When I saw the tutors who teach at Artform art school in Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, I knew I would be proud to join the line-up. The amazing Martina O'Byrne who runs it is the nicest and most pleasant person to work with, and the three days I taught there were made so enjoyable by her.
I was wrecked afterwards, but there's no rest for the wicked and on Saturday evening I scurried off with my brother to a Damien Dempsey concert in the Iveagh Gardens. It was a balmy summer's night and it will stay in my memory for a long time. I have loved Damo for the longest time and the man's heart is in the right place: he writes about social concerns such as being good to yourself, avoiding the temptation to give in to drug use and not being too judgmental towards others. He's a huge Dubliner with a powerful voice, and he puts his talents to use for the benfit of everyone. The only "trouble" there was at the concert was when some exuberant young fellas flung their drinks into the air, drenching anyone nearby in a sticky brown something or other. But I didn't come down in the last shower - and didn't fancy being in another - and I was able to anticipate their tomfoolery. "Nicely played," said one of my brother's friends when she saw me avoid a wetting. "Nice evasive action taken." Yes, concerts are great for older, wiser people who can smell trouble coming. Besides, what's an oul' drenching in stickiness on a warm summer's evening?
I put my wonderful new SketchPocket to the test all week. It is great - it's the reason I made so many sketches, despite travelling so much - but the pen pockets inside aren't secure enough and the outer pockets are too tight for a phone. Other than that it's a tiny bit too big for a SketchPocket Mini, and there'll be one twice the size to fit an A5 sketchbook, as some of you will be glad to hear (including my mother, who would is horrified to be squashed into an A6 sketchbook).
I will get back to sewing more soon, and when I am fully satisfied that it cannot be further improved I will send the pattern to the women's cooperative for production.
I hope you enjoy my week in the SouthEast in sketches!
Don't forget that I will be teaching the beautiful, do-it-anywhere art of urban sketching at the end of August, live and online, if you'd like to learn the how-to. It's for beginners and it's recorded, so you can catch up when it suits you, but ONLY when booked before it starts! 21st-25th August of this year.
It costs €50 for five days, 90 minutes each day, 7.00-8.30pm GMT+1, but you will need to spend some money on materials! I send out a materials list to everyone who books so don't hang around too long. If you want to buy watercolours (same as I used in this video) for the course, buy them at the same time as you buy the course and you'll get a discount on them.
Book here:
roisincure.com...