A couple of weeks ago I gave my next door neighbours a pencil sketch that I had done of their cottage as a wedding present. They were delighted, and showed it to lots of their friends and now I have several requests to do more! Why do people like to have pictures of their houses to hang on the walls inside their houses? I could understand it if they were going to move but not otherwise. Any thoughts? I am puzzled.

I would say it's possibly a bit of a self-importance thing - look here is a sketch of my house - someone has thought me and my house important enough to do a drawing of it - which normally only happens with stately homes and the like! Just a theory - I may be completely wrong of course!

I think pencil sketches are generally very attractive - there's something about the monochrome but still warm look of a sketch.

Oh that as well - I was just dealing with the house theory!

*grin* fair enough!

I'm a fan of pencil sketches, but then I am biased, being a pencil sketcher who can't paint for toffee

It is far less expensive too! Good paper is quite pricy though. I have had the same graphic pencils for years.

Your tiger's good

Actually, all of your artwork is good!

thanks I'll pay you later, lol - the tiger is drawing with paint though, rather than painting... it's just white on black not black on white.

I find pencil sketches very impressive, how such depth and vibrancy can be added to a picture, without using any colour but grey. Wish I could draw...I try...

Have you thought that it was a brilliant picci you did, and maybe you are actually a very good artist? That's why I would put a sketch up.

Give yourself a pat on the back, and keep doing what you're doing.

I love pencil sketches...

But I can't draw to save my life!

You're still good


Ditto - my arty stuff is awful!

Oooh you big fat fibber!

Though I can't find your picture of Archie to prove you wrong, of course

That's really not that good!

It was really cute and most archie-like! So there - I bet people who genuinely couldn't draw would be utterly baffled by how you could consider it "not that good" let alone "awful"

But I can't draw If I do draw, it has to be from a picture, I can't think of something...

and you haven't seen my painting either

I can't draw either. But I think a pencil sketch looks way better than an oil painting or sumfink like that. And why have a picture of the outside of your house inside your house??????? WEIRD

strange idea. I like pencil sketches though. i tend to do very depressed pencil portraits. I like the effect it gives.

That IS drawing, hon! But never mind!

If you say so

Exactly, Old Bean! But people do seem to want them. I have had two more requests for sketches this week. I may becore a famous artist in my old age!

Why, planning on dying soon????? 99 out of 100 artists are only famous when their dead......

But I shall be that one per cent! No, only joking! I can capture a good likeness but that is all. Still can't decide why people want their own houses though. Very puzzled Petrat

I once embroidered a picture of our old house in blackwork after we'd moved as a present for my sister, who was missing the place dreadfully; that sort of makes sense to me, but I'm not sure I'd want a portrait of my current house inside it...
But the appeal of pencil drawings I can see - I love them, probably because I also like trying to do them myself. There is only the contrast of light and shade to try to find - I'm totally at sea with colour.