Catch Up

'Trial Run'

Graphite on Fabriano Artistico

It's been a long time since I updated my blog, in fact I struggled to log in having forgotten my password.
My family suffered a tragedy early in March which put art on hold for a few weeks.

Since my last post I've attended three exhibitions, all of which were reasonably successful. The Yorkshire Game Fair held at Newby Hall near Ripon was the muddiest show I've ever attended, the mud was knee deep and tractors were needed to move vehicles on and off the field. It was an experience I'd prefer not to repeat.
Last week I attended Patchings Art Festival, I always enjoy the social aspects of this show although sales were slow over the weekend.

We welcomed a new addition to the family a few weeks ago, meet Xena who is quite possibly the naughtiest puppy I've ever owned. Her hobbies include stripping wallpaper from the hallway, removing plants from the garden and carrying live bees about. We still don't know how she managed to carry a very large bee all the way across the garden without getting stung. However I can report that the bee flew away uninjured.

I've just submitted an article to Leisure Painter on drawing a peacock feather, it should be published in the August magazine out at the beginning of July.

I've started a series of graphite drawings of working dogs, The first one is 'Trial Run' drawn from one of my own reference photographs.

I do now intend to post much more regularly in the future.

Amur Leopard in Graphite

'Striding Out'

Graphite on Mellotex, 17.5 x 11.75 inches

I'm alive and well but have been really busy with real life happenings.

I have a new pencil practice article in this months Leisure Painter magazine (May 2014) on drawing weathered wood in coloured pencil.

'Weathered Stump' the subject of my latest pencil practice article

The next article will be in the July issue and will be techniques for drawing water.

I've marked plenty of assignments for the London Art College diploma course on drawing and painting pet portraits.

I'm in the middle of painting two large commissions of a lovely old Airedale called Joe. I had the pleasure of meeting Joe and his owners at Wetherby service station on a bitterly cold winter day so that I could take my own photographs and meet Joe in person.

Show season is fast approaching, my first show of the year will be the Harrogate Spring Flower Show which takes place at the end of this month.

I do intend to get back into a regular blogging routine as it helps me to focus on getting things completed.

Coloured Pencil Techniques in Leisure Painter Magazine

 The October issue of Leisure Painter magazine which is currently on sale includes my article on coloured pencil techniques. The article includes a little about the materials I use, a small demonstration on drawing fur and a section on troubleshooting. I'll be uploading a file of this first article in PDF format to my website soon.

The November issue of Leisure Painter which will shortly be on sale includes a step by step demonstration of how to draw the hare shown above. It also highlights the struggle I had to take the reference photograph.

I'll be writing regularly for Leisure Painter throughout 2014.

If you draw or paint animals the October issue also includes the first part of a tutorial on drawing an Elephant in pastel by Bob Elcock and painting a miniature in watercolour of a lowland gorilla by Tracy Hall. 


My other news is that I am now the tutor for the Pet Portrait Diploma course run by the London Art College.