Another lovely and very productive day.
I have been updating my professional facebook page, Christopher Denise Illustrator, but keep putting off updating my blog so I may try a new approach.
I had been posting some sketches and there seems to be some interest in process. I had been thinking about a longer post on the delights of drawing in my digital charcoal space but it may be some time before I get around to it. I think Ill just let out little bits here and there and go back later (summer 2015 probably) and sum up some thoughts.
In any event, I have found myself drawn back into a world of miniatures. It takes a certain mindset to stay in the right place and I have been helped along by the music of Jonsi and Alex-specifically Riceboy Sleeps. The duo are best known for their amazing work as Sigor Ros.
So today I put on the headphones again and begin working up this aerial nighttime drawing. It be painted up in the next day or two. Here is a little detail. I can't share full pieces just yet. If you guys like it...maybe I can try to check in once a week and show little glimpses and let you know what I am listening to.
Plan A Sophie Bignall drew three little characters for my next book cover and I then tried to use an eighteenth century painting of the famous Ironbridge as the background. But whatever I tried to do, and however much my Grandson, James Brinkler, manipulated the cover in Photoshop, the painting just would not sit happily with the charcoal drawing, (Sophie used charcoal so that this book cover
Here’s a figure drawing I gave up on half way through because it was…uh…top heavy. But I kind of like the way the figure being only black on black works with the white sheet so I’ll share it.
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Here is another recent figure drawing I’ve done in my attempt to give myself a better fundamental understanding of drawing the human body. Because it is very hard to find models for such things in China (I hear that nude drawing classes are hard to find outside of the top art schools), I’ve been working from pictures for these. I don’t think it has hurt the experience too much, although I noticed that the couple of times I did live drawing I was able to draw faster and capture the form in a more loose and dynamic way.
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I was stopping myself from posting any of the nude figure drawing I’ve been doing this past year because this blog originally started as a place to talk about our books for children (it has obviously changed focus over time). I’ve come to decide that kind of thinking is totally ridiculous. It’s like saying you should not take kids to a museum because they might see a breast. I have more faith in the parents of the children that read our books, and I’m sorry I ever doubted them.
This is one of the pieces of artwork I’ve done in the past year that I am most proud of. I never attended art school and have had very few chances to do any figure drawing in my life. I now see the attraction of it, and have experienced the incredible learning that happens while participating in it. I look forward to doing more and I will share some here, now that I have come to my senses.
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Backlit nude.
Water soluble pencil. 41cm x 29cm. Click to enlarge.
I came across this charred log. I broke off a piece and used it to draw a picture of that log.
A circular walk of 2 miles starting at Parliament Hill car park including a 200 metre swim in the Highgate pond. Water temperature 16C. 19 May 2011
Click to enlarge.
I have learned to live each day as it comes, and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. It is the dark menace of the future that makes cowards of us.
a sketch of about 70 x 100 cm
According to the Hindu Mythology, when Lord Shiva is angry then his third eye (situated on his forehead) opens...then disaster occurs..!!!
A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book. ~Irish Proverb
No central heating over Christmas. Coal is grim muck.
Watercolour 105mm x 145mm. Click to enlarge.
In the spirit of "everything old is new again", I've pulled some of my pastel drawings from a while back and have made them into ACEO sized prints.
There for a while I was really into pastels, and actually thought that's all I'd ever do for the rest of my life. Then too much inhaled pastel dust plus worn down fingerprints from smudging my fingers into the sanded pastel paper made me take a break.
Another thing is that they're hard to store safely without smearing them (unless you have museum quality storing capabilities, or at least really good flat files and are extremely careful. I can't answer "yes" to either of those questions, so I don't do them anymore.
I did a lot of shoes. A lot.
(These are Kenneth Coles.)
And my teapots and white china (which were fun to do using a lot of color).
A lot of these pieces were BIG, like on a whole sheet of illustration board. Some are smaller, and done on sanded pastel paper or heavily textured handmade papers. Some were done on Canson.
Mostly all of them were done with Rembrandt pastels. And some charcoal.
I'm putting them all in my paulapaula etsy shop, and will keep adding pieces as I get them printed out and ready to go. Its fun to look at something other than Christmas cards, don't you think?
some 8-10 minutes sketches from last friday
That's how the cover artist made the cover for my second book, Broken. She took a photograph I sent her and did the same thing. That is so kewl. <br /><br />I like the charcoal effect. I think the cover is mysterious. The children look forlorn, a bit sad. I see them and wonder why. I'd pick up the book.
Thank you, Joylene, such a battle with this cover. Good to hear that I am not alone with regard to my artistic efforts. :0) Although I am not an artist, so very pleased that you think the cover will attract people.
It's very inspired and interesting! I like the contrast of the stark black & white mixed with the smudginess of the charcoal drawing. I agree with Joylene. The expressions of the children make me want to pick up the book and delve into why they appear a bit woebegone. <br /><br />Popping in to say, 'Hello' and Happy Sunday afternoon! Have missed visiting my bloggy friends. Hope
Lovely to see you here, Larri, cheered me up. Invalid husband not too well today, but his friend has arrived so much happier Sunday for him.
Very nicely done! I think it's fabulous.
Thank you, Su, like every one else, or maybe more so!, I thrive on kind encouragement .
I think that it looks amazing. It was done very well. Congratulations with the progress.
It is such a great relief to finally finish this, Murees, at last I can get on with the editing!
I think it looks awesome. It's very hard to get permission to use images unfortunately. I've never had a reply to a request. NO wonder people abuse copyright!<br /><br />Lovely work.<br /><br />Did you know you have the dreaded catpcha codes on your blog? I don't usually comment when I see them, but I'll make an exception seeing as I can see it before I post my comment. If it
Hi Denise, thank you so much for your support, and no I didn't know about that wretched extra thing to reply, I deleted it, why has it crept back! Must delete again. Thanks.
I think that effect will look fantastic in the end. Can't wait to see it.
Thank you so much, Clarissa, will post the end result when my Grandson has put it together with title, etc.
Wow, what a creative way to put the different elements of your cover together! That's certainly one way to get a 3D effect:)
Thanks, Rachel, have just received the almost final cover - will post to see what friends think. :00
Hi Carole .. I agree - the charcoal cover is just lovely .. very clever .. cheers Hilary
Hi Hilary, I had to ask Sophie to draw the characters again, try to copy her original drawing for Candle Dark as needed the books to match. A battle to get it right for us both, but Grandson came to the rescue as before with his starlight effect.