Curlew

I actually started this Curlew drawing at the beginning of November, but haven't touched it since.  This was a demonstration piece for a show, but I got very little drawn.

Once new year is out of the way, i'll get back to this before throwing myself into quite a few new drawings.

Xmas Shows

I'm now 15 days down with 10 to go of the York Christmas Shows.  The weather seems to be getting colder, which isn't great when you're in a marquee, but compared to last year, it feels like summer!

For any of you in the area, I am in the Made In Yorkshire marquee on St Sampson's Square, just outside Browns.  I'll be exhibiting there until the 18th Dec.

Strutting Sussex

'Strutting Sussex'
Image size 16x10"

The last of 6 originals off to the Masham Arts Festival Exhibition completed this afternoon and quickly mounted and framed to take for hanging tomorrow. 

The exhibition runs from Friday 21st until Sunday 30th October.  For details see www.facebook.com/pages/Masham-Arts-Festival

Summer Swaledales

size approx 16.5" x 10"

Finished these local Swaledales this weekend.  I'm framing this as we speak and they will be off to the Masham Arts Festival Exhibition which begins this Friday (a bit worrying as I have another drawing to get done in time!).

Hare today, gone....

Hare Study
Limited Edition print mounted size 16x20"

If there are any hare fans out there that may have been procrastinating about buying this print, i've just signed the last 10 of the 500 print run (and numbers 499 and 500 are reserved), so there are only 8 more of this print left (plus a few in the odd gallery here and there)...get it while you can!!

This has been my best selling print since drawing it just over 2 years ago, so i'll be sorry to see it go, but it's nice to sell out a limited edition of 500 in such a short space of time!!

Friesian Calf

'Friesian Calf'
Size approx 16x12"

New drawing just completed whilst at Hawes this weekend.  Any of you that saw me at the Harrogate Flower Show should recognise this piece as it was my demonstration piece for the 3 days - I didn't get much drawing done there though. 

This will be off to the Masham Arts Festival Exhibition on October 21st

Badger Sow & Cub

'Badger Sow & Cub'
Size approx 14.5"x10"

I meant to try and get some scans of this as I was working with it but with 6 straight days of shows, I couldn't find the time - so here is the finished thing.  This has already made it's way to the RHS Harlow Carr Exhibition in Harrogate for the last two weeks of the exhibition. 

Red-Legged Partridge

'Red Legged Partridge'
Size approx 12x8"

With all the shows currently on the go, I haven't had chance to scan this during the drawing process, so here we are straight in with the finished piece.  This will be framed and off to the last month of the RHS Harlow Carr Summer Exhibition. 

The Red Grouse original sold there last week (as did the boxing hares), so lets hope there are more game bird fans around!

Boxing Hares complete

'Boxing Hares' - Size approx 11.5x15.5"

Finished these sparring hares at the weekend, so they will be mounted and framed and off to the ongoing RHS Harlow Carr Exhibition next week.

NOW SOLD

Boxing Hares ongoing

Here is this weekend's work.  I got quite far with this whilst exhibiting at Hawes - which usually implies it was a quiet weekend sales-wise.

Anyway, I hope to have this finished by the weekend and get it off to the Harlow Carr Exhibition to replace originals already sold.

Mule Portrait

'Mule Portrait' - Size approx 14.5"x10.5"

I managed to get this one finished last weekend, but with the Great Yorkshire Show, I only found the time to scan it this morning.  The original is off to the Summer Exhibition at Talents Fine Art Gallery over at Malton this evening.  

For anyone in the area, the exhibition is open to the public tomorrow and runs for a month.  There are 5 of my originals on display, including the last Light Sussex Hen drawing

If any of the 150,000 visitors to the Great Yorkshire Show happen to read this blog, pop into the Made in Yorkshire marquee (opposite the food halls) and say hi.

"Light Sussex Hen"
Size approx 11.5x15.5"

Here is the last week's work on this chicken.  This one will be going to the second of the exhibitions in a couple of weeks time at Talents Fine Art Gallery in Malton.  The RHS Harlow Carr Art Exhibition began today, so hopefully they had a busy start (I wasn't there today)

NOW SOLD

Highland Cow

'Highland Cow'
Size approx 15.5x11.5"

A relatively quick one here.  I've touched on this technique in a few earlier posts, but with the exception of the horns and nose area, the entire drawing is all created with tissue and erasers.  Onto a chicken now!

NOW SOLD

Red Kite complete

'Red Kite'
Size approx 16.5" x 12"

Finally finished this feathery Red Kite.  

No time to rest though, onto the next and prep for Sunday's North Yorkshire County Show. 

Pheasant completed...maybe!

"Strutting Pheasant"
Size approx 17x11.5"

I must admit, although, I had finished this drawing, I have great urges to add a few tall blades of grass to it. I'm not sure why as this was the look I was going for from the start, but i've scribbled over a print of the drawing and I feel it may just add something extra to it...or ruin it completely!  I may have to sleep on it.

Red Grouse complete

'Red Grouse'
Image size 10.5"x14"
NOW SOLD

I thought i'd need to tinker with this one a little.  There's probably no difference between this post and the last (especially at this scale), but thought i'd add the actual finished piece. 

And just to make this post a little more worthwhile, here is a snippet of the next game bird.  I'm definitely going to be taking a break from small feathers after these two!

Red Grouse

Here is the weekend's work.  I think this one is finished, but I feel I need a day or two to decide.  If there isn't a further update, here is 'Red Grouse', image size approx 10.5"x14".  If there is an update, here is where I am so far with the grouse.  We'll see...

NOW SOLD

And finally...

'Swaledale Tup'
Size approx 11"x16"

And here we are with the finished piece.  As mentioned earlier, a little more blending to eliminate obvious pencil strokes, another pass with the eraser, a little more darkening of shadows, a final pass with the eraser, and finally a little tidying up of the face and horns...and he is complete!  And a proper scan this time!

NOW SOLD

New hare drawing

'Hare Portrait'
Size approx 11.5x15.5"
NOW SOLD

Here we are again with 2 updates.  After yet another busy week, I have completed work on a new hare study and made a little progress on the Swaledale Tup.

I don't usually work on 2 pieces at once.  I would normally prefer to have one complete and out of my mind before working on another, but sometimes us artists just get urges to draw something specific.  As it had been all of about 3 months since I last drew a hare, I had the urges