Guillaume Bonamy Sketchbook

31ST WORLD WIDE SKETCHCRAWL

2011-04-19T23:31:00.000+02:00

Hi everybody!

For a sketchcrawl, what could be better than a sitted place at a terrasse, especially when a lot of tourist are coming for a refreshment. I spent almost 3 hours here. Even if I missed some good opportunities, especially an old guy with white barbe and sailor hat (I drawed him quickly but he left before more possible sketches), I had a lot of fun to draw the old "cougar lady".I think she noticed that I drawed her.Then I moved away (my arms started to have sun burns!!),
I drawed a view of the Saint Nicolas church seen from the castel panoramic platform. I take this opportunity to explain that I didn't draw the castel of Blois yet because the facade doesn't offer good choices of composition.
The last drawing was done at the Louis XII place where all citizen of Blois go after 19:00 the saturday for a little drink.

Guillaume.

BLOIS SAINT NICOLAS CHURCH

2011-02-28T23:25:00.000+01:00

Hi,

Saint-Nicolas de Blois is a magnificent Romanesque church built from 1138 by Benedictine monks. They were coming from a land called "La Perche" (130 km north of Blois), fleeing a Viking raid. They settled in Blois and built their monastery and the church of St. Laumer (named after the founder of their monastery wich became later the church Saint-Nicolas).
The church has been damaged during the Wars of Religion (1568) and rebuilt during 17th century.
Located at the bottom of the Blois royal castle, surrounded by an old medieval neighborhood, this church is dominating the city by its massive and elegant silhouette. The monument is unfortunately not highlighted by the city and do not enjoy such the night spotlights wich can receive the Cathedral. For one of the oldest building in Blois, it is such a pity.

On the drawing you can see a part of the royal castel, the aisle "Gaston d'orléans" (1635-38)

Guillaume.

TERMINAL

2011-01-19T11:10:00.002+01:00

Hi everybody!

I wish you an happy new year 2011 full of drawings, sketches and peace!!

So, I'll start this new year of blog with an illustration from last year. I know, not really logical! LOL!

some details...

Guillaume.

COLOR STUDY

2010-12-24T17:16:00.000+01:00

Hi!!

Based on a sketch done few months ago in Pornichet, I made this 2 hours color study with photoshop.

Here is the original sketch.

Guillaume

TWO DAYS IN THE ZOO

2010-12-11T00:48:00.000+01:00

Hi,

In spring and early summer, I had already familiarized myself with the tremendous wealth Animal of the "zoo de Beauval". When I went back in September and October I wanted to go beyond the classical production of animal sketches. So I chosed to approach the subject as an illustration, incorporating animals in their natural environment but in a decorative manner, integrating the text as a element of the general composition.
The pencil sketches were done on moleskine paper and the two watercolor on moleskine watercolor paper.

This first group was done in september...

And this group of sketches were done in october.

The "zoo de Beauval" stay open during winter and i hope to go back soon to study some others animals in their tropical and australian green house...but without watercolor (I experimented it already, too much humidity to do it!).

See you soon

Guillaume.

BLOIS IN AUTUMN LIGHT

2010-11-20T22:14:00.002+01:00

Hi!

Sometimes, car offers some advantages. I was coming back from the countryside, disappointed to have not found the perfect spot to draw when I saw this view. I just had to park my car on a parking place and I started to paint and enjoy the view that light, color and composition were offering me. So I thanked the "god of car"by making this sketch (watercolor on pencil drawing, heightened with white gouache), sitting behind my steering wheel (in fact it was far too cold to stay more than a quarter of an hour outside!).

Guillaume.

29TH SKETCHCRAWL

2010-10-18T23:17:00.001+02:00

Hi,

Although the day was sunny, the temperature was really low for a day in october, especially when I did this watercolor sketch.
Fortunately, the street markets in France are welcoming places, led by vendors always very friendly.
Indeed, some have come to visit me when I was drawing.

Because the history's convention in the city, the "rendez vous de l'histoire", I had to share my time between the sketching and the convention.

So I took a break during the afternoon in a pub and made this last drawing.
It takes more to disturbed the regulars in the pub.

Guillaume.

FROM THE LOIRE RIVER SIDE

2010-09-30T17:12:00.002+02:00

Hi,

A few days ago, I went to draw and paint near the Loire river, in Blois.
It's funny how many people I met during this afternoon. Most of them were fishermans, turning around me, curious to see what I was doing ( But I guess I was occupying a good spot for fishing).
During 30 minutes I also had an history lesson, mainly about the bridge.

Built in 1724, the bridge has been damage a few times during wars (in 1793 to stop progression marche from the "vendéens", in 1870 during the war against Prussians, in 1940 during the WWII)
In 1717, they decided to build a new bridge upstream the previous one (a medieval bridge wich had collapsed in the river).
So, they had to enlarge a little street (called "rue de la poissonnerie", now "rue denis Papin") to connect it with the bridge. The main street (now rue du commerce) wasn't in the axe of the bridge.

After a quick investigation, I discovered the exact location of the medieval bridge. You can still see the pillars in the water when you look at it with "google earth".

Turning west, I made this second sketch about the last built bridge in Blois (in 1994), the bridge "Francois Mitterrand". In the background you see how beautiful is the nature along the Loire river.

Both sketches are done with watercolor on a moleskine watercolor sketchbook.

Guillaume.

THE PORT

2010-09-13T13:37:00.001+02:00

Hi everyone!
traveling this time in my imagination , I came back with this new illustration.
Then I wanted to show you as well my work process.
The final illustration was done on Photoshop, combining textures and colors.

The line drawing.
Only as reference, the line drawing will disappear during the color process to have a more realistic style.

the sketch .
Most of the time my sketches are done for the composition and ambiance. I don't think about the final style because I want to keep all freedom for later. I considere my sketches as a memo and I don't show them (except today!).
This sketch was done previously with blue "col-erase" pencil and inked for the correction.

A second illustration about a similare location is in WIP and I will show it to you soon.

Guillaume

MORE FROM THE ATLANTIC COAST

2010-09-08T12:55:00.001+02:00

Hi!

More sketches from Pornichet.
This time, I had the opportunity to draw the cost from the sea , the tide was low

The last sketch was done in the village called Kervalet. It's an old city built in the 10e century by salt's workers. Located near the pond salt where they worked, the "paludiers" (salt's workers ) were living in the smallest houses. The others, with one floor are the houses where the "Sauniers" (workers transporting the salt, according Wikipedia) were living.
They are builded with stone granit and slates on the roof.

Guillaume.

A CHURCH AND A COFFE

2010-08-31T23:51:00.001+02:00

Hi,
A sunny afternoon in Blois and I came back home with two sketches...It was about time!
I made the first one from the castel's garden. I've been fascinated by the presence of this church, the "Saint Vincent de Paul" church rising in the middle of this group of huge trees.
It's seems that trees and church are fighting to be the more majestic monument in the middle of the city.
For the story, this church has been built in 1624 but has been stopped after the foundation level. In 1634 they retook the construction and spent 20 years to elevate it up to the roof's bottom. They've been pretty slow because most of the stones were requisitionned for the extention of the castel.
Finaly, the church has been finished in 1660.

Later, I came back on earth ground and I just relaxed in the shade and fresh air from a terrasse coffe's of Blois, sketching the street view.
For this sketch, I used a new brush pen and i enjoyed again to play with it.

Guillaume.

A DAY IN MARSEILLE

2010-08-21T17:01:00.003+02:00

Hi!
Marseille is one of the biggest city in France, (the second after Paris and just before Lyon), built by Grec sailors 600 BC years ago, on the mediterranea cost.
Many french people will associated this city to Marcel Pagnol (a really famous writer from the beginning of 20th century). He has contributed to make Marseille very popular with a theater drama taking place in Marseille, followed by movies adaptation.
But Marseille is also a city with a great history.
Attached to the Roman Empire in the 2nd century BC, the sea port used to trade with many Mediterranean countries and also a part of Asia. .
It was there that Knights left France for Jerusalem cruisades (after the year 1000).
Today, the city is still reflecting this historic past when you walk in the streets.
In 2013 Marseille will be the culture's european capital.

on the first drawing, you can see the Basilique "Notre Dame de la Garde" concidered by marseillais (people living in Marseille) as guardian and protectress of the city.

Guillaume.

WEEK END AT PORNICHET

2010-08-14T00:14:00.000+02:00

Hi,
two more drawings done in Pornichet before my vacation in Vannes.
The first one was done during a flea market
Guillaume.

28TH SKETCHCRAWL- VANNES

2010-08-04T12:16:00.001+02:00

Hi,

My sketchcrawl took place in Bretagne (Britanny), in the city of Vannes, where I was in vacation.
Olve, my friend from Oslo came to join us. For both of us, it has been a great time.
You can check his work here: http://olvesblog.blogspot.com/

Here is mine:

HUGE UPDATE!

2010-07-23T21:50:00.016+02:00

Hi!

Long time no see!
I don't know but some drawings escaped from my blog diffusion. So let's talk about them:

In May, I had the privilege to be invited by the school "Pivaut" to be member of the board of examiners for the studients animation diploma in Nantes, a city in west of France near the atlantic ocean.
It was really an interesting experience. The studients were extremly professional.
I came back home with those two sketches, the first one was done from the castel's moats and the second represent the cathedrale of Nantes.

A few days after, I visited the garden surrending one of the most famous castel of Loire, the Castel of Chaumont.
Details of the entrance:

Last year, when I was still living in Oslo I made a trip with my dear friends Shank, Maya and Olve to the Chritiansand zoo. I decided to show you those sketches now plus the one I made during this spring 2010 at the great zoo of Beauval near the city of saint-Aignan (50 km from Blois). I thought it was a good opportunity for me to group my norvegian work and my french work and for you to compare the evolution of my drawings.
So here are the Christiansand zoo drawings from 2009:

And now the sketches I made at the Beauval zoo in may and june 2010:

"LITTLE BIG CASTELS"

2010-05-22T17:47:00.004+02:00

Hi,

The valley of Loire is well known for its beautiful castels like Chaumont, Chambord, Blois, Chenonceau, Cheverny, etc. But some "little" castel around them, unknown from most of the tourists are also some fabulous treasures of architecture . Most are private property but you could visite them.
With my two sketches made on moleskine watercolor paper, I'm presenting you the castel of "Guet-péan"(14-15e century) and the castel "du Moulin"( 15e century, builded for Francois du Moulin, as gift because he saved the king's life, Louis VIII).
The sketch about the Guet-Péan was previously a disaster but I reworked it and finally, something presentable came...I mean , I guess? What do you think?
Both of them are thirty kilometers in south of Blois.

Guillaume.

27TH SKETCHCRAWL

2010-05-17T20:58:00.010+02:00

Hi,

for this 27th sketchcrawl, I spent the day turning around the cathedral. it's one of the highest point in the city. Behind the cathedral, next to the city hall you have a nice garden called "jardin de l'évéché". From there you can see a nice panorama on the "Loire" river bank, the neighborhood called "Vienne" and the bridge "Jacques gabriel"(last drawing).
Two hundred meters in front of the cathedral a stair called "Denis Papin (the steam machine's inventor) let you go down to the bridge, with an impressive perspective view (first drawing).
Fortunatly when you have to go up, a nice bar terrasse is waiting for you at the end of the stair. It's where I took a little break for coffee and...sketched some tourists.
A lot of street are called "degree", making reference to the degree you have to "climb"in Blois! One of them in front of the cathedral we lead you to this old house I draw.

Bonjour,

Pour ce 27e SketchCrawl, j'ai passé la journée autour de la cathédrale. C'est un des points le plus élevé dans la ville. Derrière la cathédrale, à côté de l'hôtel de ville se trouve agréable jardin appelé "Jardin de l'Evêché". De là, vous pouvez voir un large panorama sur la "Loire", le quartier appelé «Vienne» et le «pont Jacques Gabriel" (dernier dessin).
Deux cents mètres en face de la cathédrale un escalier appelé "Denis Papin (inventeur de la machine à vapeur) vous permet de descendre vers le pont, offrant une impressionante vue en perspective (premier tirage).
Heureusement quand vous avez à remonter, une agréable terrasse bar vous attend en haut de l'escalier. C'est là que j'ai pris une petite pause pour le café et ... esquissé quelques touristes.
Beaucoup de rues sont appelés "degré", faisant référence au degré que vous avez à «escalader» à Blois! L'un d'eux en face de la cathédrale, vous conduira à cette vieille maison que j'ai dessiné.

Guillaume.

AROUND THE CATHEDRALE

2010-05-12T10:47:00.011+02:00

Hi,

Long time without update!!!
I don't have any excuses like: "I've been really busy!" or "the winter was so cold and long!" or "I had a lot of work!". NO! NO! NO!
NO!
In fact, I've been abducted by Extraterrestrial people..................You don't believe me?
I really would like to tell you more but unfortunatly for me and for you they erased my memory. Then, I won't be able to tell you the uncredible adventure I had.
So, maybe it will be better to tell you: "Yes I was busy working!LOL!

The new "old" sketches I show you were done in february and april. Again, the cathedral is the focus point, surrended by roofs. It's the way I composed my sketches but it 's also the way old city were organised in the past: church as the hearth of the city . In the view I sketched, you have the feeling that houses are attached to the cathedral. Take it off and buildings will start to move or fly (Too much imagination, I guess!).
The hight of the church was also a geographic reference used by pilgrim to find their way. On the second sketch you can see on the right an horizontal line representing a distant forest and so the real building altitude.

The city color are mainly light grey for building, dark grey for roof (done with slate) and red for chimneys. On my first sketch I used red colored pencil to translate this chimney's patchwork, unique color accent from winter time. I will experiment again this technic in the futur.

Guillaume.

Il y a bien longtemps que je n'ai pas posté de sketch
Je n'ai aucune excuses comme: "J'ai été très occupé! ou «l'hiver a été si long et si froid! ou "J'ai eu beaucoup de travail!". NON! NON! NON!
NON!
En fait, j'ai été kidnappé par des extra-terrestres .................. Vous ne me croyez pas?
J'aurai vraiment aimé vous en dire plus, mais malheureusement pour moi et pour vous, ils m'ont effacés la mémoire. Alors, vous en serez pas plus sur l'incroyable aventure que j'ai vécu.
En fait, je ferai peut-être mieux de vous dire la vérité: "et bien oui, j'ai été occupé à travailler! LOL!

Les nouveaux "anciens" croquis je vous montre ont été effectuées en février et avril. Comme précédemment, la cathédrale est le sujet principal, entouré par les toits de la ville. C'est la façon dont je compose mes croquis, mais c'est aussi la façon dont les vieilles villes ont été urbanisées dans le passé: l'église comme coeur de la ville. Vous avez l'impression que les maisons sont attachés à la cathédrale. Retirez la et les bâtiments commenceront à se libérer ou à flotter dans les airs (Trop d'imagination, je suppose!).
La hauteur de l'église a également été un élément de référence géographique utilisé par les pèlerins pour trouver leur chemin. Sur la seconde esquisse, vous pouvez voir sur la droite une ligne horizontale qui représente une forêt lointaine et vous donne un peu une idée sur hauteur de ce lieu.

La couleur des bâtiments de la ville est principalement gris clair, voir beige, gris foncé pour les toits (en ardoise) et rouge pour les cheminées. Sur mon premier sketch, j'ai utilisé un crayon de couleur rouge pour traduire cette impression de patchwork caractéristique de la ville de Blois, unique touche de couleur durant la saison hivernale.
Je reviendrai sur cette technique pour de futur sketch, en accentuant l'idée cette fois.

Guillaume.

26 TH SKETCHCRAWL- BLOIS

2010-03-01T10:58:00.005+01:00

Bonjour a tous,

Samedi s'est déroulé dans le monde le 26e Sketchcrawl auquel j'ai eu grand plaisir à participer malgré la météo exécrable.
Blois n'offre pas beaucoup de lieux abrités de la pluie et du froid. Rares sont les bars offrant une vue intéressante. Il faudra attendre l'été et la venue des terrasses de café pour mieux apprécier ces escales.
Etant seul sur Blois à participer à cette journée artistique, j'ai opté pour la formule "voiture" qui m'a permis de découvrir quelques points de vue intéressants.
Ce choix était le bon puisque vers 15h il s'est mis à pleuvoir.
Meme si la récolte de sketch n'a pas été fabuleuse (seulement 2 sketches pour une après-midi!), je me suis permis de faire une petite mise en couleur, au rythme des "ballets" d'essuie-glaces!
Les bords de Loire feront certainement partie de mes lieux de prédilection pour cet été, en plus des ruelles étroites du vieux Blois.
Le sketch noir et blanc a été fait depuis un parking situé a mi chemin entre la gare et le chateau. Quelques toitures du chateau apparaissent derrière de vielles maisons bourgeoises.
Le sketch couleur (aquarelle) lui a été fait depuis les bords de Loire, coté quartier "Vienne" prés de l'héliport. On y voit l' église Saint Nicolas (12e et 13e siécle) au proportions trés massives mais élégantes, ainsi que le pont "jacques Gabriel" construit au 18e siècle. Le pont fut bombardé a maintes reprises durant la 2e guerre mondiale mais il résista et ne fut jamais complétement détruit, alors que le quartier au bord de Loire fut complétement rasé.

Bonne visite sur mon blog et a bientôt

Guillaume.

Hello everybody,

Saturday was the date for the 26th world's Sketchcrawl which I had a great pleasure to participate even if the weather was horrible.
Blois does not offer many places protected from rain and cold. Only a few bars could make interesting spots for artist. I will have to wait until the summer and the arrival of the cafe terraces to appreciate those locations.
Being alone on Blois to participate to this artistic day, I opted for the "car" which allowed me to discover some interesting views.
This choice was the good one because at 15:00 it started to rain.
Even if my productivity was not fabulous (only 2 sketches for an afternoon!), I allowed myself to make a little color version, following the rythm of "ballet" of windshield wipers!
The banks of the Loire river will certainly be among my favorite places for this summer, in addition to the narrow streets of the old Blois.
The black and white sketch was done from a car park half way between the train station and the castle. Some roofs of the castel appear behind the old "bourgeoise" houses.
The sketch color (watercolor) has been done from the bank of the Loire river, next to the "Vienne" neighborood, near the heliport. You can see the Saint Nicolas church (12th and 13th century) with its very massive proportions but elegant, and the 'Jacques Gabriel" bridge built in the 18th century. The bridge has been bombed many times during the 2nd World War but it resisted and was never completely destroyed, while the district on the Loire banks was completely erased.

I hope you will have a nice time visiting my blog.
see you soon

Guillaume.

BB KING TRIBUTE AND MORE

2010-02-25T23:23:00.005+01:00

Hi,

I reworked recently this illustration, adding a bit of texture, trashing some part. I think I should drink more coffee when I work, it will help me to keep a loose style.
The second illustration is a tribute to BB King, the greatest bluesman on the planet!! Based on an ink wash drawing, I added some elements with photoshop.
Hope you will like them
Guillaume.

BLOIS, CITY OF THE KING

2010-01-20T22:47:00.006+01:00

Hi everybody,

Blois is a small french city (around 48000 cityzen) but a great place for history and architecture.
This was the King´s residence in France until the end of the 16th century.
The wonderful royal castel is still here to remember us the glorious and prestigious past the city had.
The two sketches I show you today were done from the Place in front of this castel.
All around you have this complex view of roofs. It´s a part of the old city and all the streets are pretty narrow.
It´s a nice spot you apreciate to draw during a sunny winter day (no cold shadows coming in your back to freeze you!).
The cathedral drawn on the second sketch was build in 1697. Some parts older, from a previous church ( 12th century) are still visible (inside the crypt and on the base of the facade).

Soon I will tell you more with more sketches.

Guillaume.

OLD WORK

2010-01-06T23:32:00.005+01:00

Hi,
here are some old sketches done with gouache painting in 2000-2001 during a trip in Malaysia.
Renting a motocycle, I was going early the morning in the middle of the rice field, on the Langkawi Island, catching the first sun light for those sketches.
The third one was done in the "Boh Tea Plantation", trying to keep my sketch dry from the rain.

Guillaume.

BYE-BYE NORWAY!

2009-11-19T13:12:00.003+01:00

...and back to France!
But stay around, soon I will post from the city of Blois.
Thanks to many of you guys for the nice and encouraging comments on my work in Norway.
Guillaume.

OLD WORKS

2009-11-03T23:26:00.004+01:00

Hi,

Unfortunatly, my time in Norway is coming to an end. After 18 months in Norway, I´m going back soon to France, my country.
I still have a few days to spend here and I hope to have time for a last firework of sketches.
Anyway, don´t go to far, there will be some new sketches from new locations and always the same pleasure to share them with you.

Two old sketches I made this year, in April and september.
The ink wash was done on a brown washed paper.

Guillaume.

SKETCHCRAWL

2009-09-20T23:17:00.003+02:00

Hi,

Saturday was the 24th world wide Sketchcrawl. We met at the Vigeland Park with some friends and after couple of sketches went to Aker Brygger, the neighbourhood between the fjord and the city hall here in Oslo.
I took the oportunity of the Sketchcrawl to re-open my box of watercolor. It was really exciting to rediscover an old tool I didn´t practice since years and even if I´m still shy with the color I enjoyed to do it.
The two panoramic sketches are done on Moleskine watercolor paper.
I had a great time and I hope I will find an interesting warm spot for the next Sketchcrawl wich would append in winter time here.
Guillaume.

VOYAGE IN ITALY, PART2

2009-09-15T23:31:00.004+02:00

Hi,

here is the second part of our vacation trip in Italy. The two first drawing are from Roma and the others are from Toscane.
Guillaume.

VOYAGE IN ITALY, PART 1

2009-08-23T19:56:00.003+02:00

Hi,

July has been a wonderfull time for my artistic life. I had the pleasure to spend two weeks in Italy. We first decided to spend few days in Roma, before going to Tuscany.
I knew I would see a lot of art but I didn´t expect so much. During two week I felt like a kid locked in a toy store: running everywhere, with so much to see, so much to do and all of it just for us.
Because our time was limited we knew we had to select our visits. We decided to focus our attention on art "in situ", like churches instead of museums (except the vatican museum of course where we spent eight hours!).
We thought it was a nice way to approach the history of the city by seing the paintings, sculptures and architectures wich are still in their original places.
The rest of the time we walked in the city discovering all the wonders and the living way of roman people. We´ve been always welcome in all places.
The temperature was extremly hot as you can imagine (35 to 37degre celsius) and some afternoon we had to stop for one or two hours to rest a little bit. That´s the moment I took for doing those sketches I would like to show you today.
They were done on moleskine sketchbook with a 6B pencil.
Many times I was thinking about the nineteen century artist who came to Italy to build their art education. Camille Corot was one of them and I couldn´t stop thinking about him when I was
admiring this city.

Coming soon: VOYAGE IN ITALY, PART 2 .
Guillaume.

MOLESKINEMENT VOTRE

2009-07-01T20:50:00.008+02:00

Hi,
That´s it, I´m an artist ! I finally jump in to the world of Moleskine.
The paper is pretty soft and it´s a real pleisure to draw with a 6B pencil. Format are interesting too if you consider to make a double page sketch. Otherwise on single page it´s a too small for me.
Last week we spent a few evening on the beach with the typical Norvegian picknic package: Barbecue, sausage and drink.
It was already 9:30 or 10:00 pm when I noticed how the people were pushed away from the beach by the shadow. I had the impression to see a large wave of shadow cleaning the beach.
The boat I draw on the third sketch has been reconverted as cafe-theatre. They probably built some extra deck because the proportion are really unusual. In the meantime they are so interesting to draw.
The next sketch represent the town hall (called Radhuset) seen from the fortress. The architecture of this building is difficult to appreciate (personaly, I don´t) but the interior has been decorated with huge impressive painting from the beginning of the 20th century. It´s also the place where every year in december the Peace Nobel Price ceremony take place.
The two last sketches were done with the "artpen". The line drawing was too similar than my previous series of sketches and I was looking for some new tool I could explore. I stopped for now to use this pen but I´m thinking to use it for thumbnail studies lately.

That´s all for now . A special thank to Abel who offered me this first Moleskine sketchbook a few months ago. Now I´m addict.

Guillaume.

OSLO AND ROSENDAL

2009-06-03T23:23:00.005+02:00

Hi,

I´ve been pretty busy this last month and the sketches I present you today were done few weeks ago. The first and the second are from Oslo and the last one was done during a trip in west of Norway.
Guillaume.

THE PENINSULA

2009-05-19T23:13:00.004+02:00

Hi,

Bygdøy, the peninsula is only a few minutes away from work. I made those sketches late in the afternoon and it is still a bit fresh to stay outside more than an hour without moving when you draw.
The first sketch was done from the Marina (you can see it on the line drawing sketch)). The second was done from a trail leading to the beach. Both from the west side of Bygdøy.
It´s amazing to know that we are so close from the city center when walking around Bygdøy.
On the third sketch, you can see how the boats are kept safe and dry during the winter.
Guillaume.

THE OSLO FJORD LIGHT

2009-05-13T22:51:00.005+02:00

Hi,

Two weeks ago, walking around Bygdøy, in Oslo, I´ve been facinated by this wonderfull light.
I´m now please to share it with you.
Guillaume.

2009-04-28T19:01:00.006+02:00

Hi,

this is a life drawing selection from few last months. There are about 2 or 3 minutes pose, done with pencil drawing, brush pen with black ink or brown ink.
Guillaume.

BACK TO LIFE

2009-04-21T20:03:00.004+02:00

Hi everybody,

I´m back!
The winter in Oslo has been amazing with such an amount of snow that they had not seen since 22 years (accordind the news). Now the sun is back and so do I.
Begining of the year, I joined a life drawing class. It´s a quick sketches class, 2 or 3 minutes poses max. I will show you some of them soon but right now I would rather restart my blog with few drawings I made a week ago during a trip in Copenhagen.
It´s a beautifull city, made for pedestrian but also a cultural city with some interesting museums such as the "Ny Carlsberg glyptotek"with an impressive collection of Antiques.
This time I worked only with pen. I think I will have soon to change tool and go for brush pen just to break the habit.

So, here is Copenhagen:

MORE BOATS

2008-10-01T21:31:00.004+02:00

Hi,

it has been a while since I updated my Blog.
A few weeks ago I got my eye surgery and soon I should be able to work again normaly (right now, only close vision is ok).
Anyway, as you can see I am addicted to boat-drawings. I have a lot of fun drawing those contrasts beetwen large shapes and small details, shadows playing around, mirror reflexion in the water, the pier and its world of organised and repetitive shapes.
Here in Oslo we also have the chance to have some sailing- boats with complex ropes organisation...probably my next target.

I hope you will like them.

Guillaume.

OLDIES 2

2008-08-24T19:18:00.005+02:00

Hi,

In 2000-2001, my wife and I made a trip to malaysia. We spent six weeks there, sketching almost everyday, traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang island, Langkawi island, Cameron highland, Fraser hill and Malacca.
We met wonderfull people there, having the honor to be invited to a malaysian wedding. A family invited us as well to share their night diner to celebrate the end of the "ramadan".
The beauty of the country and his people are always in our mind and we hope one day to go back there.
The sketches that I show you here are gouaches painted over a black ink first statement.

Guillaume.

New Ink wash

2008-08-18T23:44:00.003+02:00

Hi,
I had a great pleasure recently to discover this boat, between Oslo center and Bygdoy. This first drawing was a good apetizer and I expected to come back to put on paper some other point of view... Unfortunatly the boat left recently.
"Pas de chance!!"
Anyway, I added some others ink washes done a fews weeks ago before I got this technical problem with my eyes....A damned cataract!!!!! That mean a slow production for the next month until I will have my surgery.

But I will take this oportunity to show you some old works from a few trips I have done.

Guillaume.

SKETCHCRAWL AND MORE

2008-07-15T22:48:00.003+02:00

Hi,

Last month, I had the pleasure to join the Scketchcrawl Oslo group at Vigeland Park.
I had a lot of fun and it was a great experience. We were around fifteen artists from Norway, Sweden, Usa, India and France.
Gustav Vigeland was an artist who created 212 sculptures for this park. He started to work on it in 1924 and in 1950 , seven years after his death most of sculptures were placed.
The three first skecthes I show you were done at Vigeland Park.

The two last were done the week after and I enjoyed a lot to work again with ink wash. This is definitely my favorite medium for sketch.

Guillaume.

Bygdøy

2008-06-16T19:59:00.005+02:00

Hi,

Bygdøy is a peninsula, located in the city of Oslo. Most of the surface is covered by forest and field.
This is the second sketch about the beaches you can find there. They are quite small but really charming and it´s only 15 minutes walk from the part of the city I´m living in.
But Bygdøy is also a cultural place with a few interesting museums.
I will talk about this later when I will have the pleasure to introduce you the place by some of my sketches.
So, stay in touch,

Guillaume.

A SMALL BEACH IN OSLO

2008-06-01T23:46:00.006+02:00

...and the sketch the most recently done.

THE NORWAY AND OSLO

2008-06-01T22:24:00.009+02:00

Hi everyone,

Two months now since I left Madrid and Spain.
After a few days in France I finally ended my trip in Norway. I started my new life here in Oslo, working now for a games company, discovering a new culture and a wonderfull country.
As usually, the first month was focused in installation and "administrative paper quest".
Now, We are, my wife and me correctly installed. Anyway, I didn´t forget my blog and I was doing from time to time a sketch. I know some of you guys were waiting for an update since a few weeks and I would like to thank you for your patience and fidelity.
I hope you will like those drawings, done from middle april to middle of may.

Guillaume.

OLD STUFF

2008-03-20T23:45:00.003+01:00

Hi,

some old illustrations (done for a game) I recently reworked.
Guillaume.

AROUND COLMENAR

2008-03-14T23:28:00.010+01:00

Hello!

Here are three sketches from the same location. The two first were done today and the third last year, in october.
The second drawing was done in 20 min. With a line drawing more dynamic than the first one I think I´m loosing the peacefull mood I had found.
Guillaume.

MORE TREES STUDIES

2008-03-14T00:14:00.004+01:00

Hi!!

The first sketch was done last year, around october. The second is new.

My time in Spain is almost over and soon I´m going to move for another country, to enjoy the beauty of nature in Norway. Big change, big experience and many things to discover.
Guillaume.

ANOTHER LOST WORLD

2008-03-04T17:21:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone,

I´ve been really busy the few last month but I finally finished this illustration, using photographies (several part of castles, two mountains on the left and one on the right plus some textures effects), cuting and streching, painting a lot on this mixture to get something and a lot of "undo action".
Hope you will like it!
Guillaume.

TERRAFORMING4

2008-01-29T23:49:00.000+01:00

Hi,

A new concept illustration on "TERRAFORMING" subject. Another one with this "reformated canyon".
This time, the place is more dirty, people are still working and it doesn´t look like an entertainment park. Even the air seems a bit polluted.
The people in the background are working there but you don´t really see what they are supposed to do. And yet, their technology doesn´t look high-tech for this huge work!
I would like to keep this enigmatic environment as mysterious as possible.

I hope this drawing will start to work on your imagination.
Guillaume.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2008-01-07T11:16:00.000+01:00

I wish to everybody an happy new year 2008.
And have a lot of fun with your art.
Guillaume.

CONCEPTS

2007-11-26T23:20:00.000+01:00

Hi,

It's been a while since I posted the last work. Shame on me!!
Here are three sketches I have done recently. They are a first step from a concept I 'm currently working on.
Some other will follow, probably with different aspect depending the art direction I'll decide.
The main subject (if there is one?) is the "terraforming".
It will be seen always from inside, trying to put the spectator in this world.
I tought it will be more intriging to avoid the tipical flying point of view.

Tell me your felling about it.
Guillaume.

PASTEL PAINTING

2007-10-09T23:50:00.000+02:00

Hi,

I had this picture I took few weeks ago during a trip in North of Madrid. The light, so particular and the composition were a good suject for a bigger pastel (around 30x40cm).
So I decided to focus on the light and for that, I intentionally worked with no details, keeping the shapes a bit blur except for the tree in foreground.
Camille Corot was a master in creating this blury effects in the landscape painting, especially in the trees foliage. He was my main inspiration for the style I explored for this painting.
The way I limited my color was also inspired by the old Masters.
This is definitively a style I feel confortable with and appropriate for pastel painting I hope to create.
Guillaume.

THE FACTORY

2007-10-03T22:16:00.000+02:00

Hi everyone,

an illustration done recently.

MONSTERS IN BARCELONA

2007-09-18T23:38:00.000+02:00

Hi,
here are two new sketches done last week end in Barcelona.
Industrial shapes are always funny to draw, specially the "monster craine" from sea port.
I 'll need to find a similar place in Madrid.
Guillaume.

2007-09-10T23:26:00.000+02:00

Hi everyone,

I would like to show you those three drawings I did a fews weeks ago in France.
The first one was made with brush pen. It was a farm I could see when I was getting up from my tent. Behind the building, the "Mont Dore" mountain appear in the far distance.
The second sketch represent the old medieval city "Saint-Flour", a stop on the road of Compostelle's pilgrinage. I have done this sketch quickly ( with ink pen) because it was freezing.
The third sketch is located in south of France near the Spanish border. This is the "Salses" Fortress, built at the end of the 15th century by the Spanish soldiers to prevent invasion from French. Finally, after fews battles (the place became definitivly French in 1642) , the peace declared between the two countries (in 1659) moved the border line few kilometers from there and the fortress lost his stategic interrest.
The Fortress of Salses is a true specimen of transition between the Medieval castle and the modern fort.
The drawing was done with brown ink and pen (actually, a sort of metallic quill, don't know exactly the name in english, but an extraordinary tool for drawing!!).

So, I hope you will appreciate them.

A COLOR STUDY

2007-08-22T20:22:00.000+02:00

Hi everyone,

On a sketch done quickly, I forced myself to play only with a minimum of plain colors. I was interrested to see what's append with the car's color and the reflection's color.
The right combinaisons were not easy to find.

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN!

2007-08-13T23:33:00.000+02:00

Hi Everybody!

After a few days in France, I realised how green nature could be in this country. I wanted to share with you this pastel done in south west of France, near the city of Pau. I tried to catch this wonderfull atmosphere you'll find when clouds and trees are flirting together.
Changing my color palette was an interresting exercice.

PASTEL

2007-07-26T23:40:00.000+02:00

Hi!
A plein air pastel done last week-end in the Sierra Norte.
Guillaume.

FANTASY WORLD

2007-07-15T20:31:00.000+02:00

Hi,
This week end was extremely hot around Madrid (38°C or 100°F), too much for a plein-air painting. We spent anyway our week-end on the road finding some futur spots we could paint next september. We crossed a Sierra in the north called "Sierra de Rinçon"where the variety of colors and shapes reminded us many impressionist painters and also the "Sainte Victoire Mountain" from Cezanne.
For the people living around, it's the road called "GU 123"and "CM1002" between "Torrelaguna" and "Casa de Uceda".
Today, sunday, I had the pleasure to see in Madrid a beautiful exhibit about Van Gogh's last works. The last seventy days of his life, he made SEVENTY paintings and around THIRTY drawings. I enjoyed to see the ones presented at this exhibit.

The subject of my post is based on a two years old sketch. I colored it saturday evening just for fun and finally got something I wanted to show you.
Guillaume.

VIEW ON THE SIERRA NORTE

2007-07-12T21:13:00.000+02:00

Hi,

A pastel based on a picture I took a few weeks ago.
I created the depth by reworking the details in the foreground with pencil pastel.

NEW TOOL, NEW GAMES

2007-07-08T23:30:00.000+02:00

Hi everyone,
two drawings selected from my last life drawing session. They were done in ten minutes with a brush pen (the one with cartridge).
One the second sketch, I was studing the surface of light and shadow, trying to define a circulation from one to the other. I didn't block the shadow with black ink, I was more interested to see how the quality of lines can described the frontier of light and shadow.

A FIGHT WITH MY PAINTING

2007-07-03T23:27:00.000+02:00

Hi,

After a few days fighting with my pastel painting (see the previous post to apreciate the monster I had to dominate!), I'm coming back with this mutant, half done on location, half done in studio and half sketchy, half "something"(Argl! a four half beast...)
But it was a very interesting experience, especialy when you take off the pastel from your paper with a large and hard brush: the result is a ghost painting you can re-use as canvas for your corrections.
Many thanks to Jared for his advice.

PASTELS

2007-06-19T21:37:00.000+02:00

Hi,
This pastel has been done two weeks ago. My first opinion about it was bad because the colors were too strong.
But something on it was still capturing my interest, the light in the background and the texture. I finally reworked the foreground a little bit and post it. I will be interested in your opinion.
Guillaume.

The Creative Blog Directory: Worldwide blog links

2007-06-12T19:55:00.000+02:00

The Creative Blog Directory: Worldwide blog links

PASTELS

2007-06-11T22:48:00.000+02:00

Hi everybody,
After so many years with gouache painting, I really enjoy coming back to pastel painting.
A few years ago, I used to paint in Malibu Creek State Park, California. The light was beautiful and they were many spot to paint.
Here, around Madrid, I found my Malibu Creek State Park. It's a small "canyon" near the city of Colmenar viejo. I don't even know if it has a name, but I could go every week-end and still enjoy the landscape and the view.
Not far from there, they used to film a part of the movie "The good, the bad and the ugly", the sequence with the army and the bridge, almost at the end of the movie.

The first pastel was little bit larger but I didn't like the composition. So I framed it.

METALLICA

2007-06-06T23:56:00.000+02:00

A special post for my old friend, Mr Clark!
Remember Eric!

PASTEL PLEIN AIR

2007-06-03T23:36:00.000+02:00

A pastel sketch done this week end around Madrid.
This is a 34cmx13cm painted on "pastel card".
We are just in the moment of the year when colors of
landscape are turning more yellow. In few weeks, I could leave
my green color at home!
It took me two hours to complete this sketch.

LIFE DRAWING

2007-05-28T23:36:00.001+02:00

MORE SKETCHES

2007-05-28T23:31:00.000+02:00

JUST A SKETCH

2007-05-26T12:30:00.000+02:00

Oldies

2007-05-16T23:34:00.000+02:00

Some sketches done with gouache during a trip to Malaysia in 2001. A first step was done with black ink and I was covering it with gouache, keeping the last strokes with ink.
Gouache painting is drying fast and can be an advantage when you travel.

Miniatures

2007-04-01T23:11:00.000+02:00

Hi,
Two small pastels I have done recently. The second is a study from Carlos de Haes, a spanish painter from the 19th century. Both are around 15 cm large to avoid too much details. Even this size, it's amazing how much you can put in it! Next time I will try a stamp size, maybe.

MORE TREES

2007-03-19T23:15:00.000+01:00

This week-end, I went to see what was behind Manzanares Park. I came back with those two new ink washes...
Well, it's again trees but the light was so beautiful.

FIRST POST

2007-03-12T23:25:00.000+01:00

Welcome to my blog! I'm still figuring out how the blog works and it will take me few post to feel home. Since a week the sun is back in Madrid and I wanted to share my first contact with "plein air" sketching in the nature around there.