Mighty Fine Art

A Selection Of New Prints.......

2012-01-30T11:49:00.000-08:00

.......available directly from me at my print website Mighty Fine Art Prints.

My prints are professionally printed on high quality papers to give high archival quality which will last for generations if treated sensibly.

Each print is signed, bevel mounted, wrapped in cellophane for protection with backing board and posted flat packed for free to UK mainland addresses. Customers from the USA etc. can find my prints for sale on Red Bubble or Imagekind

Vantage Completed!

2012-01-28T02:28:00.000-08:00

Finally finished yesterday morning. It is 16 x 24 inches, pencil on Stonehenge paper. I was a little worried about this one, right up until the end. Having used 4 different reference photographs and also invented quite a bit of the scene I was concerned about the scale of each cheetah compared to the others, trying to bring the crouching one forward and pushing the others back in turn. Also the lighting had to be similar for all of them, whereas in the refs they were all lit from different directions.

All in all I'm pretty pleased with the result (although my wrist has seized up again after 2 weeks of quite hard work)

Today I will start on the mounting and framing, then I will upload it for sale to the Mighty Fine Art website as well as others.

'Vantage' stage two

2012-01-20T09:44:00.000-08:00

Progress has been quite slow but it's coming along. It's taken me ages to plan the lower part of the scene (rocks, tree logs etc.) but I think I have it now. Jenny's away this weekend so I'm hoping to get a decent run at it, although she has left me a few DIY jobs to get done while she's away.

'Vantage' stage one

2012-01-17T11:32:00.000-08:00

I recently gained some inspiration by looking through a relatively new portfolio of photographs by my favorite wildlife photographer, Nick Brandt. He has some absolutely sensational work which always gets me enthusiastic and itching to start a new pencil project, whenever I browse them.

Of course then comes the task of sourcing some decent reference photographs which I'm allowed to use without fear of breaching anyone's copyright. So I'm using four seperate reference photographs for this, two from the Paint My Photo reference library and two from Wet Canvas. I began the other evening by spending a couple of hours messing around with them in Photoshop to create a composition before printing it off. I'm having to invent some parts too, which were cropped out of the references. So all in all it's requiring a bit of extra thought and concentration this one. It's 16 x 24 inches, pencil on Stonehenge paper.

I'm now two sessions and about twelve hours in. I'm not intending to take many 'in-progress' scans, it's difficult to do because my paper is taped to a sheet of board to work on and therefore doesn't fit easily on my scanner bed. The above picture is three scans stitched together. But I decided to pause and take stock at this point. I find by putting it on the computer screen I can get a better idea of how things are progressing. To get the best composition and a good view of each of the group they are all at slightly different levels, with two further forward than the other two. My intention is to have the two furthest to the back cheetahs either on the crest of a rocky outcrop or perhaps a fallen tree log, I haven't decided yet. The background is to be quite minimal.

'Forever Young' completed!

2012-01-06T06:32:00.000-08:00

Here he is finished. This one went surprisingly well for me. Usually there is always an area with which I've struggled a bit or had to correct, but this time each session I spent on it went according to plan and I finished it after a total of about 16 hours.

I think my drawings are gradually becoming more like paintings in graphite nowadays. I am happy with the style which has developed whereby I lightly lay down some graphite and then work it up with tortillons or cloth before finishing the detail with sharp pencils. Most of this was completed with a 2B or B pencil with the extreme darks being 4B

I'm not putting this one up for sale just yet (unless I am made an offer I can't refuse) but will enter this into the DSWF wildlife artist of the year 2012.Well, you never know and it's a cause that I'm keen on so don't mind paying the entry fee.

'Forever Young' in progress

2012-01-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

This week I've been engrossed in another wildlife drawing,using pencil on Stonehenge paper. It's still in progress but I hope to complete it tomorrow or on Saturday at the latest. Then, if I think it worthy I may submit it to the DSWF wildlife artist of the year 2012. Submissions close on the 15th so will just about squeeze it in to go alongside the one I've already submitted.

Here we are after day 1 and about 5 hours work. I'm using a reference photo I found on Wetcanvas.

Above you can see it's about 24 x 18 inches but I'll probably cropit a bit once complete.

After day 2 and a further 6 hours it's coming along nicely I think.

Above is the position I'm in today after a further 4 hours or so.

As usual my photographs are pathetic, it's so dark lately and there's no chance of photographing outdoors in the weather we've had this week. So it's a matter of taking a quick snap under artificial light. I thought I'd post them anyway to give some idea what I'm up to. I'll get a decent scan done once complete and post it here. (I can't scan 'in progress' without untaping it each time from my drawing board)

Regarding the weather, I got blown right off my feet on the beach earlier today. Talk about windy! I hobbled down to the sea from the car park before letting Leon go for a run about. As soon as he was off the lead he ran straight back to the van. Not daft that boy. So I had to climb back up the shingle bank to go get him and got hit by a massive gust that blew me right over on my back! Murphy seems to enjoy extreme weather though, just looked at me as if to say 'Wimp' and then wandered off for a paddle.

Stag...attempt 2

2011-12-29T11:54:00.000-08:00

Regular visitors will remember several weeks ago, my attempt at a pastel painting of a red deer stag which sadly ended up in the bin. Well the last few days I have been attempting the same picture again. It's now finished....I'm not too sure about it yet.

This is from another fine reference photograph off the Paint My Photo website. I used Fabriano Mi-Tientes pastel paper with my Pitt pastel pencils, as well as soft pastels for the background. I was OK (as before) drawing the stag with my pastel pencils but was unsure about how to finish the background. I didn't want to ruin it and have perhaps played it a little 'safe' by leaving a lot of space and creating a misty effect. It would have been so easy to lose the stag in a busy colourful background, so I think this will suffice.

Mighty Fine Art Gift Vouchers

2011-12-26T10:21:00.000-08:00

Better late than never!

I just added art gift vouchers to my websites.

Nearly half of all original art is bought as a gift for others. An artwork is a wonderful gift for birthdays, weddings, retirement and leaving presents, wedding anniversaries, Christmas presents, company celebrations, corporate gifts, new home presents, and much more.

But choosing art for another person isn't easy because everybody's tastes are different. That's why I'm now offering art gift vouchers!

A Thankyou From Santa

2011-12-24T11:54:00.000-08:00

I hope you enjoy your Christmas,
now that I've got all your dosh.
Thanks for spending your money,
on so much rubbish and tosh.
Eating a meal you don't like
with people you'd rather not see.
Wearing things that you don't want to,
in a place you would rather not be.

Savour the sickly liqueurs
you thought you should buy just in case.
Pies of mince meat and quality street
all ready to stuff in your face.
A christmas cake that took months to make
not forgetting the petits fours.
A brandy snap? all sorts of crap.
I'm sure you'll make room for some more.

The crackers you got which cost such a lot
contain nothing but cheap plastic tat.
And the Christmas pud you'd refuse if you could
will do nothing except make you fat.
Cheese straws anyone? I'm sure you want one.
Wash it all down with some beer.
Perhaps have a sherry, drink and be merry!
Then start to save up for next year.

I Think I'm A Pogonophobiac

2011-12-21T13:36:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited, only five days until Boxing Day. Yes it's that time of year again when Noddy Holder can sit, relax, put his feet up and get his calculator out. Honestly I don't wish for more, I just sometimes wish that those with more than me had less.

I started preparing for Christmas much earlier this year by falling out with all of my relatives in September. It does seem to get earlier and earlier though doesn't it? I've considered having a 'Merry Christmas' tattoo on my forehead. It would only be obsolete for about two months a year.

We had our first carol singers here the other night, a bunch of young kids appropriately supervised by some of their mums who look so young these days, dressed in their track suits and trainers. I think they may have misunderstood the phrase 'unfit to be a mother'. Anyhow I had to stop them singing almost immediately and tell them "Good tidings we bring, to you and your kin!. Notice it says kin!, not king! Read what's on the page" I slammed the door on them, I'm not paying for incorrect lyrics. I didn't feel bad. After all this is the season of good will to all men. No mention of women and children, they can sod off.

Of course the god botherers are relentless during this period. There are so many religions in the world with so many contradictory beliefs, yet they all have one thing in common. They all know they're right and they all want to come to my door! (OK that's two things) If I'm honest I can probably relate more to the Buddhists than any of the others. Although Buddhists have suffered thousands of years of negative stereotyping this could easily be reversed by suddenly punching people in the face when they disagree with them. I think that might work.

It's been quite a tight year financially so I'm being even more frugal than usual this Christmas. I only have two grandsons to buy for. I'm giving them a bucket of water and a penknife each and telling them it's a DIY ice sculpture kit. I'm also telling them that they're getting that game 'Operation' but they won't be receiving it until about August. For my friends in Norfolk I've remembered to buy mittens and not gloves this year which hopefully will prevent any repeat of those 'awkward' moments we had last year. I've bought Jenny a book about saving the environment. I just need to box it, wrap it up in several layers of printed paper, tape it, glue on some tinsel and ribbons, then put it under our big plastic Christmas tree. Honestly they're so keen on re-cycling around here they've started putting pictures of missing milk cartons on the back of local kids!

I've saved money on tree decorations by stringing OXO cubes and hanging them on. They can obviously be re-used in the New Year as and when, so cost nothing really. Instead of chocolate money I've found it cheaper to use real Euros. See? The recession's not all bad.

The telly has reverted to it's usual seasonal crap but it's given me an idea for an ITV game show. Right, there are two panels, 'The Public' and 'Celebrities' The studio audience have to guess which is which.....Brilliant! ...and as for the Christmassy adverts.... By the way have you noticed that, when stood in their trademark X formation, the Halifax building society people make a perfect target for a military air strike.

One last thing. Nigella, just to clarify. I won't be stuffing my turkey with bloody clementines and/or lemons.

Oh, I nearly forgot. Happy Christmas everybody!

Streets Of London complete

2011-12-12T05:18:00.000-08:00

I decided to go ahead and put in the dog which I think completes the composition nicely. I used my little rascal Leon for reference and managed to get a bit of a sympathetic look on him (whereas in real life he probably would have been the cause of the poor old gent dropping all of his fruit). This is about 14 x 12 inches, watercolour on Arches Aquarelle paper.

On Top Of The World

2011-12-11T03:07:00.000-08:00

I added this painting On Top Of The World to my bargain room yesterday on the Mighty Fine Art website. I needed a frame sharpish for another painting sale and this one fit the bill perfectly. So now it's for sale unframed and at a greatly reduced price. Worldwide free shipping too.

'Streets Of London' day 2

2011-12-10T10:30:00.000-08:00

Quite a bit more progress today. Stll can't decide about the dog or not............

Streets Of London

2011-12-09T11:30:00.000-08:00

After completing my 'Parisienne Walkway' watercolour, I have decided to continue with the theme and started work today on 'The Streets Of London'.

Some of my longer-term friends might remember this one from several years ago, it was created in graphite pencil and I think the reference I used was a small part of a large scene. The photograph is long gone, can't remember where it was from. I do remember that, after the pencil drawing was completed I tried to add some colour using Graphitint pencils which was a complete failure and I messed it up totally. Not sure where it ended up, somebody bought it I think but it did turn into a disappointment.

I always liked the figure though, quite poignant I think. So for this painting I am using an image of my original drawing for reference and giving it another go in watercolour.

As you can see, I am keeping most of the colours quite muted but I will add a few light glazes of colour once he is done, to warm it up a bit. The spilled fruit will add some splashes of colour and I'm debating whether to add in a dog too, I'll decide tomorrow. Meanwhile, in case you've forgotten (or you're too young to remember) the song........

Have you seen the old man
In the closed-down market
Kicking up the paper,
with his worn out shoes?
In his eyes you see no pride
And held loosely at his side
Yesterday's paper telling yesterday's news

So how can you tell me you're lonely,
And say for you that the sun don't shine?
Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London
I'll show you something to make you change your mind

Have you seen the old girl
Who walks the streets of London
Dirt in her hair and her clothes in rags?
She's no time for talking,
She just keeps right on walking
Carrying her home in two carrier bags.

In the all night cafe
At a quarter past eleven,
Same old man is sitting there on his own
Looking at the world
Over the rim of his tea-cup,
Each tea last an hour
Then he wanders home alone

And have you seen the old man
Outside the seaman's mission
Memory fading with
The medal ribbons that he wears.
In our winter city,
The rain cries a little pity
For one more forgotten hero
And a world that doesn't care

There, I bet that has cheered you all up! Now all go out and chuck a few coins down for a homeless person. Interesting fact of the day....the song was originally called 'The Streets Of Paris' where Ralph used to busk in the 60's. He changed it later when he got a recording contract and released it in the UK.

Parisienne Walkway finished

2011-12-07T07:37:00.000-08:00

Finally got around to completing this painting today. It's about 21 x 14 inches on Arches Aquarelle paper.

This is based on another excellent reference photograph from the Paint My Photo website. I don't usually take so long between starting and finishing a watercolour, but constantly got side-tracked this past week with one thing and another. I hope it doesn't show too much in the painting.

People Watching.....2

2011-12-04T05:17:00.000-08:00

Further to my previous post, the Saturday wasn't much better in terms of business at the craft fair.

So there I am sat twiddling my thumbs, a rather large lady from across the hall comes stomping across and asks if Wendy (on the next table to me) wouldn't mind pulling the curtains across a bit as the sun is shining through and dazzling her.

I should explain at this point that the hall we were in is a Methodist chapel and the ceiling is about 25 feet high. The windows go right to the top and the drapes SHOULD be operated by the use of a cord at the side.

Quick as a flash Wendy grabs the curtain at the bottom and tries to swish it across. WRONG! the side of the curtain is pulled off the rail and is now hanging down precariously. OOoer! The large lady, rather cowardly I thought goes stomping back to her table as the hall's caretaker lady comes charging over from the back room.

"That's going to cost you £35!" She yells. "We have to get a man out every time that happens to go up a ladder to fix that!.....blah....blah....didn't you see the sign on the wall about using the cord!....blah....blah" on and on she went.

"Calm down" says Wendy. "We'll fix it ourselves, I've seen that you have a set of long ladders out the back by the loo. I'm sure Peter can nip up there and put the curtain back up" The caretaker is in a right strop, a real 'job's worth'

"Meanwhile" says Wendy, "Why don't you go and get yourself a cuppa tea and calm down" As the ogre walks away I hear Wendy mutter "......and slip into something more comfortable while your at it....like a coma...."

I'm in hysterics now, but then it dawns on me that I've been 'volunteered' to go up the ladder.....hmmm .... I don't mind heights but at the moment I have a dodgy knee which is swollen like a balloon and pretty painful. However as I'm the only bloke there apart from Steve who has had serious heart problems recently, and Richard who is 67 and about 20 stone, ever the unsung hero, I decide to give it a try and off we go to fetch the ladders..

"I'll need some of you to hold the bottom of the ladder" I say, rather surprised how weak and reedy my voice has become. No problem they reply and so, with heart in mouth I start on my way up....one rung up with my good leg....bring the other up to join it.....next rung up with my good leg....etc. etc... Pausing about half way up I look down to see that everyone in the room is staring up at me, including the large woman who instigated this situation earlier. She's leaning against a decorative wooden rail which goes around the room above the radiators. Oh dear....can't chicken out now.....onwards and upwards I go.

At the top it's easy enough to fix the curtain back and so slowly and feeling rather proud of myself I make my way back down.

Just as I get about half way down there is a really loud crack and the decorative rail snaps where the large lady is leaning. She goes crashing down to the floor, everyone rushes to her aid leaving the bottom of the ladder unsupported. Thanks a lot ladies!

By the time I reach the ground the ogre has returned and is starting to have a right go at the large lady, now sat on a chair recovering from her fall. Wendy steams in to her defence saying "Leave her alone! Can't you see she's had a nasty fall? Lets just hope the baby is OK....this place is falling apart, you might find yourself in trouble if she's not OK."

The ogre retreats to her back room, me and Steve set about fixing the rail and I hear Wendy say to the large lady in her best 'soothing' voice "When's the baby due anyway?"

"I'm not pregnant" she replies...."Just fat."

I have to leave the room........

People Watching.....

2011-12-02T16:39:00.000-08:00

Well, a pretty rubbish day at the craft fair in Southwold today, not a lot of foot fall at all. It was the switching on of the Christmas lights so we did an afternoon and evening for a change. The lights were switched on by mega star of screen and cinema James Bolam. He buggered off pretty sharpish though (chilly on the East coast today) and not many bothered to call in afterwards.

Quite a lot of well known people live in or visit Southwold. In the past we've had fleeting visits at the craft fair from the likes of Bill Nighy, Bernard Hill and even the lovely Twiggy.

This afternoon my day was enlightened (slightly) when actress Juliet Stevenson came in. A charming lady, didn't buy anything from me mind.

She was looking interested but I think she might have been put off slightly when my friend Wendy on the next table, thinking to herself that she knew that face from somewhere, asked her if she was one of the mums from her Girl Guide group.

"No" said Juliet, in a very posh voice and moved on.

Ah well, there is always tomorrow.

Parisienne Walkway

2011-12-01T15:46:00.000-08:00

I needed a rest from my pencil work and in particular the wildlife. Coupled with some recent pet portrait commissions I'm all 'furred' out! So having selected yet another fabulous reference photograph from the Paint My Photo reference library yesterday I embarked on this street scene. This is watercolour, about 21 x 14 inches on Arches Aquarelle. I always enjoy painting people and was tempted to go straight in to painting the figure but managed to remain sensible and have spent the first couple of sessions on the background which is loosely painted but with several layers which have successfully given a nice depth and texture. The cat in the window was a bit of an after thought as there was too much of a split right down the middle of the composition.

You might not be able to quite make it out but this is a street musician, an elderly man with a particularly cheeky face, sat on a box and playing an accordian. Today I manged to get a start made on the character's face. These (as ever) are pretty ropey photographs taken under artificial light.

At this point I had to stop as I'm doing a craft fair in Southwold this weekend and needed to start getting stuff ready. So there won't be any further progress until next week.

2011-11-18T11:40:00.000-08:00

How lucky am I to 'meet' such lovely people. A lady from way up in Scotland recently bought one of my smaller watercolours as it reminded her of her late father. Since then we have communicated quite a bit and I have been so pleased to hear how it has helped her to find a little peace with his passing.

Recently, as a thankyou she surprised us with these charming watercolours of young Leon. Although my house is stuffed to the rafters with my own art work I managed to find a little space to hang each of them.

Here they are mounted, framed and hung in our bedrooms. Sometimes the sentiment and reason for creating a painting is as important as the painting itself and I think it shines through with these. Thank you Ingrid, they will be cherished.

Ashes

2011-11-11T18:35:00.000-08:00

Mum would be 90 today. Here's a little something I wrote earlier.

Ashes

Above the shimmering shingle beach where dunes of marram grasses grow
there is a place no others reach, a place that no one knows.
Beyond the sound of crying bird, whispering waves barely heard
a hint of laughter, a child at play but there are no children here today.
It's just an echo, times long past. A memory we know will last.
And when a silence stills the air just for an instant mother's there
on this beach where she used to play, her spirit still lives on today.

When her time came she didn't fight, no rage against the dying light.
In peace she went just as she'd lived, no more to do no more to give.
We brought her home, back to the sea and here we chose to set her free.
No prayers were read, that's not our way. No words were needed on that day.
We all knew, my brothers and I, the love we shared would never die.
So silently her ashes fell upon the dunes she knew so well.
Where as a child she used to play, and where her spirit lives today.

Why Not Just Keep The Photo?

2011-11-11T02:53:00.000-08:00

The following words were written by my friend and top pencil artist Armin Mersmanm and I agree with every one of them. I couldn't have written down my thoughts so well so I'm sharing this with his permission. I think it goes a long way to answering the above question so often spouted by non-photorealism enthusiasts.

"When one works in realism you will get the often used cliché 'why not just take a photograph' as in a private note I received.

If copying without change, construction and re-invention, be it from a photograph or from life, then the creative process is not addressed, in this case I agree there is a useless element about it. It becomes a fundamental exercise at best. There is nothing wrong with these exercises if it improves your knowledge and skills as a technician. But if your aim is only to draw 'like a photo' I’m afraid you will never attain what 'art' has to offer. Also I think too many photo-realists rely on technical eye candy alone with no imagination, in some sense just a limited skill in observation and a stunted creative process. Working in this manner should be a foundation to build on, not an end goal.

My goal as a realist is to understand complexities and details; my interest is how the human eyes perceive not how a camera sees. The hallmark of photorealism is not capturing distortion and out of focus areas precisely how the camera does, I’m aware of these things and eliminate most of them.

My journey begins at the first look of my model, the drawing process then becomes an all consuming study. When I complete the work I develop an understanding of the subject that’s both heightened and very personal. After spending hundreds of hours drawing a person’s face, all the while observing the small details that cause 'likeness', a journey takes places that cannot be achieved by any other means.

I don’t draw just what I see, it’s a combination of facts and feelings that would not work from just a snap of a shutter. I change and alter many things from the reference photos. To me they are just a blueprint, an informal guide at best. I transform not just translate what I am observing. I look at small particulars of a person that cannot be seen or deciphered by 'normal' cameras. I delete, enhance, elaborate, exaggerate, alter and reinvent and I do this by putting it through my own psyche. I change what’s in front of me, not for the sake of change but because it’s inevitable and expected, it’s filtered through 40 plus years of living. I have 100% control of every aspect of the final image. Can this be done with a photo and Photoshop? Maybe, but not with my unique technical and artistic language.

In the end, it’s a matter of the artist-viewer connection this will not happen every time, but when it does that’s the magic of the artistic continuum."

Below is a portrait I completed a couple of years ago after I first came across and got inspired by Armin's work.

I wrote a blog about it here at the time. Although technically not as accomplished as Armin's work it is to date possibly the one I am most proud of as it was spawned more by an idea and a story rather than the photographic references.

Here is the story behind the portrait.

After watching the Ray Mears TV series about the exploration and opening up of Canada, I was inspired to read more. I came across a character named Pierre Esprit Radisson and researched a bit about his life which further inspired me to create my impression of perhaps what he looked like. Obviously there was no reference material for me to use so I came up with this rugged, weather beaten face with signs of exhaustion and something a little mad about the eyes. I hope I did him justice.

Below I have written a condensed version of his story, based on the material I found. Perhaps it may be of some interest to some of my Western art collectors.

Explorer, adventurer, soldier of fortune and one of the originators of the Hudson's Bay Company. Pierre-Esprit Radisson is one of the most romantic and awe inspiring explorers of the Canadian North and West.

Born in France in 1636 virtually no information survives concerning his early life. His story begins when, as a young man in 1651 he somehow made his way to New France, to Trois- Rivieres to join his half sister Marguerite. Her husband had died at the hands of the Iroquois but she had re-married to a man named Medard Chouart Des Groseilliers who was to share many of the adventures of Radisson.

Around 1652 Radisson was captured by the Iroquois, was adopted by an Indian family, and spent some 2 years traveling and hunting with his captors. He escaped in 1654 and arrived back in Three Rivers later that year. He remained in New France for the next 4 years, except for one more trip made to the Iroquois territory near Albany.

Radisson's first trip west was undertaken with his brother-in-law in 1659, an unlicensed fur trading expedition. They wintered southwest of Lake Superior in Sioux country. During this trip the two men first heard of 'The Bay Of The North Sea (Hudson Bay) and the treasure of beaver to be found in that area. In the spring Radisson and Des Groseilliers returned to Montreal laden with furs, most of which were promptly confiscated by the corrupt Governor's officials. From this point on Radisson became a soldier of fortune, patriotism played no more part in his adventures.

From 1662 to 1664 the two men operated from New England and tried - unsuccessfully - to reach Hudson Bay by sea. In 1665 they set sail for London to find backing for their plan of reaching the interior and the fur producing regions by by-passing the St Lawrence River. Unfortunately their ship was captured by the Dutch, with whom England was then at war. Put ashore in Spain, the two eventually made it to London in time to witness the great fire and the ravages of the Black Death.

They were able to interest some English merchants in their plan and a voyage aboard the ship Nonsuch proved that it was not only possible but profitable. On May 2nd 1670 the Hudson's Bay Company began its long and highly prosperous career. During the next few years, Radisson established the Nelson River post and served as guide, translator and advisor.

Mistrusted by the company, in 1675 the brothers-in-law deserted and resumed their French allegiance. It was not a rewarding transfer, Radisson serving as a French navy mid-shipman and went campaigning in the Caribbean. He was back at Hudson Bay again in 1681 and was rejoined there by Des Groseilliers. The following year the Compagne Du Nord contracted him to challenge the English traders in Hudson Bay. Radisson destroyed the rival posts and established Fort Bourbon on the Nelson River.

Once again, they felt that they were being unsatisfactorily rewarded by the French so, when his brother-in-law returned to Canada, Radisson turned up in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company once more in 1684.

He was sent back to the bay, where he persuaded the French at Fort Nelson to abandon their allegiance and all their furs. Radisson made his last trip to Hudson Bay in late 1685 remaining there for 2 years, but again became disillusioned with the company. He returned to England finally settling near London. Radisson was married three times during his incredible life, dying aged 74 in 1710 survived by several children.

Elusive Spirit ....complete!

2011-11-08T06:23:00.000-08:00

Here he is, 11 x 22 inches pencil on Stonehenge paper.
In the end I decided to keep it fairly simple (background/foreground) I think it brings out the big fella more, making a bigger impact.

I find my scanner makes the transition from grey to white on the surround a bit harsh. In real life it's a bit more of a gradual blend.

Update The sharp eyed may notice that this is now a different picture as I've reworked the background a bit.

Elusive Spirit ....some more progress

2011-11-07T05:27:00.000-08:00

He's coming along. Next it's back to his front end to finish his paw and get some more whiskers in. I'm still contemplating about the background/foreground as I'm quite liking the sense of space, even though naturally a leopard would be in some kind of cover. Regardless of what I decide, hopefully another day should see it finished.

Elusive Spirit ....a bit more progress

2011-11-05T06:32:00.000-07:00

As can be seen, I've made further progress on my leopard drawing.....coming along quite nicely I think. I can see from my scan I will have to make some adjustments to the light/shadows. I always like a bit of extra contrast but find it difficult drawing fur when it's very pale so he's not as light as the reference suggests . Therefore I'll be darkening shadows to compensate towards the end.

2012 Calendars

2011-11-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

The 2012 Mighty Fine Art wall calendar featuring 12 wildlife monochrome images taken from my pencil and charcoal drawings. I've had a limited number printed to sell at my forthcoming Christmas craft fair in Southwold. However, having put them on my website too, they're selling fast....

Each calendar measures 11 x 8.5 inches opening to 11 x 17 inches.

Postage is free to UK customers, there is a similar one available on RedBubble for my international followers, as well as a different one featuring colour pictures.

Elusive Spirit

2011-11-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

Well this week I got my pencil out again! This is the state of progress so far after about 12 hours, bearing in mind I spoiled my first attempt early on .........it's about 22 inches x 11 inches on Stonehenge paper.

A little while ago I was searching for a big cat reference photograph to use in my 'Common Ground' drawing, completed a few weeks ago. My good friend, top photographer and fellow member of Paint My Photo Nigel sent me this fabulous leopard photograph and, although I didn't use it at the time for the piece I was working on, I knew I would make good use of it sooner rather than later.

I'm probably not going to have him laying in those grasses but I'm thinking of having him on a tree branch with a little foliage against the sky which I think will work better in pencil....we'll see.

Glory Days

2011-11-01T13:10:00.000-07:00

I created this a couple of years back for an exhibition in aid of the Poppy Day appeal. It didn't sell (obviously) and has been sitting around ever since. So, as Rembrance Sunday is coming up soon, I've dusted it off and reduced the price on the Mighty Fine Art and Affordable British Art websites down from it's original £245 to £155. That includes the frame and UK postage.

A Good Day

2011-10-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

Today has been a pretty good day, despite having to alter the clocks last night. Why do we do that? is it for the farmers? They could still just work dawn 'till dusk couldn't they? Surely it wouldn't matter what time they got up....it's a bonkers job anyway, but their career choice. I find it messes with my head for weeks.

But I digress.... I should explain, poor old Murphy has been having some strange episodes lately at night time. Physically he is in fine fettle and doesn't look his age at all, during the day he is his usual self but has been having occasional panic attacks in the middle of the night. This is no fun! Having a 7 stone Alsatian crashing the doors open and running about in a state of terror for no apparent reason.

He's difficult to calm down, trembling and crying and on a couple of occasions I've had to sit up most of the night with him. Then, come morning he's as right as rain again. After much research and a few different opinions from vets and other experts, we've found that this is not uncommon in older dogs and come to the conclusion that it's a form of separation anxiety brought on with old age and triggered by the darkness! He's not that old really, just 9 but our experience seems to match several others we've read about. We've found that by leaving the doors open to all of the rooms in the house at night and leaving a light on for him it helps. He'll still wander about a bit, then come up to the bedroom and sleep by the bed for a while, but the level of panic is much less. I can't think what has brought it on, but a life time of being extremely ginger cam't have helped, poor thing.

So anyhow my sleep wasn't interrupted too much last night and due to the clocks going back I was up and out an hour earlier than usual this morning. Very few people on the beach when we got there, not even any joggers for Leon to terrorise so a very peaceful and relaxing walk we had. I got back in time to see the start of the Indian Grand Prix on the BBC and was enjoying that when an enquiry came in about my drawing 'Heat Of The Night'.

I'm pleased to say that the sale is now confirmed, so that's two good sales in the space of a few days which is very encouraging. The new owner is the proprietor of a local business 'Wild About Birds' whom I mentioned in a previous blog and who has teamed up with a very worthwhile charity project Ndege Wa Pori

I'll be having a small exhibition of my African wildlife at Wild About Birds in December, details to follow nearer the time, and also a permanent display in the new Fair Trade and Crafts shop once it's completed in the next few weeks. A portion of all sales revenue will go into the project's funds and I'm pleased to be able to help in a small way, a very worthwhile cause.

There's even a chance that I may get an opportunity to get over to Kenya as a guest of the conservation project early next year, now that would really be something and would be a great opportunity to get some first hand experience, reference material and inspiration for future work, as well as hopefully be of some use to the project.

After the Grand Prix and lunch, I'd arranged for Leon to go over to a friend of mine for a bit of training. She is doing a college course, something to do with dog psychology and I'd mentioned in passing that if she wanted a barking mad juvenile dog to practice on, she was welcome to borrow Leon. I hadn't expected her to take me up on it but she did so, while Leon was getting a bit of discipline drummed into him, I was able to take Murphy out on his own for a couple of hours. We went over to Aldeburgh, played in the park for a while before having a walk through the town and along the sea front. I'd almost forgotten what it was like to have him on his own, so calm and relaxed, really enjoyable. We called in at my brother's house for a cuppa before going home.

My friend Anne had worked wonders with Leon, managing to get him a lot calmer and behaving much better on the lead. So much so that Jenny had felt confident enough to take him out on her own. All went well until they were almost back before Leon spotted a strange dog who is staying at a house opposite us (a holiday rental) So he made a burst for freedom, took Jenny by surprise and dashed over there to play. No way was he going to be caught until he'd finished....ah well, can't win 'em all.

So not too bad a day....just need to see that annoying, talentless little prat Frankie Coccoza voted off X-Factor this evening to make it even better.

Outlawed

2011-10-28T03:09:00.000-07:00

I've had a few failures with watercolour lately so have lost a little confidence in my techniques. Not one to be easily defeated though I've persevered and finally came up with something reasonably worthwhile in the form of this wolf portrait. It's 16 x 12 inches on Arches Aquarelle watercolour paper and I used a reference photograph from the Paint My Photo website.

With this one I started out with the eyes before moving up to the ears and working my way down. Mainly using burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna and Warm Sepia mixes for all of the brown areas, and mixes of Paynes Grey, Paynes Grey Blue Shade and Warm Sepia for the fur. Once I had a loose underpainting I went over it with a little opaque white (gouache) to pick out the fur highlights. So I ended up with a fairly presentable wolf portrait. Now what to do.

My initial intention was to envelope the whole thing in a misty effect to give a more mystical feel to it, but as I mentioned before, my confidence was low and I didn't want to ruin yet another promising start. I'd already had to bin my red deer painting (blogged a couple of weeks ago) after attempting a similar effect. So this time I went for the impressionistic/semi-abstract effect of undergrowth I've used before. Can't go far wrong with that! I used the same brown colours and darks as used on the wolf with the addition of a few splashes of Cadmium Red to add a little more interest.

Now, what to call it. Sometimes I have a title to begin with and the picture is inspired by it, for instance my other wolf portrait in pencil from last year 'Desperado'.

That title had been buzzing around in my head for weeks before I started the drawing. I think the definition of the word 'Desperado', a bold desperate outlaw, suits the wolf and it's plight so well. It's hard to find an animal more persecuted than wolves.

Having used up my best 'wolf painting' title I had to come up with something else. I'm not really one for having 'Desperado 2'....'Desperado 3' etc. which to me would be a bit of a cop out. So I came up with the title 'Outlawed' which although normally a word associated with the days of the old Wild West, goes back further to periods before guns were invented.

In ancient times in Europe there was no death penalty, instead someone would be 'Outlawed' meaning they were excluded from any normal legal protection or human rights and could therefore be killed without any recrimination. In effect, a death penalty. It seems the wolf throughout it's existence has been treated in the same manner, and still is in most of the regions where it still lives wild. Whereas once it was on the endangered species list in America, just as it approached the cusp of recovery, hunting is now being allowed again in several States with the excuse that it is endangering domesticated and farm animals. Well, if they didn't go out and blast most of it's natural prey, such as deer and elk, off the face of the earth for fun then I'm pretty sure nature would take care of itself and populations of all wild species might stabilise. Being an intelligent, shy and reclusive animal a wolf would never willingly come into contact with human settlements unless desperate.

Whoops! I've gone off on one again.....

Anyhow for those reasons I've entitled this painting 'Outlawed' and it is available for sale on the Mighty Fine Art website at a rediculously low price!

A lifetime's ambition realised! (I think)

2011-10-25T11:37:00.000-07:00

Well, ever since I was a little boy mooching about Thorpeness on annual holidays, I have always searched to try and find a piece of amber on the beach. It became almost an obsession at times. Often I or one of my brothers would find a tiny little something we thought might be amber but never had it confirmed.

All amber originates from the Baltic but very occasionally pieces get washed up on certain areas of the East coast, one of which is the stretch between Thorpeness and Sizewell. Because it's light and buoyant it can travel all the way here on the tides. It's incredibly rare though. I always remember gazing through the window of the Amber Shop in Aldeburgh at the treasure within. Polished and made into jewelry or just raw lumps on display, I dreamed of finding a good sized piece for myself.

More recently, as I spend about 2 hours on the beach every day walking the dogs, I often pick up bits and pieces I think might have possibilities but so far all have failed the simple tests you can do at home.

There is a man, a fellow GSD owner I meet often who does the same thing (with the same results) Whenever our paths cross the first thing he says to me in his broad Suffolk accent is "....found any yet?..."

I've been toying with the idea of buying a piece and then, while we're passing the time of day, reaching down and pretending to pick it up from right under his nose. I reckon after repeating this a few times I could really wind him up! (a wicked bugger I am)

Anyway, this afternoon as usual I was walking the dogs along the beach and just happened to be on the afore mentioned stretch on my way to Thorpeness. We've had some really rough seas the last couple of days and it's said after stormy weather is the best time to find any amber. I'm always looking for bits of sea glass too (you know those sand and sea worn pieces that have been abraded until they look like sugared sweets) as I have a friend who makes jewelry from it. So I guess my eyes are attuned to pick up on anything of interest in among the shingle as I walk along. I just happened to call Leon over to put him on his lead as some other dogs were approaching and he'd be off and gone if I let him. For once he came straight over and as I bent down to clip him on, something caught my eye lying on top of the shingle.

As soon as I picked it up I knew it was what I had been searching for all of my life. It was light in weight, seemingly warm to the touch, a beautiful colour. There were even obvious inclusions, two of which are obviously leaf matter and one deeper in side needs further investigation (I'd love it to be an insect). Not only all that, it wasn't a little chip either. This piece measures 4cm x 3.5cm x 2.5cm, a whopper!

Not wanting to get my hopes up too high, when I got home I researched online the tests I could do at home to verify it.

Firstly I gave it a good wash in soapy water, then in clean water. This meant I could carry out the first test....taste. No real taste, perhaps just a hint of something but not unpleasant as it would be with plastic.

Next the static test. This is the simplest and safest test. Amber is warm to the touch and when rubbed, it will become electrostatically charged and will attract lint/dust particles. This is what the ancient Greeks discovered and named it "electron", which is where we get the term "electricity".I found I could even pick up a small piece of paper after rubbing it on my jumper.

Next the solvent test. The immature resin copal, and plastic fake amber will deteriorate when in contact with a solvent. Plastics are quickly attacked by alcohol (95% ethyl alcohol), acetone (100%), and ether. A few drops of acetone (fingernail polish remover) or alcohol dripped over the surface of the piece will reveal if it holds up to the solvent. If the surface becomes tacky, it's not amber. Amber will not feel tacky or dissolve under these solvents.I used nail polish remover....no problem!

Next the heat test. Amber when heated will produce a whitish smoke and smell like burning pine wood, sweet and pleasant. This is why amber has been used by ancient civilizations as incense for many centuries. Amber is identified from plastic imitations with a hot point test (hot needle held with tweezers). When the hot point touches the suspected amber in an unobtrusive place, the material will burn and give off a pleasant pine odour.Passed again!

There is a buoyancy test I could do but I'm pretty certain what I've got is a proper piece of amber. I'll take it in somewhere and have it professionally confirmed sometime but for now I'm convinced!

So, I've had a lucky day I reckon, starting with a good sale this morning from the Affordable British Art gallery of my painting "The Longshot" ..................

.............and now I've found treasure!

Midday Sun

2011-10-21T06:27:00.000-07:00

It's not just Mad Dogs And Englishmen........

This pencil drawing measures 22 x 11 inches and was created on Stonehenge paper. I based it on a similar scene photographed by top wildlife photographer Billy Dodson of Savannah Images, although the changes I've made mean it's not that similar. Once mounted and framed this will be for sale on the Mighty Fine Art website.

A Quick Heads Up.... for fellow UK crafters

2011-10-19T11:57:00.000-07:00

If you log on to Photobox and open an account, at the moment they are giving 50 free photo prints as a joining gift. This is my second batch. What I do is get 50 copies of various paintings/drawings of mine. (I just got 2 of each of 25 pictures) then I mount them in a little mount using up all the off-cuts from my picture framing, with a backing card. Then I put them in a nice A4 cello-bag and sell them at craft fairs for £5 each. They go like hot cakes! All they cost me was the £1:40 postage and a bit of time.

This always at the very least covers my pitch fee plus beer money. Add a business card in the back of each and it's a good marketing tool too.

In My Bin a red deer in pastel

2011-10-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

Well that's very disappointing. I was quite pleased with my red deer stag. Then the reflections in the water began to give me a little trouble. I persevered as far as I could but wasn't happy with that area at all. Then I moved on to the background and completely ruined the whole thing. Try as I may, whatever I did just looked worse until I threw a tantrum and ripped it up.

Ah well, can't win 'em all............

The Young Smokin' Joe

2011-10-14T01:47:00.000-07:00

This was a commission I completed the other week. Had to wait until today to post as it was a birthday present. It's pencil, 21 x 17 inches on Stonehenge paper. It made a change to do something figurative. Mounted and framed up it was quite a hefty piece but arrived safe and sound and my customer was very pleased with it.

On My Drawing Board a red deer in pastel

2011-10-13T16:50:00.000-07:00

This last couple of days I've had my pastel pencils out. With yet another fantastic reference photograph from the Paint My Photo website I'm tackling this Red Deer.

I haven't done anything in pure pastel for ages, probably at least a year but unearthed my collection of various packs of paper this week so decided it was about time. I'm using Pitt pastel pencils on a 20 x 14 inches sheet of white Ingres Fabriano paper. I will be using my soft pastels for some of the background and for finishing highlights on the stag too.

This is a quick photo taken at night under electric lighting so not a very good representation but as the paper is taped down to my drawing board I can't scan it yet.

I think it's going well and although extremely time consuming, I'm enjoying the change of medium. There will be a lot of complex reflections on the water to complete and at this point I'm thinking of going for a mistybackground.