Birds, birds and more birds.

I am currently working on a couple of identification boards to go in a bird hide, one for summer birds and one for winter birds.

I will be doing a large background illustration of the lake and surround together with all the birds to be seen there. I have started on the winter birds and here are the first three, 18 more to go for this board.

I am using watercolours, mainly for speed. They are not large, measuring about 5" at the widest, but will be reduced down a little once I drop them into the main illustration. Good ole Photoshop, makes the job much easier. 

 Black headed gull

 Cettis warbler

Dunlin

Love This!

Lene from A ZOO has kindly given me permission to use her idea for 'LOVE THIS' Thanks Lene.

I think it is a great idea of hers, as the internet is full of fantastic art and creative people, so occasionally I will share with you, blogs or art  that I find really inspiring. Because of copyright issues I will be only putting a link to the image or blog.

This one is the first. http://brush-paper-water.blogspot.com/  I am linking to the whole blog as I just cant decide which of all the amazing watercolour paintings I like the best. They are by different artists and make me want to get out my watercolour and brushes and give it another go. Enjoy!

Claudia and Lennie

This is a portrait of my niece Claudia and her little cat Lennie, commissioned by my brother and his wife, who live in the USA. I was a little nervous in taking it on as I haven't done many human portraits before. I have always felt it was more difficult to capture a human likeness than with the animal portraits I specialise in. I was really pleased with the result. I feel I have captured her personality well.

Support: Fabrianno Artistico HP

Pencils: Karisma and Polychromos

Size: 16" x 12"

King of the Reef

This is what I have been working on since the end of last year, I found it a real challenge, in fact I think the most difficult drawing I have done so far. I took the reference photo on a recent visit to Plymouth Aquarium, and thought immediately that it would make a very striking picture. I don't keep a record of hours worked but I know this has taken me longer than most and I had to take frequent breaks to keep up my concentration. I am very pleased with how it has turned out.

Paper: Fabrianno Artistico HP and it took a real battering with this picture.

Pencils: Karisma with one Polychromo; dark indigo. IMO the best colour ever. I use it in almost all my drawings.

The water has 5 different blues layered on top of each other and then burnished together with a colourless wax pencil, pressing very hard to get rid of all the white paper showing through, tiring on the arm. I don't normally burnish, but this just cried out for it and I like the result.

I have called it 'King of the Reef' as the lion is 'King of the Jungle, so the lion fish should be 'King of the Reef'.

Enough is Enough

Well, I think the time has come to move on from 'Seasons Greetings. It is now February and I dont think you want to be reminded of Christmas any more.

Unfortunately I haven't anything to post yet, but I am working on a large piece in coloured pencil for the UKCPS London Exhibition. I really need to get a move on as I would like to enter more than one piece (seeing as it's London) but this is the most difficult drawing I have ever attempted and it is taking forever. I have another three ideas which I really want to get done for submission in June. Where oh where does the time go!!!

I will leave you with a couple of pictures of Tilly.

Here she is licking the snow off her cold nose after trying to find her ball which had got buried.

And here she is enjoying the sun last summer, I do hope we will have some of that soon.

Seasons Greetings

Wishing all my family, friends and followers a very peaceful Christmas and a happy and successful 2011.

Whizz finished

Well here he is - all done. I definitely liked this method and will use it again, although it doesn't really speed things up any, I like the look it produces.