Gold Coach and 6 Horses

My last commission of the Lord Mayor's Parade in London, was a bit of a challenge for me, all that beautiful gold decoration and detail was quite daunting to start, but after doing a monochrome sketch, just to get all the legs etc sorted in my head, I approached the final piece with more confidence. This is the result.

Measures a full 20" x 16" on Fabrianno Artistico HP using Karisma pencils. For the the background buildings I used graphite dust blending with cotton buds and fingers.

Passion for Pencils Workshop

Pauline Longley and I are holding another pencil workshop on Saturday 15th September at Mark Village Hall (just off the M5). This time we will be including all pencil media, from coloured pencils, graphite, pastel pencils to tinted charcoal, so if you live in or around Somerset and are interested in picking up useful tips and tricks or learning more about pencils and having day out with like minded people, please contact Pauline or myself and we will get a form to you.

Tortoiseshell Cat

I haven't done a cat for years. This one was for a demonstration and I decided it was worth finishing even if I just use it for cards. I have titled it 'Watching' as the eyes do seem to be very alert, even if the pose is typical cat, relaxed and laid back.

Faber Castell Polychromos pencils on Derwent watercolour paper (very smooth) Size A4.

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Tilly

Meet my collie Tilly. She is an old lady now, but refuses to believe it and still enjoys her walks, the longer the better, come rain, shine, snow, hail or anything else nature can throw at us.

When demonstrating at Hestercombe Gardens I decided to use her as my model. (using a photo of course as she would never sit still long enough).

I used Derwent water-soluble pencils on Derwent's new watercolour paper and I can say that I really do like it. It is sturdy and nice and smooth with very little tooth but takes pencil beautifully. It also takes erasing and indenting well and will take fair bit of  bashing about. It will definitely become part of my stable of supports.

Size: A4

Red dahlia

This is a little experiment I did yesterday. Over the years I have accumulated a number of canvases of various sizes, always intending to do some acrylic painting....needless to say I never got around to it. I decided to use one of the smaller canvases to see what I could do with coloured pencil and solvent. Found a lovely photo of a beautiful red dahlia and proceeded to play (which makes a nice change),

Here is the result, which I quite like.

Size: 5" x 7"

Materials: Prismacolour pencils dissolved with Low odour solvent on canvas.

 I have carried the image around the edges.

Hestercombe exhibition

Well, my exhibition is up and has been running for a week now. I have had lots of very positive and encouraging feedback. I was demonstrating last Sunday from 11am until after lunch.   Lots of people came to peek over my shoulder and make kind comments.

I will be there again this Saturday and Sunday (as long as it is not tipping it down), so if you are in the area please do come in and have a chat. I have some cards and mounted photo-prints for sale while I am there. (Free entry to the restaurant, shop and gallery area).

'Inscrutable' For Sale at Hestercombe

Give a dog a home!

I found this on Sue Clinker's blog and thought it deserved to be shown again, so thank you Sue. It will bring a lump to your throat and may even make you shed a tear. I make no apologies. These chaps need all the help they can get.