Hello, I’m Ruairi. I look after a primary school in Cork, which means I have a set of keys, a lot of ladders and a lunch break of about thirty-five minutes. Most days I spend twenty of those minutes on a bench with a sketchbook on my knee.
How this started
Four years ago I bought a pocket sketchbook and a fountain pen that cost less than a sandwich, because I wanted something to do on a weekend in Galway besides take photos. The first drawing was a wonky row of shopfronts on Quay Street. I was hooked anyway, and I have been drawing the places I walk through ever since.
What you’ll find here
- How to start a drawing when the whole street is in front of you
- Sketching in the rain, the wind and the lunch-hour crowd
- Pens, paper and small paint sets that fit in a coat pocket
- Honest notes on online courses for sketchers
Write to me
If you have a question about a drawing, a bench you love, or a mistake I made in a post, send me a note at [email protected]. I read everything myself and answer when I’m off the ladders, usually within a few days.