On the Edge

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The last sketch of Madeira was made on our final morning, sitting in the sun at the statue of Christ the Redeemer and looking towards Funchal. Just a few minutes’ concentration, spying on the cruise ships in the harbour and the houses perched improbably, and seemingly precariously, on the cliffs.

Funchal tombow

The picture was made in black fineliner and black Tombow on a new W&N sketchbook with extremely smooth paper (not sure yet how I’m going to get on with its lack of texture; time will tell).

13 thoughts on “On the Edge”

    • Thanks Raye, it would have been sooo lovely to have met you there! We could have had fun sketching together, and I’m sure you do have the skill already. In truth, we’re all practicing really, aren’t we? 🙂

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  3. Ooh, i think this is my favourite of this Madeira series! The elegance of simple B&W; the composition; the subtlety of the clouds…..it’s very pleasing to look at. Really lovely!
    Hmm, i must say, i really enjoy paper that’s on the smoother side! A lot of people seem to manage to work with it quite well, but I’m not one of them!

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    • Thanks Siddie! Sometimes things go better, don’t they? This was one of them. I’m very glad you like it, and thanks for encouraging me with the smooth paper, I’ll keep persisting. I’m sure it would be brilliant for pencil drawings…and possibly ballpoint too. Hmmm. Food for thought. 🙂

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      • It is really lovely for pencils and pens! I guess that’s why i prefer it; i don’t really paint on paper, so i can see that perhaps the texture may be preferable to those who do. Well, you seem to be faring ok either way!

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    • Been trying to leave a comment on your page, but for some reason WP won’t let me… here’s what I wanted to say, (and sorry if it ends up spamming you with a whole bunch of the same comment because I got impatient):
      Do you know Kate Bush’s song Pi? She’s a crazy lady, but I love it. (Also creator of the immortal line ‘wishy washy wishy washy washing machine’). I’m very impressed by Manu Delgado – thanks so much. Here’s an odd one for you in a completely different vein, not well known, but I think it’s well worth a listen – Schnittke’s Faust Cantata by Malmo orchestra. YouTube has it, don’t seem to be able to post a link here though. Not my usual thing, but if you listen to this late at night in a dark room and imagine Faust being dragged off to hell, well…scary stuff. Makes the hair on the back of my neck prickle every time.

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      • Yes, i’ve noticed wordypress has been acting up lately; not notifying me of comments properly; then letting me reply to some comments via the sidebar thingy, but refusing to post them on actual blogs etc….sigh. I think wordpress is drunk? Hopefully it’ll get back to normal functioning soon…

        Yay! I’m so happy you mentioned Kate Bush! I’ve always admired her, but watched a great doco about her recently which reignited my enthusiasm! To be super honest, i can’t recall Pi? I will most definitely be looking that up after i write this comment though! Haha, that’s a great lyric. I love her natural kookiness ^_^ I think i remember seeing an interview with her where in response to a question about her creative process she very casually said something like ” it just comes out…like diarrhea”. Gotta love her style 🙂

        Manu Delago is SO good! And he has such a silly sense of humour too. I’m quite besotted. (If he and Martin Molin ever collaborated, i’m pretty sure my heart couldn’t handle it!) I’m glad ya liked him 🙂

        Oh My! Faust Cantata…I’d heard of that, but not listened ( for shame!). But i’m listening to it RIGHT NOW, and i am not disappointed! How i’d love to hear that live! It’d be incredible. I can certainly imagine how listening to this in a dark room would be rather spooky . I don’t think i’ll do that! O.o But thanks SO much for opening my ears to this! Music is so exciting, isn’t it?

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      • I find that your theory about WordPress partying too hard holds water (or maybe mojitos). 🙂 I also would like to hear the Faust live (so glad you found it good). If you feel extra brave, have a listen to one of the longer clips. There is obviously more German singing, but along side that are some very weird noises written into the orchestral score, including saws played with violin bows, and I think also tuned water glasses. Super eery. I find it an amazing piece of invention. Perhaps you should petition for a Manu/Martin combo? I reckon you’re on to something good there. 🙂 And yes, music, all of it, even, I concede, the stuff I don’t like, is wonderful. 🙂 🙂 🙂

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      • Ooh, yes; saws make an eerie sound! I absolutely love it when music is made with things that aren’t technically musical instruments. It’s so creative and inventive. Cool, i’ll have to do some youtubing later 🙂

        Maybe i should! I think such a combo would be dangerously good…and fatally adorable. I’m not sure i’d survive it!

        Definitely; i just love to see how enthusiastic and excited everyone gets about the stuff they like- even if, as you say, it’s not even the kind of stuff you’d listen to personally. It’s just so nice that music can affect people in such a positive way 🙂

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