Frog Orchestra

Lockyer arts festival

 

Giving a small workshop with children's book illustrator Craig Smith. Together we had a go at turning a volunteer model into a character. Thanks to our brave model and all who joined in!

Happy new year

 

Hi, greetings from 2012!

I am back, and will posting again regularly. I hope this year is off to a good start for you.

I've just returned from a trip to the Lockyer valley, a region which experienced some of the worst of the 2010-2011 Queensland floods. This past week I was honoured to have the opportunity to give some illustration related presentations at a four-day arts festival held there.

Above are some drawings from the trip. I don't know the name of the trees, but majestic would probably be a good word to describe them. The top location sketch inspired the illustration below it. I hope you enjoy them.

Tree study in pen

I left my paints at home by accident so was only able to do a pen drawing. In the end it forced me to try and make it work as lines only which was good practice I think.

Have a safe and happy Christmas wherever you are, see you on the other side of the silly season!

Horse Paddock II

 

Life drawing

Horse Paddock

Rusty roof

This sketch was done from my car. There was at least a dozen times I wanted to give up on it, but I'm glad I persisted. The light was fading fast and a storm brewing, but I think this all made for an interesting atmosphere.

Gnarled old tree

Another tree study. I don't know where all this observational drawing is headed exactly, but the last few months or so I've had the urge to draw the things around me. I do believe using real life, and nature as one's starting point is a good way to develop a visual vocabulary of one's own. I suspect something is being stored away in the back of my mind as I spend these hours looking at things and recording them.

Tree studies

I found this nice place to study trees in my local area. There are some big old trees, and a few paperbark groves. It's quite untamed, and apart from the constant hum of traffic in the background, you might think you were in the countryside. Places like this eventually get manicured and developed, and one by one they disappear.

Life drawing

 

Travel sketches