• In this video I discuss photography with my friend Caroline Silverwood Taylor http://silverwoodtaylor.com Caroline is currently writing a Doctoral Theses about photography and liminality – Liminality is all about crossing thresholds – the betwixt and between.

    Drawing from photographs can be about making a literal copy or it can be drawing on the essence, the story, the concept, the moment or the idea imbued within the image.

    Copying is a great way to learn and understand shape, contrast and space. Drawing on the image and vision of the photograph inspires the artist to create new work from a new understanding.

    Mrs Rayner and I sometimes go away with Caroline and her husband, the crime fiction author, Andrew Taylor http://lydmouth.co.uk

    Caroline and I often end up having philosophical discussions about photography, drawing and all things visual. We decided to record a conversation in the garden conservatory at Fountains Hall at Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire – where we were staying last week. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey-and-studley-royal-water-garden

  • I had a request to draw curly hair yesterday and today I see on the TV that tomorrow is #WorldAfroDay So, what should I do? Ignore the signs from the Universe or show you how to draw an Afro hairstyle?

    You Got it! Here is a video showing how to draw an afro hairstyle real easy – step by step – for beginners and experienced artists alike. This drawing involves quite a bit of cross-hatching to build up the tone and squiggly scribbling to get the texture – techniques you can use in many other drawings.

    Make sure you are subscribed to the DrawstuffRealeasy channel for free videos to your inbox every week ?? http://bit.ly/sub2RealEasy

  • I came across this video on The News and Observer and just loved the simplicity of Architect, Frank Harmon’s sketches. They looks so easy, but they come from a lifetime of practice, observation and knowledge of building construction, place and people.

    Frank tells stories with his sketches on his blog – Native Places – using the sketch as the draft of a story or observation. I love that he uses only 200 words. That’s a skill to learn!

    Take a look and be impressed with clear thought and simplicity of line and watercolour wash.

    As I post this Hurricane Florence is headed towards North Carolina. I hope Frank is tucked-up safe somewhere warm and dry.