Wayland Smithy: Full Frontal 2013

We visited Wayland Smithy just over a month ago, but sitting down to draw at the Smithy was not really an option with children in tow. So I took lots of photographs, a few of which I have already made use of.

Above is the front of the barrow, rendered in those Caran D'Ache watercolour pencils, with a bit of white acrylic ink.

Wayland Smithy: Full Frontal 2002

The last time that I drew Wayland Smithy, it was a warm day in April, 2002, and I sat on the grass in front of the long barrow's entrance with pencil and A5 sketch pad:

I'll draw that ancient monument in 6 watercolour pencils

I recently acquired a small set of Caran d'Ache Museum Aquarelle pencils. It's a special "competition pack" that contains six pencils in a tin with a piece of sandpaper. Basically, there are two reds, two blues, and two yellows.

In theory, these pencils should provide every possibility of colour. In practice, they need some getting used to...  

Rabbit in a Bush

Here's another rabbit for the mural; this time - as well as placing it beneath a bush - I made a point of only using household decorating brushes (2" and 1/2") apart from the initial drawing (marker pen) and the final details (a round artist's brush).

The Hurlers

On Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, there is a trio of stone circles known as the Hurlers (the name come from a legendary game of hurling on a Sunday. In vindictive mode, the Christian god allegedly turned the players to stone). With its multiplicity of stones and ridiculously easy access (road and village - Minions, not Bodmin - are both within spitting distance) it may well be the best known circle in Cornwall.

With some justice.

Woodland Wellies - SOLD

I was asked to paint some toddler wellies, but we didn't have any that small; my children are both at primary school now and we didn't keep the old wellies.
 

So I asked around and borrowed some (these are an infant size 4, UK size; I don't think that either of my two ever had feet this small! They certainly never had shoes this small.). The pattern made the painting somewhat trickier (I did supplement my knifework with a brush stroke or two), but it also gave the painting its context. What is a camouflage pattern for if not hiding out among the leaves?

Acrylic on canvas, 30 x 30 cm
19 July 2013

School Mural Project (Rabbits!)

 Rabbits. Watership Down. Need I say more?