Swinderby Church in Sepia Inks

I have been using brown and sepia tone inks for a number of years now, however last month I decided to experiment with the technique a little further and attempt to make some improvements. I chose the subject of the church in Swinderby, Lincolnshire. The sandstone on the main church together with the timber framed and shingled gate seemed to lend itself well to the possibility of a monotone illustration. The many years this church has stood within the village and the long effects of the weather have also softened the materials and edges, adding to the beauty of this wonderful old building.

After outlining the illustration in a light pencil line onto watercolour board I applied a brush wash of the diluted Winsor & Newton peat brown drawing ink to add in the sky and base tones. The ink can be added in layers to build up the wash effect and colour depth but I have never been entirely happy with the ink when applying it with a dip pen and I have stayed away from using it with Rotring Isograph technical pens for fear of ruining the nib. For this reason I switched to the Winsor & Newton sepia calligraphy ink.

The calligraphy ink, was both predictable and gave a deep defined colour from both the technical pen and the dip pen allowing me to get the definition I wanted around the foliage, forms and the shadows. All in all I was pleased with the combination and performance of the different inks. A little knowledge and experimentation with different types of inks is well worth while for those who wish to get familiar with the medium and will help control the extremes of wash and depth to gain the effect desired for the subject.

Stone Pillar for Set

Here is an initial sketch for a stone effect pillar for a guards gate set.

Possibly built from layered sheets of plastazote the intention is for it to be light, stackable and as safe as possible should anyone fall onto it during use.

The recess and flat top surface would allow for removable led lanterns or glow sticks to sit on it.

The base would fix to the ground to try & prevent it blowing away during windy events. This would need covering with foam rubble and artificial greenery to allow it to blend in.

The Detailing of Industrial Architecture

Over the years we have had an involvement in many different fields of architecture, one of these is the industrial sector. It may not have the appeal of working with historical buildings or the higher specification of materials and costs of leisure or retail, but it still requires care and precision. Many of the challenges are the detailing of fire walls, the coordination of process equipment and services together with the requirements of the structural engineer.

The tried and tested method of sketching still works, forming the link between the disciplines and giving an indication of the implications of requirements. Below are a small selection of sketches for recent projects we have been working on with a client.

Composite fire wall detailing at column splice positions 

Detailing of a removable concrete push wall (cladding above must remain in place

Steel corbel penetrations through a fire wall (fire wall is also an insulated thermal wall for an adjoining office)

Sketch detail of insulated cladding on steel frame sitting on insitu concrete wall

Strengthening the Handrails

sketch 1 existing

Back in the spring of this year I received an e-mail from a client (also a good friend for many years) asking for help. I had been out of contract with my client for a while, but he felt I might be well placed to try and help solve a problem or two on a project which had come off track. The following evening I arrived at his home to find a tired and stressed soul in need of a little help & support. After a chat and a catch up to lighten the atmosphere we began the work of following the paper trail to find out what had gone wrong & what could be done to put it right. I don't intend to go into the contractual issues here or begin pointing the finger of blame, instead I will focus on the issues of detailing and sketching which helped resolve the problem.

A balustrade surrounding a timber deck was simply not strong enough to suit its purpose, I was asked if I would take a trip up to site to have a look at what exactly had been built and put together some sketches to suggest a way of correcting things before producing a set of full working details. The project engineer had offered to make himself available to contribute to problem solving, between us we felt confident we could find a way forward. I was also asked to be discrete whilst onsite and avoid any heated debates with the contractor or destructive testing as things were somewhat tense!

The first sketch highlights what had been built & point out some elements to be removed and checked to investigate further. The balustrade appeared not to have been engineered and aspects such as the blocking timbers between the joists were missing, fixings were inadequate or into the end grain of the timber, the steel stems had also been drilled and tapped into the timbers without appropriate fixings. The end result was the handrail had significant movement when pushed and could actually be lifted off the balustrade by the lightest of taps.

sketch 2 possible solution

The second sketch shows an initial suggestion of replacing the timber balustrades with steel units, adding in the blocking timbers and an improved fixing plate to get a better fixing. The intention was to recycle as much as possible, but bring in additional strength. After another meeting with my client he decided to play safe and provide an even more robust detail by taking the steel shs uprights down to localised pad footings and replace almost all of the rail saving only the infill bars to avoid any chance of movement in the rail and ensure the end user/project client could let out his building with full confidence. We agreed the fixing details, sizes and centres with the engineer and produced an A1 sheet of full working details by the end of the following weekend to pass onto a specialist balustrade contractor to begin ordering and working to.

The end result was the balustrade was erected in time and the first visitors to rent out the lodge were unaware of the proceeding flurry of work and could enjoy their holiday in blissful ignorance.

Before

After

Working With The Peak District Vernacular

Often a simple sketch can speak volumes for proposed renovation & extension work. One project we are working closely with Green Igloo with is an extension to a cottage in the Peak District in Derbyshire. As the cottage sits just within the Peak Park area the planners are understandably cautious over extensions and ensuring the character of the area is preserved. As part of the submission this little sketch has been included to try and assure the works will be in keeping.

Drawn with Derwent Pencils on A4 layout paper
http://www.green-igloo.co.uk/

(Blog Post by Al)

Hypnotic Form and Colour

A few weeks ago we spent a little time discussing our art work and decided it would be worth putting together more cards to improve our range. We did however decide this next batch should be different and demonstrate a greater depth of colour and abstract form, this put the task very much into Jenny's court. We have had concerns in the past over the representation when printed, however the printers we used for our previous print run had produced a very good quality product and we felt it had an excellent chance of being done well.

When the cards arrived during the week we were well pleased with the result. Jenny has a keen interest in the use of colour and form in her work particularly regarding the psychological impact and effect and the human mind and perception. A number of people have found themselves studying her work and being mentally drawn into the image. The result can be quite hypnotic and relaxing.

The cards will be going onto our Etsy shop this weekend. We hope you enjoy her work and find time to let your eyes wander around the lines and hues.

(Blog post by Al, artwork by Jenny)

Sketching the Records Office.

When it comes to setting up perspectives for potential buildings and projects, there are a couple of methods for achieving this. The old fashioned approach is to set it up onto a drawing board, arrange the plan and elevations with a view point and vanishing points and begin to start projecting lines to form a framework to develop and work from. The other is to model the building in 3D and use this as a basis to work from, adding character and detail to the accuracy of the precision of the computer generated perspective.

I have used both techniques on a number of occasions, however once in a while time is against the preferred flow of work and a faster technique is needed. One such project in Matlock needed a quickly produced perspective to allow it to be taken to a planning committee meting. With no time for a set up and the client asking me to ensure the dates were met, I was instructed to sketch it up as best I could. Fortunately the elevation was not too complex and armed with a photo, plans, sections and elevations I set about the task.

This Sunday on the way back from looking at a new project with Colin of Green Igloo, I was able to detour and take a look at the recently finished building. I was keen to know how accurate the sketch was, attached are the image and the sketch. I was quite relived. Many of the internal details and sketches I was also involved in were far more complex. Allowing for Passivhaus type insulation, air sealing and ventilation, together with a heavily fire protected concrete structure capable of taking large loads. All in all the simple external appearance hides the complexity within, but it was a rewarding project to be involved in.

The building is for the safe storage of historical & local documents by the staff of Derbyshire Records Office

Architect: Derbyshire Corporate Property (Richard Lomas heading up the team, Andy Elliot of DCC & Al Whittle from Element Detailing assisting)

Engineers: Derbyshire Corporate Property (John Lawrence, Robert Moss & Keith, mastering the calculations)
M&E: Derbyshire Corporate Property (Dave Cox, John Hampson & Marc Routledge)

Contractor: Wates (Bill & Lorraine keeping things on track)

Above are a couple of the technical sketches I developed for detailing the service area and waterproofing.

(Blog post by Al)

Hill Holt Wood - Sketching the Woodland

For those who follow our twitter feed you may be aware of what I refer to as a "Sunday Sketch". Typically I like to get out and about for an hour or so and put pen to paper to capture a little scene before me.

A regular stopping point is Hill Holt Wood near Norton Disney in Lincolnshire. This ancient woodland runs partly as a business, social enterprise and a charity. Its safe environment draws families in to have a wander around, but unlike some family woodlands there are no mountain bikes for hire or adventure playgrounds. Instead there is the woodland and a number of little projects sitting quietly beneath the canopy working in harmony with nature.

We spent a days course with the staff at Hill Holt to see how their ethics and business work hand in hand and were most impressed. As well as a run down on their projects and interaction with the community we also got to spend time with one of their rangers (sharing a little knowledge and enthusiasm for green wood working and a mutual respect for the work of craftsmen such as Robin Wood) and enjoy some home grown food.

Since that day we have been regular Sunday visitors, sketching and escaping escaping the cold spring we have just endured into the cafe for a bowl of soup and a coffee. I have attached the sketches to this blog post for your amusement, they typically take about 30 to 45 minutes and are sketched with either a Rotring Art Pen & brown ink or Faber Castell Pitt Sepia Artists Pens.

If you are looking for a place to visit and enjoy a little quiet time, you might well enjoy it. If you are looking for a glimpse of how businesses can work in harmony and respect with the environment and community, you may well be inspired!

http://www.hillholtwood.com/

(blog post by Al, with respect to Karen, Nigel, Oliver, Steve, Al and the other staff & rangers)

Purelands, A Place of Tranquility & Reflection

In many ways we have been very fortunate over the last few years. We have been busy while many others have not been so lucky. Getting some time to relax and collect thoughts for a while has been at a premium but there are places we go grab a little quiet time and recharge the batteries. These vary from the woodlands and paths of the east midlands to places such as Purelands.

Situated in the village of North Clifton in Nottinghamshire, this beautiful garden and centre is a haven of peace. Winding paths, trickling streams and reflective pools have been carefully sculpted from the landscape. Unlike many english gardens and landscapes, the japanese garden does not focus on vistas, axis and monuments, but instead the turns of the path bring you to living in the moment and discovering treasures around the next turn. The sweeping landscapes exist in miniature across a still pond or raked gravel bed and around the garden are places to sit and meditate or simply enjoy the surroundings.

it seems a very english thing to wait until the sun is shining before we rush out to take in the sights and drink tea beneath blue grey skies. But for me I enjoy visiting Purelands in the rain as well as the sun. To sit in the little houses and shelters within the gardens, listening to the rain on the roof and foliage brings moments of peace and freshness to a mind often cluttered with the issues of day to day life. The weekends of August and September bring a different energy to the gardens when the lanterns are lit and visitors are encouraged to enjoy their warm glow and soft shadows as the sun is setting.

As artists the garden has an irresistible call, dotted around this post are sketches and drawings Purelands, i hope we have gone some way to capture the skill & patience of Maitreya (creator and owner of Purelands). When it came to selecting images for the greetings cards we do, the ink wash image of Purelands was an obvious choice for us.

Below is a link to the website for Purelands, it is well worth an online visit, but far more rewarding to actually call in and relax there for a while.

http://www.buddhamaitreya.co.uk/garden.html

If you happen to come across someone sitting sketching in a quiet corner, feel free to say hello.

(Blog post by Al)