This weeks drawing....Time Outdoors

Hello Lovelies,
thank you for all your comments on my previous post. Quite a few of you said that you recognised  where we had been, others enquired where it was .
  Bradgate park is somewhere we had not visited before but it does seem that it is much loved by  people who spend time there and I can see why. It's a huge park , able to offer a gentle stroll beside the river with a pushchair and youngsters on bikes, or an energetic hike in solitude. It also has an interesting history and wildlife.

But more than anything else I loved the open spaces and unchanged, natural landscape.
I loved the walk with a climb and the stunning view , it's a bonus that there is an interesting structure at the summit as well. The folly at the top of Bradgate park is called " Old John Tower" .

On Saturday it was a busy spot , despite the steep walk , and I imagine it's usually like that on any  pleasant weekend day.It's somewhere to wander around and take in the 360 degree views. Somewhere to sit and recover from your climb, sheltered from the wind.
There's a wider angle photo here
I really like the shape of the folly and decided I would try and draw it,with it's many visitors, because that's how it  was ...... busy and colourful and full of life.
Here's my initial rough sketch, just to get my ideas down on paper.........

I then worked from my photo to draw the tower and added the people from my memory and imagination.
Here is the neat pencil drawing.....



 Here it is in fine black pen, ready for colouring.....

here it is partly coloured.........

And here is the finished picture.........

click on the picture to make it clearer

Again I've tried to add light and shade to show that it was a sunny day. The colours of the tower were tricky. I build light layers of colour till I'm happy with the effect. In this case I started with grey as a base then added mid brown, dark brown. Yellow and a tiny bit of orange to warm up the sunny side. Black, dark blue and purple to darken the shaded side.
 I'm certainly no expert on drawing , but I thought some of you lovelies may be interested to read how I approach it.

I think  the sky was more important in this picture than in any of my previous pictures . I do that last ( not sure why ), so I was a bit concerned that I could ruin the whole thing if I got it wrong. I haven't tried to draw clouds before so they were " hanging over me" till I did them :0)
I could have drawn a cloudless sky but I wanted to try and draw the little fluffy clouds that were so beautiful on the day. I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out...PHEW .

To the right of the tower you can see the Toposcope that is also at this site. It's marked with lines that radiate out and indicate what landmarks are visible in each direction. It's also inscribed around the edge to the memory of Lady Jane Grey who was born here ........

This is the other corner...I'm pleased with how the fluffy dog turned out :0).....

In the middle a couple sit in Old John's doorway with their thermos flask, enjoying the view and a man looks up at the plaque on the towers wall..........

This is the plaque..........

It says.........

In grateful remembrance of

CHARLES BENNON

of Thurnby in this county

who in the year 1928 with the helpful concurrence of the heirs of the Greys

of Groby purchased from them this park

of Bradgate and presented it in trust

for the city and county of Liecester

that for all time it might be preserved

in its natural state for the quiet 

enjoyment of the people of

Leicestershire

His true memorial lies around

It certainly is a wonderful park. It was great to explore it for the first time with my growing family in tow and I really enjoyed drawing a memory of the day.........

Thank you for your continued encouragement :0)
Jacquie x