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Category Archives: illustration
Equine again
Barnyard gossip
Carousel galloping horse over galloping mustangs
Soliloquizzical Moments:
• Should I add any colour? I think I like it plain black….
(added colour)
• Yep, I think I like it plain black.
• Funny how the illustration of the galloping mustangs has made a shadow under the back leg where one would want a shadow, and put an interesting pattern over the carousel horse’s head.
• Should I add white gouache to the horse? If I do, I’ll lose the background mustangs and the flat, outline effect which interests me, but I’ll gain a milky, layered quality and a more three dimensional effect, which might also interest me.
• Should I add white gouache to the coloured bits to make them pastel toned? … maybe…
• Perhaps I should leave it as is and paint another carousel horse on the next page and add all sorts of white and stuff to that one… or this one… depending…
• Should I stop soliloquising and go and do those other urgent jobs?
Equine Soliloquy
Another soliloquy seems to be forming in odd moments… ‘The Tale of Two Horses’ went on the train into the city the other day as a sketchbook, and came back with several new horses in it. More will come when I have a little time.
In wondrously poor condition on the outside. Inside, the pages are smooth and lovely to draw on.
This one is taking its own shape more easily than the last one. Sort of ambling along.
Some pages I will start by liking, and then not. Some the other way around. It won’t bother me. It’s contemplative. And because they are horse doodles, it’s a bit like climbing cosily back into my childhood for a while. (And I draw them exactly the same way now!)
Fun drawing a foal dance over other horses. Then a squiggly cameo shape and brushy, brushiness all about.
I’ve just done a page that is more interested in pattern, shape and contrast than in horsey correctness. It was very freeing. But I’ll play with it some more another time, and take the shapes and tones further into pattern.
This page reminds me of the poodle wallpaper we found on the walls of our 1950s house after removing the 70s wallpaper. It could be much better if it went further away from the horse shapes I think.
Another little digger. A stalwart, he endures a social engagement with a hated aunt, and only his least favourite weed on the menu. Poor lad.
Sold
The Burrowers
‘Doug and the Dowager’ – fineliner, indian ink, pencil and gouache on vintage book page
‘Handsome Hamster’ – fineliner, indian ink and gouache on vintage book page
‘Sylvester did not remain long’ – fineliner, indian ink, pencil and gouache on vintage book page
‘Hamster Hearsay’ – indian ink, gouache and pencil on vintage book page
‘An Armadillo in Spaunton’ – fineliner, indian ink, gouache and pencil on vintage book page
‘I’m sorry, the shop is closed’ – fineliner, indian ink, gouache and pencil on vintage book page
‘The Moocher of Mystery Mine’ – fineliner, indian ink, gouache and pencil on vintage book page
‘Jon and Penny’ – fineliner, indian ink, gouache and pencil on vintage book page
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Dick Russell and Porky Simpkin
This set of four pages will be up for silent auction at the Australian Children’s Laureate Fundraiser. Consider buying a ticket to what will be a fabulous night of fun with the Australian children’s publishing community and grab a one of a kind gem from the selection of silent auction items. (Soon to be uploaded to the Laureate Website.)
Dick Russell Grinned
Three Tasks for Dick and Porky
A Bone of Contention
A Little Unreal
Set of Four pages
sold
sold
sold
Alice is the dog. She loves train trips. She loves train trips almost as much as swimming in circles in the dam with a stick in her mouth. And she really, really loves that!
The well dressed lady is inspired by a photo of Ada Rehan. Ada lived from 1859 to 1916. Does this make her Edwardian? She was an actress and she fed her retriever too many chocolates.
The picture is possibly for Camperdown’s upcoming Animalia exhibition… only how to get it there? If I frame it, the glass will get broken in the post won’t it? If I don’t frame it, how can it be displayed? I was going to send the artwork still in the book, so that it could be displayed open on a table. That didn’t work with this one, as I ended up collaging three pieces of paper together and they are no longer in the book!
I’ll have to make up my mind by tomorrow or I won’t get anything there in time.
Well! I made up my mind. I sent the Cornish Soliloquy instead. And Alice’s Ecstasy can be purchased in my Etsy shop here. Hooray!
Sporting Man’s Club
Saturday night after the horse races, in the upstairs restaurant with a view of the bay. A soft warm breeze. Potted palm fronds gently moving. The mood of the crowd was jubilant. Voices and glasses were raised. High heels tottered.
I did two sketches as I waited for my meal. The first, a woman in an eye-catching hat; the second a woman having a quiet meal with a friend. She kept (more or less) still for longer than anyone I have drawn in ages!!
‘Milly After the Races’
Table 26
Judy Watson 