The White Wolf

The White Wolf 

I have been working on a few commissions recently.....which are intended as Christmas presents for loved ones of the clients. As a result of this, I'm not yet able to display them here....as I dont want to spoil the surprise, should they happen to stumble upon them online. So for now, here is a mixed-media drawing I recently completed - it is worked in graphite and charcoal and depicts a beautiful White Timber Wolf at a water hole. It has been drawn from a photograph, and by kind permission of the photographer Carla Coulthard of
Carla Coulthard Photography. 

It is for sale online via the Affordable British Art gallery

Portrait of Rebecca....finished

I've been a bit quiet recently.....due to a family illness and bereavement....but I'm getting back on track now.

I've now finished the oil portrait of Rebecca......and here it is:

Her mum has seen it an loves it.....and as for Rebecca herself, well she just gave a coy little smile when we showed it to her.

I've also been working on a pencil portrait of a beautiful semi-long haired German Sheppard dog. Unfortunately he is no longer with us and his owner was heartbroken when he died. She only had an old, poor quality photo of him, so her husband commissioned me to draw him from the photo.... I do hope she likes it.

Here he is:

Work In Progress...........completed....I think

Stage 5

Well, it's now just short of 2am and I've finished.....I think!!

I've spent another 7 hours, in two sessions throughout the day and a third late this evening. I'm a little tired now, so I'm going to leave it for now and put it away for the next couple of days and then I'll have another look at it with fresh eyes. I find this helps to me to see anything I'm missing at the moment because I'm "too far in".....unable to see the wood for the trees...that sort of thing.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you've enjoyed this little insight into the evolution of a drawing. I've enjoyed doing this work in progress.....might think about doing another one soon.....just have to find a subject.

Work in progress......the next installment

STAGE 4

Here is where I'm up to now...... (9 hours in total....so far.)

As you can see, I have laid down a lot of the face shading....I'm still thinking I need to go darker, but needed some kind of reference point other than the eye, so I've left the shading and started on the halter. Actually I was glad to stop the shading of the face....was starting to become tedious and my hand was starting to ache.
From the last stage to this took approximately 4 hours (not in one sitting I might add). You just can't go too quickly with the shading or you end up with marks you may want to erase, but can't. I do a layer, sit back and have a good long look at it again compared to the photo, then start again. However, I am starting to feel that we're getting there. I think the next posting might be the completed drawing...we'll see.

Work In Progress continued......

STAGE 3

Well, here is the result of today's efforts. As you can see, I have been working on the area around the eye, working outwards from the eye. Working in layers, I lay down soft light strokes - following the contours of the face and direction of hair growth. For this I use the 9B pencil - it is very soft and leaves soft strokes that are easily blended using the paper stump or my finger. I haven't used the putty rubber on the hair yet, the variation in tone/depth is achieved by applying the various layers of graphite strokes and blending. I think it is bringing out the eye nicely....and what a kindly eye he has. The stallion is black, so as you can imagine, there will need to be many, many more layers applied to darken down the overall tone, but I think you can see already how the shading brings the face to life.
This has been another couple of hours work, so 5 hours in total so far. Not sure how much I will be able to get done over the weekend, but I'll post updates as and when I have them. Be back soon with the next instalment.......

Just Lion Around....

"Just Lion Around" is one of my recent drawings......it was drawn in graphite (pencil) on Bristol board and was exhibited in a recent exhibition. It was drawn as a companion piece for another Lion drawing of mine "Old Timer"

(Below)

These are the first big cats I've attempted....my drawings tend to be commissions so are usually cats, dogs, horses, children etc.

However, I have enjoyed drawing them immensely and am learning as I go along. In fact, I am working on a series of drawings which will be available for preview at my Open Studios week in September....so if you are in the Aberdeenshire area, why not come along an see my work....it'll be a 2for1 event this year, as I will also be exhibiting with a talented Artist friend of mine, Angela Arnold. You can see some of her work on Affordable British Art -click HERE.

There will be lots and lots of different and varied work to see.....and I will be running some drawing and painting demos at various times.

Anyway, back to the Lion drawing.....Just Lion Around was intended as a companion piece for another Lion drawing: "The Old Timer" (shown here). They are available for sale individually for £185, or if you buy both together there is a 10% discount.

To see more of my drawings click HERE