Emily

Emily

I need to colour this as it will improve it no end. I love drawing cartoon figures and I rather like this one - the character of little Emily may be worth developing further... we will see.

Happy New Year!

Pencil in sketchbook

2010 is here! Yay!!!

I'm still practising the trees. This is the latest and I am hoping that drawing them will help improve my paintings also.

I love New Year with all the new beginnings of hopes and dreams, it's such an exciting time. The whole year stretches before me and I see the things I want to happen, now all I need do is make it so!

After Arthur Rackham - Alice in Wonderland

Ink and watercolour on hot pressed paper 12" x 9"

Caterpillar: By the way, I have a few more helpful hints. One side will make you grow taller...
Alice: One side of what?
Caterpillar: ...and the other side will make you grow shorter.
Alice: The other side of what?
Caterpillar: THE MUSHROOM, OF COURSE!

Wonderful stories and Arthur Rackham was a great illustrator. It was so much fun doing this. I thought I would have trouble drawing Alice, but she actually turned out OK after all.

Dum spiro spero

Oils on canvas (unfinished)

Even in the darkest storm if you wait a while suddenly there is a break in the clouds and a beam of light promises hope of sunshine in the future. I focus on the light in the distance and work towards it. Soon the sun shines again and the storm has passed. Such is life. Good days, bad days but always hope. Dum spiro spero… while I breathe I hope.

The Lady Clare

Study of The Lady Clare after J W Waterhouse.

Doing this I realised that I needed more time in order to get a better likeness. I am reasonably happy with this but I wish I could have caught that kind of wistful dreamy look that Waterhouse captured... it was beautiful. Still practice, as they say, makes perfect and I intend to continue trying.

Another Teddy

Oils on canvas using glazing technique.

Teddy was attracted to this jar due to its shine and the pretty pattern... plus he sits quite comfortably on it. My teddies seem to have a thing about jars!

Soon he is going to venture forth into new territory.

The Three Bears

60 min Ink and watercolour on HP paper 12" x 9"

This was a study of the three bears from an illustration by Arthur Rackham. I just adored the hairy Papa Bear.

I find it easy to do inkwork and it's definitely fun to use along with the watercolours. They can be intriguing and finished quite quickly, it makes a refreshing change from the large oils I am working on right now.

I am enjoying trying the challenges posted on WetCanvas especially the ones in the Classical forum and Arthur Rackham is the inspiration this month, his illustrations are becautiful and I find them very interesting so expect to see more soon!