A much needed Gallery Trip

Hello again!

I know it's only been a couple of days since my last post, but after giving myself a stern talking to I decided I needed to get back into the habit of going to galleries and museums to draw and I wanted to post the results asap. I'd kind of trailed off a bit since my drawing-buddy Shannon went back to the US of A and yesterday I made the effort to get back into it.

I also got my feedback from my assessment, and while I actually did pretty well, they did say I should be getting some more observational and figure drawing into my sketchbooks to support my other work.

I started off looking at evidence of the ageing process in the work there (for reasons that will become apparent when my final project is complete) and then I just started enjoying the light on the sculptures (always my favourite to draw from).

Used pencil, my trusty pentel styli refill (my ultimate fav pen) and some good ol poscas. 

Anyway! I'll see you soon. I can't promise it'll be this soon next time though!

H

National Museum of Scotland

Hey hey!

Here's a little location piece I did while I was on holiday in Scotland. Went to the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and it was abso-bloomin-lutely fantastic. I was only there for a day so unfortunately I didn't get to go round all of it, but I'm definitely going back if I get the chance!

So here's my scary, smiley crocodile, and I'll see you soon with more work!

H

Nightmares at the Museum of Childhood

Hey hey!

So I went to the Museum of Childhood down at Bethnal Green today with fellow illustrator Shannon Taylor (Ingraham as was - ch-ch-check it - shannondtaylor.com) where they have their current "Stuff of Nightmares" exhibition on. At first you think it's kind of funny with its mismatched dolls and papier mache trees and ravens, but if you sit there for a long time with all these creepy misshapen toys staring at you while the eerie woodsy sounds play it actually makes you feel a bit weirded out.

Kudos to the V&A: they actually managed to get me to draw something vaguely tense and foreboding instead of colour-happy-joy-joy.

Hats off also to all the parents not afraid to risk the screaming of their children. Although there's a distinct possibility that all parents loose all ability to react to loud noises. The ones today certainly seemed unconcerned at the din of what felt like several hundred kids in one large, but confined, space.

Anyways, see you soon!

H

Trips and Comic Strips

Hey hey!

I was looking through one of my old sketchbooks the other day and I found this... a little comic strip documenting my last visit home. It's pretty rough, but it gives you an insight into what my sketchbooks normally look like... and how my mind works. I'm particularly proud of the "Ode to a Frappucino" part.

You'll have to click on each pic to zoom in and see it properly I'm afraid, but hopefully you'll enjoy all the same!

H

Antlers

Hey hey!

Something a little different to my usual - I feel it incorporates the way I work from observation to the way I work regularly on full pieces from my imagination. I had fun doing it anyway!
This is pencil coloured and arranged on Photoshop. The only real problem I had with this piece was the sheer amount of options I ended up with colour and tone-wise. Narrowing it down was not easy, especially as I had quite a strong red in mind for the background. I think I prefer this though.
Drawing inspiration both from my visit to the Museum of London and the amazing costumes on display there and some rather fantastic comic books artists I've been looking at recently.

Let me know what you think!

H