Just for fun I decided to imagine creative projects as a landscape through which we journey. I made a map of what one journey to project completion (Fruition) might look like. Most ideas for creative projects start out as a spark, washed up or captured on the shores of the Sea of Imagination. A (not … Continue reading A creative odyssey
Category: Illustrations
Every day is tree day
I once worked for a bush regeneration project in which I planted thousands of Australian native trees over the course of about six months. Despite the stinking heat and creature-invested dirt (including some rather deadly spiders and snakes), I loved every minute. I'll never get tired of trees. I love looking at them, being near … Continue reading Every day is tree day
A tree on INPRNT.com and a promo code
I've just finished a rather large pen and ink and watercolour of an antarctic beech; those magnificent Gondwana relics, which I am blessed to live in the same state as. I have a collection of photos of two rather old trees in particular from several different pilgrimages. Unfortunately that still wasn't enough for a faithful … Continue reading A tree on INPRNT.com and a promo code
What tinnitus tastes like
I produce a lot of monochromatic (sometimes two-hued) artwork, such as in the top three recent entries in various sketchbooks. Mostly, I think this is just aesthetic preference, with a side order of apprehension over colour-coordination. I have always had an unusual relationship with colour, mostly because what makes sense to others doesn't necessarily make … Continue reading What tinnitus tastes like
Soup and sketchbooks
It’s a cool and rainy Easter weekend here in south-east Queensland. Perfect days for soup, sketchbooks, reading and getting cosy with canines. Each day I try to add a little more to one of my many sketchbooks. Most of them are themed; they all have purpose, and much of the time my mood dictates which … Continue reading Soup and sketchbooks
Sketch to understand: Ferns and more ferns
I'm only on the second two page spread, but already I'm thinking this might be a multi-volume project. There is so much to learn. Sketching ferns is time-consuming, even for the less complex leaves, but very enjoyable and quickly becoming a favourite side project. From the genus Danaea, Marattiaceae family
Sketch to understand
I’m a huge fan of ferns and sketchbooks in equal measure, but I am often hesitant to draw or paint ferns as they can be quite delicate and complex, not to mention diverse. I recently started a new pen and ink drawing involving ferns, but was finding my lack of confidence was a barrier to … Continue reading Sketch to understand
Stippling in pen and ink
Stippling in pen and ink isn't for everyone. It requires a certain level of observation and focus, and especially time that isn't always available. It can also get a bit boring after awhile. But I love the results, its ability to capture detail and the subtle shifts in form and tone, especially for complex subjects … Continue reading Stippling in pen and ink
Forest time
Most of my time at the moment is consumed with a fairly large mixed media piece I'm working on. I haven't had much time for sketchbooks, so I thought I'd share some progress pics on the piece instead. The first image is the pen and ink sketch which probably took too many more days than … Continue reading Forest time
Moonlit portal
Following is painting I did last weekend on a whim, including the ink rendering and then with watercolour over it. It was a good exercise in not overdoing the ink when I know I'm going to paint. I wanted to create more depth with watercolour rather than have the pen and ink do all the … Continue reading Moonlit portal