Black on Grey on White

and has been an inspiring muse for my latest equine portrait. That's right: no capital city but a beautiful bay mare. Scribbling has begun in earnest again this year and Canberra is the first off the drawing board. Isn't she gorgeous? Up next: also dark and also super cute ;) Canberra pencil on paper 25x15 cm SOLD

To be more precise Rock is a German cold blood or draught horse with amazing eyes and the latest portrait off my board in time for the festive season. Big honest kind eyes, smooth velvety nose, massive round cheeks, wavy blond hair... what's not too love. Drawing this gorgeous equine was a great finish to the year. 2017 has new projects and commissions lined up but none I am sure with this guys  special  zen aura. Rock 26x20 cm pencil on paper SOLD

Shoving 2016 off to the side and bringing 2017 into the limelight. Energy, creativity, growth and prosperity the lights of choice. Ready to make 2017 memorable. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hurricane sprinkled in colour. Simply the best way of breathing in beauty, soaking in power, of falling in love...

One of the best parts of being an artist (that works from photos) is collecting new reference material. It's serious business. One that I have been doing for quite a while... Still mystified as to why this wee gang firmly believed I needed extra help :) The day was a success and some cool perspectives and composition ideas are in the making.  Watch this space ...

This wee bird is proud (I can totally relate) and relieved (food on the table tonight). Pride should be (sporadically) experienced, savoured, shown-off. Pride is a good (in healthy amounts) it is proof of self-respect. Pride is the main content of this post. Yep! feeling very pleased with my second bird study . A few new boxes have been ticked: Better rendering of the lay of their feathers understanding the tilt of the head learning the insectivore subtleties of their diet cornering their temperament  depth (and the best box of all) hesitation dissipated: each stroke knew where to go Bird study #2 "Early Bird" Pencil on Paper 23x19 cm P.S: Postponing my artistic discovery of the bird world for a while, new (featherless) commission on the board. Before I start,  great big thank you to  Donna Ridgeway  for the use of the her fab swallow photographs.

I was curious (and still am!)  Curious to see how my brain (and pencils) would deal with drawing something so small, so delicate, so elusive. How it would feel to get lost in feathers as opposed to hair. How it would feel to render something you are only able to touch with your eyes and heart. The great news is: these amazing sophisticated little creatures have offered to show me a whole new world... and I have agreed ;) Watch this space! Bird study #1 Pencil on Paper 19x26 cm