Sally Barton SGFA

I use a pencil sharpener (with a wider hole, for fatter pencils!). But a knife would do the job too. I also often use Wolffs carbon pencils which are slimmer and easier to sharpen.

I sketched it in conte crayon, which I enjoy using as you can sharpen it more easily than regular charcoal sticks

Sketches from life from cafe in @Canterbury #cafesociety #drawnfromlife #figurative #artistonbluesky#portrait #coffeeshop #charcoal #Englishcoffeeshop #conte #sketching #figurestudy

In the face of powerlessness I do the same - avoid much of the news and try to make a difference in my own life and with those around me. So much to enjoy if we're lucky enough to have many blessings.

I do appreciate your supportive comments Ellen. I hope all's well with you x

Thanks so much!

Detail from a house portrait painted a few years ago - Scottish farmhouse & estate #watercolour #houseportrait #portrait #scotland #landscapepainting #ScottishLandscape #artistonbluesky#watercolourportrait #forest #commission #forest #scottishhighlands #watercolorpainting

Detail from WIP Figures in a Heatwave #watercolour #summer25 #portraits #heatwave #fıgurativeart #artistonbluesky #watercolorpainting #walmerkent #parchedgrass #sunshine #lightandshade #figurestudy #KentEngland #peoplewatching

Thank you so much Ellen. This is from our recent trip to Florence; I love finding an elegant arrangement of figures!

WIP 'On Santa Trinita Bridge' #watercolour #Florence #figurativepainting #italytravel #portraits #watercolorpainting #masonry #artistoninsta #holidayseason #sunglasses #artistonbluesky #Europe #figurestudy

gorgeous!

😅 Have to agree! (however I do hashtag 'watercolor' on insta, in recognition of US spelling. I try to be even-handed!)

Thank you James!

Detail from Alfresco in the City #watercolour #London #pub #figurativeart #ArtistOnBlueSky #LightandShade #portraits #watercolorpainting #urbanlife #figurestudy #CoventGarden #watercoloursketch #LunchBreak #peoplewatching #England

Thank you Ellen! Hoping to post a few more in coming days.

The Trump Presidency’s World-Historical Heist He is taking self-enrichment to a scale never seen before in America.

"The brazenness of the self-enrichment resembles nothing seen in any earlier White House. This is American corruption on the scale of a post-Soviet republic or a postcolonial African dictatorship."

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

The cover of George Eliot’s Middlemarch looking so good that thousands of people will like this skeet

*glancing around nervously

Bluesky isn’t about popularity, it’s about gathering all 17 Middlemarch lovers together in a single online location!

That is lovely!

Detail from 'Sunday in the Park with Phones'. Monochrome #watercolour #phones #scrolling #portraits #figurative #lightandshadow #Sunday #artistoninsta #cafeculture #watercolorpaintings #londonlife #cafesociety #V&AMuseum

Yes, Rob shares my interest (he's a retired graphic designer).
I'm always on the look-out for the perfect chocolate cake too!

It's so heartening to hear. The power that Trump wields and its affront to democracy is so disturbing. At least there are, clearly, loud voices of protest. Can't imagine what sort of reception he'll receive on his visit to the UK..

Thank you Ellen. I feel fortunate to have an occupation that I enjoy so much - means I'm never bored at least! My husband and I are off to Florence tomorrow to see art on quite a different level - looking forward to immersing ourselves in the paintings and sculpture of the Italian Renaissance.

These nationwide protests aren't covered much in the UK media.; good to see and hear the strong voices of opposition to Trump - BlueSky is an eye-opener.

Detail from a just completed watercolour 'Spring sunshine: urban pub garden' #watercolour #peoplewatching #portraits #figürativeart #watercolorpainting #Spring #londonart #pub #society #citylife

Thank you Ellen!

Detail from work in progress. Love groups of figures - these were eating lunch outdoors #watercolour #tonal #peoplewatching #figurativepainting #lunchbreak #lightandshadow #portraits #sunglasses #watercolorpainting #greyscale #artistonbluesky

I really appreciate your support. BlueSky is a refreshing place after 'X'!

'Europe is not only home to our traditional allies; it is an enviable zone of democracy, wealth and prosperity with which it benefits us to have good relations, and from which we can sometimes learn'

Snyder on the new US imperialism

open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...

Donald Trump's executive order would make it harder for millions to register to vote, would disenfranchise voters Trump doesn't like, and give power to election deniers to overturn elections they don't win.

This is the greatest threat to democracy right now and it must be stopped.

Thanks for including me Ellen!