The Ecology Park Pond Series - an introduction

Today I've got a formal introduction to my series relating to the Ecology Park Ponds near where I live

• On Making A Mark - you'll find an explanation about the layout of the ponds and some photos in The Ecology Park Ponds - an introduction
• on Travels with a Sketchbook I have a sketch which preceded a drawing which I hoped to post today (but the light is too bad for photography) - see An introduction to the Ecology Park Pond series
• On Flickr - The Ecology Park Ponds are a set of photos of the Pond taken from different angles and at different times of the day.

In summary:

• I've created a map of the ponds and named all the different ponds and bridges so I can better describe where I'm located and what the view is of

An annotated map of the Ecology Park Ponds
(click for a larger version)

• I'm going to keep a photo diary of the ponds - in part because I enjoy photography and in part because I find that looking at the ponds through a camera helps me a lot in sorting out what are good 'views' or 'crops' for my sketches and drawings. You can see the set relating to The Ecology Park Pond on Flickr
  
• I'll be developing a sketchbook for the series. I think I'm going to be getting a special sketchbook dedicated to the series. Sketches will be in pencil, coloured pencil and/or pen and ink.
  
• I'll be making a series of drawings of the ponds in different months and seasons. These will be worked up from both sketches and my reference photos. Initially in coloured pencil, I'm hoping to move onto pastel as the weather gets better and I can work for longer outside. I may also have a go with watercolour and who knows I may even try acrylic or oils!
  
• A monthly perspective: I aim to do one particular view each month during the course of the project. I started off thinking it would be one view - but I may change my mind about that

Extract from the the Map of the Canals and Rivers of the East End and Docklands

annotated to show where the Ecology Park is

In addition, I'm also thinking of adding in odd sketches and drawings of other water and waterways in the area - which you can see on the map below (from the Waterscape.com guide to rivers and canals in East London).

• the pond in Victoria Park
• the lake in Victoria Park
• Hertford Union Canal
• Regents Canal.

Links:

• Watermarks: Reflections on a Pond
• Travels with a Sketchbook: The Ecology Park Pond in December
• and 28th December 2008 (15:30) - Frozen Pond
• Making A Mark - Working in a series - drawing and painting ponds
• Making A Mark - The Ecology Park Ponds - an introduction
• Flickr - The Ecology Park Ponds.