Ian Sidaway: Drawings Speak for Themselves

I reviewed Ian Sidaway's art blog "Fine Line" today. The first picture of his that I saw was captured by serendipity in a online image search for something else. His work stood out from among the noise of other images. All images in today's entry are Ian's and courtesy from his blog under Internet Fair Use to give you, dear Reader, just a hint of his sketchbook portfolio! Notes and links below. I enjoyed my visit immensely and recommend it to you.

Here is his studio shot.

 

Internet Fair Use - Ian Sidaway in His Studio

And the tools associated with his mastery and expertise.

Internet Fair Use - Ian Sidaway's Sketching Tools Drawn in His Sketchbook

So I followed to his website. And reviewed his portfolio of artwork. I thoroughly enjoyed the use of numerous quotes within the blog.

The best quote that speaks to me was: "There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness' ". (Unknown author)

Dear Reader, either review his blog and reach your own conclusions. Or I took the following notes as I reviewed the blog and his artwork:

• Keeps the blog simple with quotes and his sketchbook pages
• The finish and quality of the drawings speak for themselves
• He characterizes himself as an urban sketcher
• Content aligns to a sketchbook-based travel and journey log
• Text wasn't required to explain the power of the artwork
• The feeling and essence of the location and subject matter was self-evident in the images
• Obviously portrays what he enjoys so there is insight into the artist from his depictions
• Wonderful capture of architecture [Paris, with Eiffel], rural locations [Cornwall cow, Edale Sheep, Edale wire fence], cityscapes, storefronts, cafes [Vienna, Paris], landscapes, marine, arboretums [winter trees], topiary, gardening [allotments, and again, wheelbarrows, pumpkins,], vendors and markets [cheese and vegetables, flowers, roses and books, carpets and fish], and natural history [bones, seal, shrew, autumn chestnuts]
• He has a knack for taking what otherwise could be seen as mundane and making it dramatic [Brecon-Beacon wire fence, Edale wire fence, French cafe chairs, and cafe chairs again, laundry in Burano]
• His skill of observation, selection of subject, and point of view is superb [Bodmin Moor]
• Style appears to have roots in architectural and landscape graphic designer [Tuscany, and Tuscany again, Cortona, Venice]
• Use of foreground and background to provide depth [Edale Cross, Santorini Greece]
• Positive use of white space [ducks, rope and buoys]
• Using different focal planes of activity [St Thomas a Becket, teasals at sunset, farm in Zenner, Avebury fence and hedgerows, peonies and queen anne's lace, gull in Venice]
• Selective use of detail or lack of detail to portray essence of image [rope and buoys, spring magnolias]
• Use of shape to provide emphasis [Petworth oak]
• Allowing line and geometry to provide emphasis [Kew Gardens greenhouse]
• Use of architectural panorama [Cartmel logging, Musee d'Orsay and Louvre]
• Use of silhouette [fishing boat]
• Use of repetition [Wells at Sea, pastries in Vienna, Place de Vocks, Venice canal curtains]
• Use of perspective [Paris architecture, Versailles landscapes, Armeni boats, Norfolk tree line]
• Use of angles [Avebury tree line]
• Chiascuro choices in selective use of light-dark [Richmond trees]
• Line and hatching to produce volume, shading, and texture [self-portrait, artist tools]
• Simplification of potentially noisy subject matter to tell the essential story [Rialto Market]
• Portraits in occupation [toyboats for rent, cheese and vegetables, Chartier waiters]
• Portraits in recreation [toy sailboat] 
• Capturing motion [Cornwall fishing boat, Essouira boat, Foxton Locks barge, ducks]
• Order and windswept chaos 
• Use of partials where the mind fills in the blank [cheese and vegetable vendors]
• Occasional Whimsy [Santorini burros, balloons, summer ice cream, artistic refreshment]
• Rare use of color makes it pop among the portfolio [holiday greeting]

In my review, I attempted to select just one image that I liked to represent his work based on my appraisal notes above. A very difficult task. I ended up with 55 that I thought were special and indicative within my notes. I selected the following single image today, though, for its whimsy and feeling.

 

Internet Fair Use - Ian Sidaway Shoreham Hot PM

Ian rarely uses color. But with a nod towards the approaching holiday festivities, I include one of his rare blog entries with color. Thanks Ian, for the opportunity to visit. It was inspiring. I hope this review adds to your future net traffic. It certainly gives me an approach to promptly access my review notes.

Internet Fair Use - Ian Sidaway's Rare Use of Color