Bricks and cane

Dear Sarah - Day 180 of our daily drawing exchange

June 29, 2025
Hi Nikki,

I am almost embarrassed to attach the mess I have made of the brick row. When will I learn that adding watercolour to a drawing that is not on watercolour paper is not going to end well? The drawing wasn't great--I rushed the brick work above all the windows, and the attempt at shading is horrible. Totally wrong pen. But here we are.

I guess I could have done a doodle and thrown away the brick row but I didn't feel like spending any more time drawing today. So it's a big ugh from me! Lesson learned, I hope. Watercolour on watercolour paper. Drawing on drawing paper.

XO S

Dear Sarah -

you are too hard on yourself. I love this loose style of pen and wash drawing. You’ve suggested bricks, reflections, shading - sure, it may not be perfect but I don’t think perfection is the point? That would be a photograph…

I stumbled across a perfectly good photo of me and Fabio standing together in front of the narrowest street in some delightful village in Sicily, the name of which eludes me at the moment. What struck me was how happy we looked - big smiles from both of us - (missing in the sketchy rendition) and THE CANE!!!!! I had forgotten how much pain I was in hobbling around during that trip.

After an exceptionally long day today there was no time whatsoever for slowing down (tomorrow is shaping up to be just as bad) so, it is what it is.

Tomorrow brings fresh sheets of paper!

Cheers,
Nikki