City of London Churches published on the website ‘Spitalfields Life’. Beautifully and skilfully sketched in pencil and then coloured with soft tones of black, blue and brown inks, she has masterfully captured the atmosphere and tiny details of these churches and related items. Click on this link to see the sketches on the site… https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/04/29/peta-bridles-city-churches/

Peta would be really interested in your comments, so please scroll to the end of the article on Spitalfields Life and submit a comment for her to see. You write your comment, add your name and email address, submit your comment and it appears on the site when approved.

The pictures from the site have been screenshot and are below, but the higher quality images are on Spitalfields Life. Look for where the last image was drawn. You will know the place because Peta started the drawing on our Saturday session in July 2023.

Click on the first picture then scroll through to see the pictures enlarged and with words that explain about each image.

Well done Peta, your sketches and use of the coloured inks are awesome!