Eighteen months ago, we stayed in Constantinople, or as it is currently known Istanbul. It was wonderful and like any tourist I took lots of photos of all the things you are meant to take photos of, as well as making a few quick sketches and some colour notes. Lacking a subject for this week’s post bonfire making, I decided on the Blue Mosque. Undoubtedly beautiful but hardly original; but so what?

The starting point was a quick charcoal and wash outline sketch, below and I hope that at least this offering will develop smoothly throughout the week. Of the head of Lucien Freud, I can only report as yet that progress is limited, so limited that it will be better to post nothing until rather more has been achieved.

Chris