Circus and Puppet themed Life Drawing

I’ve been to two great life drawing sessions recently with ‘Brighton Life Drawing Studios’ Each time there has been a theatrical theme, the first one was Strings then Circus, with fascinating props with models in very strong poses. I’ve been to loads of life drawing classes privately and at college and this has been the first time I have ever drawn two people together, it’s good practice but tough!

Here are some of my sketches from the two nights, they were too large to scan so had to take photos of them. Next time I hope to add colour.

A Waxwing on the Downs

This picture was commissioned to create a clean and fresh image of the South Downs. It was to feature the clients cycling in the Downs on the most rigorous part of their journey – the long stretch up to Chanctonbury Ring.

I added part of a Kipling poem 'A Three Part Song' to run along the contours and layers of the hill.

I wanted the season to be the start of spring, where everything is turning green yet some trees are still bare – to show the branches interesting pattern in the trees.

I thought a little Waxwing would complement the vibrant reds of the cyclists and the yellow Rape Seed Oil fields.

Carols Tea Cosy

I made this Tea Cosy for my friends 30^th using Harris Tweed, boiled wool and lace. It was the first time sewing writing and images onto fabric, it was easier than I thought as boiled wool was really easy to work with, lovely to cut : )
front:

















Back:



















Close up:

Elephant and Castle concepts

During my Animator’s Residency with West Dunbartonshire Libraries and the Scottish Arts Council in 2006, I was involved in creating Visual Tales (vis-ta) workshops for children with an illustrator, Michael Amato, and writer, Richard Penny. I was also given time to create my own work – I started developing and researching a short film, ‘Elephant & Castle’. All the Drawings below show my concepts and research for this idea: