Little Figure Sketches

Through the bus window.

Plants

Another gouache sketch. Plants on the bathroom window sill.

China

My girlfriend Pat and I spent the New Year period in Beijing and Hong Kong with her family. Had an amazing, sub-zero time in a fascinating country. Just wanted to share a few photos of the trip.

 

Park Sketches

Springtime gouache sketches, Alexandra Park. 


Been enjoying gouache for sketching outside this year. Ease of use, vibrant and quick-drying, and the opacity massively helps when working quickly. 


Trying to capture quick glimpses of places.

Serco Prize for Illustration 2012- London's Ancient Trees

My entry to the AOI's  Serco Prize for Illustration has been chosen to exhibit at the London Transport Museum again this year.

This year's theme was 'Secret London'- exploring a hidden side to the capital. My subject is the great ancient trees that populate London's parks, streets and gardens. I sought to convey the strength and grandeur of these elder residents of the city. As they grow to many hundreds of years old, each tree seems to take on a unique personality of its own. They grow to huge size, twist into bizarre forms, support ecosystems and watch patiently as the world goes on around them, tiny humans scuttling to and fro cocking things up.

At risk of sounding overtly hippyish... trees are pretty damn awesome.

The tree sketch I posted previously, drawn from life in Kensington Gardens, formed the basis of the finished image. I exaggerated and simplified the form and size of the tree, gave it a sprinkling of new buds to make sure it didn't look dead, and added a few awe-struck Londoners. Penciled, inked mostly with a brush, and Photoshopped.

It was a cracking exhibition last year and I'm greatly looking forward to the 2012 show.

Full info on the competition and the exhibiting illustrators can be found on the AOI.

Ancient Sweet Chestnut Tree

An ancient sweet chestnut tree in Kensington Gardens.

The Woodland Trust has constructed an ambitious database mapping the UK's 'ancient' trees. Users can type in their postcode and locate the wise old statesmen in their area.

Garden Sunshine

Another sunny-day sketch.

Resurrection Sketches

I thought it about time I began updating the blog again. Here are a couple of gouache sketches from one of those sunny days, sitting in the woods.