Finding time to relax is important even back in Captain Bower – Sparkles early days. Hes just able to cope with the cold for a few minutes as this is Winter in Russia. The rough watercolour paper really helped to achieve a heavy snow effect. I used my dip pen which gave a broken line across the papers surface.
Illustration
Captain Bower- Sparkle
After spotting a painted lead horse and rider on an auction site I was delighted to find Captain Bower -Sparkle dashing around collecting marshmallows at Christmas teatime.
I began to wonder about his earlier life and will upload these ideas in my next post. This illustration with Captain Bower- Sparkle was painted in watercolour and inks on stretched thick cartridge paper. I found applying wax candle and then ink acting as a resist for the horses the best way to depict worn scratched paint.
Christmas string scraps were used for tying the marshmallows into a bundle.
Behind the Co-op buildings
Whilst sketching the Co-op buildings I began to realise I was being watched from afar. Some mutual agreement was made between them (the birds) and I finished with enough work to develop into the above illustration. Watercolour paints, a little brown ink brushed on, and pencil were used on watercolour paper.
Portraits inspired by the book Wuthering Heights.
Heathcliff and Cathy are in their early twenties in the pen and ink drawings below. Two major characters from Emily Bronte’s book are Edgar Linton and his sister Isabella Linton. The Pen and Ink style works well for the drama in the book think I will return to this title again.
Cathy and Heathcliff on the moor
Here Cathy and Heathcliff share a walk together across the Moorland. To follow on from the previous post to show progression I’ve tried to suggest their ages being between 14 and 15 years old. The birds are a family of Curlews and one startled Red legged Partridge, you may find a dragonfly on a stick and a Cinnabar Moth amongst all that Heather!
Ive used Dr Martins inks and Windsor and Newton inks applied with a brush and a dip pen. The paper was a middleweight cartridge paper which I managed to stretch on a board without tearing.
Cathy & Heathcliff aged 7
This is the first of three illustrations representing Cathy and Heathcliff from the book Wuthering Heights. I intend to draw the characters next as teenagers. Loved drawing the dogs and mice. Experimenting with paper I settled on cartridge so I could apply ink at the end of the process. Thank you for taking the time to comment over the last couple of years we are all so busy I appreciate it.
Liesel and Rudy
The Book thief written by Markus Zusak was a memorable recent read so I thought I would attempt revisiting scenes through drawing Liesel and Rudy. Here I tried to show their friendship and young years.
Used some strong inks here as I planned for this to be a mock title page. Enjoyed researching details and mixing new shades with Dr Martins inks. FW inks and watercolour. The first illustration was done on bristol board very smooth and white no paper stretching was a big help. The cover above was completed on cartridge paper from a Seawhite sketchbook its not stretched though I hear ironing on the reverse is a possibility! Thank you for looking and sharing my posts it is appreciated.
The Prisoner..The Tree.
Two new short stories from Christopher Green.
Very happy to have sketched away inspired after reading my brothers latest short stories. Thinking of cover ideas for these two stories set in Japan was so enjoyable as Chris writes so descriptively. Evoking a strong sense of tension and place. They are drawn using indian ink W&N with pen and brush onto very course paper in the same style seen in my recent post The Runner. Both of these enjoyable short stories are available to download. The Prisoner by Chris Green
The neighbor, his wife and their cherished tree face a testing time. The Tree by Chris Green
The squirrel outside no 11.York
There was a lot of barking coming from the house in this street and here below from where I was walking was the reason.
They had met before..
then in winter..full of snow
someday they would be the best act ever!
Used dip pens and inks such as Rowney’s acrylic ink mixing before applying for subtle colour.
