Still wrestling with Part 2

It’s not immediately obvious but these are shells! One would make a passable hedgehog. Trying for clean lines with fineliner but somehow losing perspective along the way. This is dated 14th December, the next two are dated the 22nd, the intervening time being occupied by other activities, it being the season it is, and some rather poorly directed searches for still life images that might help. I’ll come to these later. Not exactly a bird’s nest but close. I filled a small wicker basket with pebbles, a plant pot, and watercress in a glass then, as a reaction to the … Continue reading Still wrestling with Part 2

Getting all sheepish at the Basement

Joining the flock at The Basement93 tomorrow, and giving those cats a run for their money, Her Royal Woolliness of the House of the Red Wellies. The print is from an original pencil drawing coloured digitally in Rebelle software made by Escapemotions. Her Woolliness appeared originally in Not Being First Fish and other diary dramas as an adjunct to a Michael Fish anecdote (obviously), and if the wind’s in the right direction, there’ll be a copy nearby for a browse and possibly for sale. Several other illustrations are also available as prints so if you see one in the book … Continue reading Getting all sheepish at the Basement

Penny Rowe

Beginning to find my way around OCA resources and this came up; a review of Penny’s Drawing1, Assignment 3 preparatory work. As I’m on Assignment 2 of the same course, have yet to receive feedback on Assignment 1, and still feel somewhat directionless, this is both terrifying and invaluable. Can I do this? Can I do my own version of this? Can I find what I thought was ‘my style’ and apply it to this? Do I even have a style or, if I do, do I want to keep it? Big questions and, recognisably, the start of the deconstruction … Continue reading Penny Rowe

Drawing drawing drawing

I’m familiar with the deconstruction process that happens when I embark on a course designed to develop what I believe to be my existing skills and extend them, but it doesn’t make it any less alarming or uncomfortable! It seems to me that two weeks ago I could draw and now I can’t, so I’m going back to some ways of drawing that worked for me while I figure out how to advance. Small and contained, one item at a time for now. Teapot. As always, I struggle with handles and spouts although this time I reckon that spout isn’t … Continue reading Drawing drawing drawing

Cats playing to the gallery

This is a small corner of Steyning’s new gallery and shop, The Basement (instagram @thebasement93), a lovely new outlet at the bottom of the High Street, near the independent Steyning Book Shop, and the remarkable Sussex Produce Company. Within a matter of a few dozen yards, you can find a unique piece of art, a hand-chosen book, and a strangely shaped vegetable you have to Google when you get home. I left some mounted prints there today of the four cat cards. Also a sheep. All hand drawn then finished in a digital painting programme called Rebelle. Have look – … Continue reading Cats playing to the gallery

The devil in the detail

Today I took a shot at a few different media, or different applications of media, with a black spoon, a fish bottle opener, and a pine cone on a plate with a black rim. As you do. First up, Sharpies. While the lines are clean they also leak through and of course they’re permanent which means that’s it, no erasing, no smudging, no change so it better be right first time.  I’m not sure I’m enough of an accurate first service hitter yet so I wasn’t happy with the result.  The charcoal made a difference for me; taking the images … Continue reading The devil in the detail