Wet pavement with book stalls behind....viewed from another café terrasse :-)

This is one I did in Spring sitting on a café terrasse. I'm looking forward to the warmer weather to get out sketching again!

There are a surprising number of wedge-shaped blocks like this one in Paris. The reason stems from the 1870's when the major axes were cut through the traditional street pattern often intersecting existing streets at an angle.

Some balconies on a curving stone facade. These projecting features can make a nice composition, and they cast strong shadows when the sun's out.

Here are some sketches made over the Christmas period using a new set of Pitt artist pens by Faber Castell which I had from Father Christmas.

Some photos of a commission I did over Christmas. I used a medium surface 220gsm cartridge for this whereas normally I tend to prefer a smooth surface. I drew it totally freehand without a ruler to give it more character. I have done drawings of this kind in the past using a ruler to get a photographic realism but the end result can lack emotion.

Here are some work in progress photos... 

A pencil study of a tree. The way to draw foliage is to try to see the larger masses rather than focusing on details straight away. This will help to describe the overall 3d form of the tree.

Pencil sketch. They remind me of the Triffids....