Barn owl progress

The fundamentals of the Barn Owl are starting to take shape.Its been a long time since i drew one of these and they havn't got any easier!.The paper i'm using for this drawing is not my usual,i wanted to experiment a little,although i think this is one experiment too far as their seems to be a lot of texture for hot pressed paper,resulting in having to use harder grades of pencil quite extensively at first to 'kill' off the texture and get good results.

Barn owl progress

The background has now been completed after a couple more layers of pencil and now i'm making a start on the Owl.

Barn owl progress

After the mishap with my last barn owl drawing i've been busying away trying to get the re-started drawing upto the same point as my previous attempt.I've now got there with a few revisions in my initial composition.The background 'wash' is starting to shape up,at this stage ive layered with H and HB grade pencils and already its beginning to push the owl forward,it will take a couple more layers before its the tone that i eventually want.My main preoccupation at the moment is with trying to make sure that the teasels that i want to include in the image will stand out and for that i think i will have to do a lot of 'lifting out'.

disaster strikes

unfortunately after 3 days work on my barn owl image i have had to scrap it due to an unforseen encounter with a cup of tea! after staring in disbelief at the image for a couple of hours and cursing my own clumsiness i finally admitted defeat and took the drawing off the board.i have now stretched a new paper onto my drawing board and will begin all over again tomorrow without tea breaks!

Barn Owl drawing

I've had an idea for a barn owl drawing in the back of my mind for some time now,i havnt drawn one of these lovely birds for ages but ive had some lovely reference photos for years and i've finally gotten around to putting my ideas onto paper.the rough layout sketches are now complete and now i know how large the image will be ive stretched the paper onto my drawing board ready to transfer my basic outlines onto tomorrow once the paper is thoroughly dry.

Oystercatchers at Roshven Bay

Finally got my photo of the completed oystercatcher piece sorted out today and so here it is.i'm thinking that i may enter this drawing into the swla exhibition in london this year.i've been meaning to try to get some work in for some time and i think this might just be the right kind of image for their tastes.

Completed Red Squirrel drawing

Managed to complete my red squirrel today and i am pleased with the final image.I made a conscious decision at the outset of the piece to keep it simple and concentrate on pushing the image forward by use of the diffused background and lighting,i think it's been quite effective.

As usual with me i cant wait to take it off the drawing board and plunge straight into the next piece.my only problem at the moment is trying to decide which of the myriad of ideas floating about in my head to pursue first.After my week as artist in residence at nature in art and the ensuing snow i found the creative juices invigorated both by the weather and by the comments received from some of the visitors,positive feedback,indeed,any feedback,is so useful in progressing both from a personal point of view and professional.

Red Squirrel progress

Today i've finished the background toning and am now working up the body of the squirrel.I have used upto 5 layers of pencil so far and the main part of the body is now almost complete,tomorrow i shall be attempting to make a convincing job of the tail.

New Red Squirrel drawing

Decided to stick with the domestic wildlife for a little while as ive got loads of ideas rattling around in my head for new pictures.the image ive posted is going to be a native Red Squirrel,a favourite subject of mine that ive visited on many occasions.The image from the drawing board is after a long day of blending and progressively darkening the background working at first with an 8b pencil very lightly over the surface and then worked over with a blending stump to produce the blurry effect.this is then worked over in turn by H,HB and B grade pencils to soften and darken further.Tomorrow i hope to make a start on the body of the squirrel,which i will strongly light to set it off nicely against the background and give it a little lift.

Recent Commissioned works

I have been asked on many occasions about commissioned works and so i thought i'd post some of my more recent pieces here.

Artists and Illustrators magazine

I've just been invited to submit a small article on me and my work for publication in next months artist and illustrators magazine.

Oystercatchers at Roshven Bay

During my stay at nature in art i managed to complete the drawing 'oystercatchers at roshven bay',it is now with my publishers being image scanned and framed up.As soon as i have images of the completed drawing i will post here.i am particularly pleased with the end result as it was an image i've had in my mind for some time,it's always nice when your'e able to bring an idea to fruition.As will be seen from the image when ive posted it i made the decision to crop the image to the right of the 5th oystercatcher,compositionally i felt the 6th oystercatcher added nothing to the image and indeed made the picture look a little too structured,often when portraying a group odd numbers seem to work better than even.

Nature in art

Looking back at my residency at nature in art which ended yesterday i was disappointed by the number of people who came to see me and my work,however this has to be tempered by the fact that throughout my stay the whole area was hit by the worst snowfall and winter storms in 18 years making the few who managed to reach us in the gloucestershire countryside very hardy souls indeed!.

The hospitality extended to me by everyone at nature in art was much appreciated especially the hot teas sent out to the studio to keep me going and keep my hands warm!.

The photo's are of wallsworth hall which houses the collection of art known collectively as nature in art.The art studio provided for artists in residence is to be found set in the old walled gardens to the side of the hall amidst a large collection of nature inspired sculptures dotted throughout the gardens.

Artist in Residence-Nature in art

Having driven up to Gloucestershire on monday morning through what can only be described as blizzard conditions in my home county of hampshire i was pleasantly surprised to find that the snowfall here in Gloucestershire was considerably lighter.
My initial pleasure however was soon tempered by the phone call that followed immediately after my arrival from my publishers explaining that they were unable to send the van loaded up with my entire exhibition as they were snowed in back in hampshire.
Eventually however the road was cleared and the van set off,leaving me to twiddle my thumbs for most of monday afternoon until it arrived.The snow arrived here at pretty much the same time as my exhibition and so along with the driver we plodded to and fro through the snow carrying pictures,hanging frames etc and worked into the evening until the show was fully hung ready for the public's first glimpse the next morning.
Reactions by the visitors to the museum so far have been very favourable and the oystercatchers picture is coming along nicely with lots of interested onlookers!.i hope to be able to post some pictures shortly of the museum and show.