One Sketch 252) The Little Tramp

While Chaplin remained at the helm
So often he would overwhelm
With slapstick, with cheek
Such laughter he'd wreak
He ended a knight of the realm

Not a lot more to say - always been a fan. His silent shorts were often showed on British TV when I was a kid. Very complex and interesting personality too - at one time banned from re-entering the USA. Ungrateful sods.

One Sketch 251) The Great Stoneface

The thing I would say about Buster
- apologising for my bluster
With each new decade
The films that he made
Just seem to take on greater lustre.

At a bit of a loss today, so decided to paint this quick monochrome portrait of a comedian I have a lot of time for, the great Buster Keaton.

One Sketch 222) Warship class Loco near Dawlish

Nobody grieves
When diesels go extinct

There's a reason why steam powered locomotives are pretty much only used on heritage lines where the experience of riding in a train pulled by a steam locomotive is one of the main reasons for making the journey in the first place. Whether you like it or not - and many, many people don't like it - diesel locomotives are more efficient and cost effective than steam ones. When I started getting interested in trains, way way back in the early 1970s when I was just a wee nipper, these chaps, the British rail class42 and 43 "Warship" class were almost extinct, having been phased out a couple of years earlier. I always had a soft spot for a warship - and I guess I'm not the only one since there are a couple which have been preserved.

One Sketch #127) Penarth Pier and Carousel Horse

Stand at the edge

Of the world

And let the grey green waters 

Carry your soul

While your body hugs the rail

Safe, but empty.

I was at a bit of a quandary today, which image to post, and so that's why I posted the Carousel horse as well. I really wanted to post the Penarth Pier line and wash sketch, but I am fully aware that I sketched the pier in sepia ink from a different vantage point only a couple of months ago.

I try not to repeat myself too much. However, I had the opportunity to meet Gary, one of my internet sketching friends and a man whose line and wash work I really admire. Gary is currently visiting Wales, and waited to sketch the pier, so we agreed to meet. Unfortunately Gary couldn't make it for reasons beyond his control. Still, another member of the South Wales Urban Sketchers did come, and we sketched and also had a cuppa in the coffee shop inside the pavilion on the pier. While talking, Andra mentioned that she had met Gary last week, and passed on a couple of tips and observations about the way that Gary constructs a line and wash picture. I applied these and made the line and wash sketch above which, though I say it myself, I'm really pleased with. It's closer to how I'd like to use line and wash than pretty much anything else I've managed before.

The carousel is my response to the Sketching Every Day prompt today - State Fair. Okay, here in the UK we don't have State fairs - well, be fair, we don't have states. But I just took it to mean a traditional fair. I chose to go back to monochrome blue, partly because I like it - I guess I'm in the middle of my blue period - and partly because I used an ink sketch yesterday, and I don't want the group to figure out just what a one-trick pony I am just yet. I did think about trying to make a verse for the carousel, but to be honest anything I came up with as the germ of an idea was too close to my ferris wheel verse a couple of days ago. As it is, the challenge only requires me to come up with one verse each day, so I thought stuff it - it's my game so I can play by my rules.

One Sketch #122) The Parting

A last kiss,
From a slowly moving train
I wonder,
Did they ever meet again?

First day of the school holidays, and I've had a lovely day. Still, one thing which my mind has been turning over is the fact that a few good friends, with whom I've taught for many years will not be coming back after the holidays, and so this idea of parting has been very much on my mind. Another blue monochrome special, and once again, though I say it as shouldn't, I really rather like the results. As I've said before, I just don't really get colour - but for some reason, if I stick to monochrome blue I come up with something I can live with.

OOH - I've just realised. This being sketch/day 122 - I've completed my first third of a year. I propose we open something fizzy to celebrate. Mine's a pepsi max thanks for asking.

One Sketch #101) Choo choo in Bloo

Noisy, smelly and dirty
(But that's enough about me)
Ah, the pulling power
Of grimy steam engines
And old photographs

I think I'm entering into something of a blue period at the moment. I enjoyed painting Stan and Ollie yesterday so much that I could feel that I was going to go blue again tonight in Artists' Group. There was no point, I felt, in going for another portrait, and I wondered how it would look if I did a train. Now, bear in mind that the last train I painted was in acrylic, and took me getting on for 20 hours. I had all told about an hour and a half for this one. It's not a masterpiece, but it ain't too shabby.

One Sketch #100 (ONE HUNDRED!) Laurel and Hardy

Upon the screen
They don't grow old
And don't forget
That laughter's gold.

I shan't lie - I really had no idea what I was going to sketch today. I did know that I had a hankering to do a paint sketch, a direct watercolour sketch. For some reason I'm still not sure Laurel and Hardy popped into my head. I mean, I've always liked them, ever since I as a id and their shorts used to be shown often on the BBC. But why today - not sure at all. Still, it seemed natural once I had chosen them to do them in monochrome. And I really liked the blue monochrome I did in Swansea on the last