Six (And a Bit) Things I Learnt From Sketching Outdoors

Hello there

As promised, today's topic is compleeeeeetely different. It's everything I learnt from my first-ever attempt at sketching outdoors (at the beautiful Delapré Abbey, in Northamptonshire). 

Rough Pen and Watercolour sketch of part of Delapré Abbey

Warning: There will be bloopers, rookie mistakes, comedy,  and lots of rapid-rather-than-lovely sketches.

That said, I also learned more in one day outside than maybe three months of learning indoors. So here are my key takeaways from the day.

1. People didn't appear to notice that I was sketching, at all.

Yes, that's right. It took a full five years from my first thinking about nerving myself to do some drawing in a public outdoor space, to actually doing it. Five years of being convinced that everyone would notice what was going on (and *not* in a good way...Fevered imaginings of people telling me their five-year-old could do better, abounded, during those years...).

And then when I did finally pluck up the courage...I chose shady spots (because it was a hot, sunny day)...And it was as if no-one could even see me. At all. 

Rough pen and watercolour sketch
 of a whimsical pink love seat
outside the *gorgeous*
Eden Wild Floral Shop.

Maybe if I'd had an easel, instead of a pen, tiny paintbox and small homemade sketchbook...people might have noticed more. But everyone I met when just moving around there was lovely anyway, so I doubt anyone would have been anything other than supportive, even if they had noticed. 

Lesson learnt.

2. It was huuuge *fun*...

This was another big surprise. Being forced to work quickly (see below) and see things as they really are, gives you quite an adrenaline rush. Which I, at least, really enjoyed.

Rough sketch of a bell tower-
or was it a dove-cote?

3. The light moves all.the.time...

Which means you just have to do your best in the moment, work quickly and ...seize the day, before everything changes colour again. There isn't time for overthinking. (Another huge plus point if you're such an overthinker you've spent five years mulling this idea over... :-).

Rough Pen and Watercolour Sketch of the belltower/dovecote
including the sun on the gorgeous yellow stone...

4. In fact, everything moves, all the time...

From people...

Watercolour and Pen sketch
of two passers-by

to bunches of flowers in an honesty bucket...

Sketch of the Eden Wild
honesty bucket. The flowers
were lovely (and therefore kept
disappearing...)

Everything moves, all the time....And sometimes disappears altogether, if you dawdle.

 Which means that the increased sketching speed, though exhilarating, also exposes any weaknesses that need improvement.

For example, it turns out that a weeping willow tree only looks like a weeping willow if its fronds are in motion, which am not at all sure I can capture...yet.

Really rough pen and watercolour
weeping willow sketch...

5. Don't sketch in midday summer sun...

Unless you actually want everything to look parched and bleached out, like my attempt at sketching the deer-park...

Rough sketch of the bleached out deer park at midday..

and 

6. You don't need a big art kit. 

I had been worried that my art kit was too small, as I took only a home-made sketchbook (see video below) a waterproof black pen, a sheet of kitchen towel,  a small box of Inktense paints (yup, that's an affiliate link, because as you'll know if you've been here before, I love Derwent Inktense paints) and a medium sized Pentel waterbrush (also an affiliate link...also a trusted favourite).

In fact, I was really grateful not to have to lug anything more around. So in the end, art kit size was about the only thing about the day that I'd got right in advance.😂😂😂😂😂

A double sycamore seed just landed in front of me
(so obviously had to be sketched!).

And the extra "bit" from the title is...

That it's a *lot* harder to make those "sketchbook flip-through" videos that you see online than you might think.

Or at least, I found it so, on this first attempt. But if you want to see the actual sketchbook, (complete with jerky footage, plenty of fingers over the lens,  and yes, even many accidentally-upside-down shots)... I've included it here. 

NB. If you watch this, it might be easiest on a phone as then at least you can turn things right-way up. Motion-seasickness pills are also advised ;-). 

But for comedy-value if you've had a bad day....Here is my first ever (unedited) flip-through video attempt...

First-ever Sketchbook Flip-through
Watch for Comedic Value Only...

Finally...

Above all though,  I'd say...If you're even curious about sketching outside...Please don't wait five years like I did. Please just...Take the plunge and do it.

That's all for now. Thanks so much for being here, and for reading down this far.

More soon.

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A Bit Of Peacock Alchemy...

"Peacock Alchemy"
Mixed Media Art Journaling

Hello there 

Hope all's well with you (and that you're surviving the heat, if you have it in your part of the world too).

Here, the woozy heat has had me physically art journaling instead of tied to tech.

Believe it or not, this piece began its life as a serious of black, dark grey and indigo blobs. (They were  result of an online workshop with the warm and wonderful artist and facilitator Elizabeth Foley. Huge thanks, Elizabeth).

I guess, after the workshop, some would have left the blobs as a memorial to the friend they were grieving.

But, I just...couldn't. It seems it simply isn't in me to leave things looking dark or broken, when there's even a possibility that they might, somehow, be transformed.

Somewhere in the blobs, I thought I could see a peacock. Bearing in mind that I never usually work this way at all, turning those blobs in a peacock felt ultra-transformative...Liberating and lightening, all in one go. And I love the resulting peacock with all my heart.

Given that the friend whose grief precipitated this was himself a force for transformation, joy, and the uplifting of others, I hope that he'd approve too. (And yes, I sent the peacock to his equally wonderful and amazing wife first, before even posting here).

Here's to healing and transformation for everyone, and everything feeling in need of it.

More soon-most likely on a *much* lighter theme.

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New August in the Sand Illustration Free Download

"August in the Sand" by Clare Walker, is
free download at this link

Hello there

Hope all is well and safe wherever you are in the world. And also I know that it's already July 29th as I'm delivering this, "August in the Sand",  illustration for you to enjoy and/or download and use, *and* that it's far from summer, or a beach situation, in many places.

But if the vibe of relaxing and re-balancing  with the calm of the sea resonates with you, then this August illustration is yours to use in many different ways (see my angel policy for details)

I created this image originally at 300dpi and A4 size.  My current  blog software compresses images, so you probably won't be able to download it at that size, but should be great for printing at a small size, or on-screen use.

(And yes, one of my aims for the month is to solve this image-size and download issue one way or the other, once and for all. Which-as well as the heat- is why this is a short-but-sweet newsletter and blog post).

For now though, as ever, thanks so much for being here, and there will be...

More soon.


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New Keys to Joy...

Keep Finding New Keys to Joy

Well, I'm back, as promised, with an update (and sooo many thanks to the people who got in touch saying that this is a good thing, in one way or another).

And as you'll see, the new art that's emerged during the break (and is still emerging) is very, very different to the old. But now I'm used to the bright shock of it, am loving it, which is a great start.

Where this will all go, I really don't know at the  moment. (Though I did have a peek at how it looks on a few things, and specially enjoyed it on this greeting card).

Keep Finding New Keys to Joy Greeting Card

But more than anything, it's lovely to be back in the land of colour and joy. And even lovelier that you're there with me.

Next step is to let this new style tell me where it wants to go. I'll update you as soon as I know myself.

Thanks so much for being here.

More soon.

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Rudbeckia-And a Summer Break

This yellow Rudbeckia flower,
which I've painted in digital watercolour,
 was growing in a park we visited recently.

Hello there

Hope you're doing well out there, in heat (if you have it/have had it) or whatever else life has in store for you at the moment.

Here, it's a strange season, for reasons well beyond the heat (though with so much else going on in the world, the Computer Man and I both still very much realise the extent of our good fortune-we, in ourselves, and together, are fine).

What it does mean is that it's time for a blogging break here. Not just because of "events," but also...After over 700 posts, (and therefore-yikes-nearly 15 years of this blog)...I need to take some time, not just to re-charge, but also to re-think, and re-align myself.

And it is a very different self from the one who started on the "Can I, of all the artistically-challenged people, really learn to draw?" exploration all those years ago.

Yes, I've answered that question. Yes, I can definitely draw, paint, cartoon, create cards, design patterns and more, both traditionally and digitally. And so, by the way, can anyone else who really wants to do so.

If nothing else, I, and this blog, are living proof that it isn't inborn talent, but a huge degree of desire, which makes the difference, and keeps you practising happily enough, for long enough, to get to your own point of, "Yes, I can do this."

But with the original question answered, the new ones that have been whispering for a while are, "What's next?,"  and even the old chestnut of, "Is any of this helping the wider world enough?"

On a less navel-gazing note, at the moment, it feels very much though, like more cartoons may be involved... Because, isn't life serious enough already?

And so...

And so, as you can see, it's time for a re-alignment, a re-think, and a re-jig. Wish me luck, and thanks so much for being here.

As soon as there's more than that solidly in place, I promise to let you know.

In the meantime, take good care of yourselves out there, and have a great summer.

Clare

Update on July 22nd 2026: It turned out that the re-jig didn't take that long, and the blog continues (yay!). Tap or click here to read the next post now.
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