JA Lens

Soft black pencil on paper, after Jan Vermeer.

Soft black pencil on paper, after Jan Vermeer.

2 of 2 people from the Kingdom choir (they sang at the last Royal wedding) who performed for us at Thoresby hall.

1 of 2 people from the Kingdom choir (they sang at the last Royal wedding) who performed for us at Thoresby hall.

A rendition of "Mrs Richard Yates" by Gilbert Stuart hanging in the National Gallery, Washington.

Picture a scene almost 100 years ago!

In a mirror backwards!

My husband Frank, who patiently sat for this!

An interpretation of the self portrait by Van Gogh

Ruth - an old friend

A colourful approach to portrait painting.

Everybody has a friend called James, here is ours!

A copy of a painting by Edouard Vuillard

Copy of “The Girl with a Red Hat “ by Jan Vermeer

The lighter coloured chalk really brought out the life in this image.

The lighter coloured chalk really brought out the life in this image.

Coloured paper, charcoal and chalk in symphony!

Capturing the human form and the range of emotions which are portrayed.

Capturing the human figure can sometimes be difficult!

A colourful approach to portrait painting.

Maybe this should be in the life drawing section.

An interpretation of the old Loredan Doge

An allusion to pop-art in this blustery winter-day scene.

Sheffield is home to the steel industry, there was once no shortage of skilled workmen, such as this one.

An original tile design I made which I wanted to quickly sketch for posterity.

A troika vase from Cornwall, a cup & saucer from America and a glass ornament from Israel.

As with glass, plastic (or anything that reflects the light) can be very hard to capture.

Some trinkets and nicknacks glistening.

Achieving a slightly two-dimensional depiction of objects

My sons would always leave their shoes in disarray.

Glass (which naturally refracts and reflects light) is depicted here.

Even the most unassuming of scenes (in the right light) can reveal some gems of interpretation.

After a visit to buy more supplies at the art shop, my cash box looked like this!

My husband Frank crafted these fine candlesticks by hand and we had Christmas cards made from this painting — which proved to be highly successful.

A classic image of a female figure captured in stark light.

A resting female figure captured in the stark light of the life drawing studio.

In dim light we drew these recumbent figures.

A reclining figure captured in the stark light of the life drawing studio.

In dim light we drew these recumbent figures.

Using the traditional technique of drawing the human body via structures of cylinders.

A reclining figure captured in the stark light of the life drawing studio.

In our old garden, we'd frequently see such fine specimins of red admiral butterflies.

Trying to evoke the eastern asian pencil/pen style of drawing wildlife, did I succeed? Let me know!

There is life before omelette!

In our old house, on the patio, the hanging basket was invariably overflowing with a colourful cheery mix of flowers.

I received a lovely bouquet of flowers as a gift, here they are in my interpretation of them.

Layers upon layers of acrylic achieved this scene of snowdrops as they opened following a long winter.

Drawn over a few days capturing an interesting colour.

In our old house, on the patio, a plant pot held a wonderful selection of lillies.

A quid candid scene of a dragonfly brooch which I received as a gift.

A nice cheery scene of some emerging primulas drawn on brown paper.

Drawn in haste while the blueberry cupcake was still hot and fresh from the oven!

A seated model in brightly coloured clothes.

A seated model in brightly coloured clothes.

A seated model in brightly coloured clothes.

A seated model in brightly coloured clothes.

My husband and my son in their favourite place - the sofa.

This is part of a renaissance statue at Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire.

Attempting to evoke a Gaugin scene in black and white.

This is part of a statue at Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire. The renaissance copied these commanding figures and they stand as sentinels in England's green and pleasant land.

These heads were copied from drawings of antiquity — which lends itself to the correct proportioning of figures.

Capturing the scene of this reclining woman was surprisingly difficult, I tried to portray a sense of calm and light in the colours I used.

In the fields by Graves Park, in winter, the sun retreats towards the horizon generating a prismatic vista of colour.

In Chancet Woods, behind our old house at Strelley Avenue, the bleakness of the shedding leaves at the end of autumn lends itself to be recreated in chalk and charcoal to evoke the onset of winter.

I wanted to allude to Monet in this painting, evoking the impressionists with the tall poplar trees and long vista.

The mountains of Switzerland hold some amazing gems. Roofs of houses intermingled in the forest, a rare treat to encounter.

Whilst on holiday, I saw this inspiring field of sunflowers and sat in a serene and tranquil location capturing this scene.

This is a scene of some old cottages, the image first in pencil then the wash and the detail in pen and ink following.