The most west and southern tip of the British mainland is littered with industrial buildings with a history and pre-history of mining and trade. Here I looked across the moor to the Ding Dong mine. Each ruin seems to comprise a block building like a castle keep, a chimney and a pit.
Here is a glimpse of Dong Dong close up, the side of the building and the opening to the mine shaft. Covered by a grate, it drops maybe a hundred feet, perhaps more. Men were lowered down that pit once.
Here is another, by the roadside, the map did not even give it a name. I drew the stack, I guess that opening beneath was a hearth of sorts. Behind the scrub is the distant sea. These sketches were drawn in Indian ink (or graphite for the middle sketch), then conte crayon, then watercolour, then another layer of crayon. I love the use together of translucent and opaque media, and the crayon as a resist for the overlying wet paint.
kestrelart 
Love the sketches and the story! Thank you.
Thanks for calling by.
Beautiful artwork!
Thanks
Using pen as the first implement in each drawing, sometimes brush pen too, always puts me in mind of Susanne Rempt who sometimes illustrates Cakeordeath’s stories. But I can never find the wonderful atmosphere she achieves with monochrome, so I reach for the crayons and colour.
Do you think the Pirates of Penzance have hidden any of their loot in the Ding Dong Mine?
Bizarre name isn’t it? But it’s genuine.
This is all heavily romanticised Poldark country now but life must have been hard.
In another age these places would be called industrial eyesores, but lightly sprinkled about the vertiginous cliffs they have a poignancy. My greattx3 grandfather got out and moved east to make a living.
The variety of media gives really interesting textures.
Yes, thanks
I cannot decide whether this is a creative decision or technical sloppiness, or perhaps whether that matters anyway. 🙂
😆😆😆
Your technique with conte crayon is great
Thanks Rosie