Old tree with moss and rocks.

Oh dear, such a long time since the last post. This is one I have been working on and recently finished. I so love these old trees covered in moss. This was something of a challenge but I do like a challenge!

Title: I haven't found anything suitable yet

Support: Fabriano Artistico HP 300gsm (my favourite paper)

Media, Prismacolour pencils and Pro Marker blender pen.

Size 14" x 14"

My ref photo taken on Dartmoor last year.

I have been out on the Quantock hills at Fyne Court this morning looking for some more old trees to draw. I'm on a roll and it was such a beautiful day it would have been a shame to waste it.

Dartmoor Trees

I was immediately attracted to these lovely trees on Dartmoor, all covered in moss and with their trunks all twisted and gnarled.  It almost looks as if the moss is flowing over the base of the trees and the rocks.

Because I usually get bogged down in the minute detail in a landscape I decided to use a different support which would help me to work a little looser. I got a friend to make me up a box using MDF and some 2"x2" struts on the back for support, rather like a box canvas. I then primed it with lots of coats of Gesso which I sanded down until I got a surface I was happy to work on.

I like the way the texture shows through the pencil marks, and I was not able to draw in every little  detail as I usually do. I am very happy with the results and have already got some ideas for more similar pictures.

Title: Bark and Moss. 

Measures 15" x 15" and I used Faber Castell Polychromos pencils.

This is my accepted entry for the 2014 Annual UKCPS exhibition to be held at the RBSA in Birmingham from 28th April to10th May. If you have a chance to visit you will see some amazing coloured pencil art on show.