Week 35 Botany*

Week 35 Botany

3 images

I started this week late because I was totally in awe of the beautiful and technically amazing artwork which was popping up in the #illo52weeks challenge feed.

So I started with something simple, in order to build up to what I wanted to paint, which was one of my photos of nigella from my garden. My watercolours were calling, so I did a third piece - a quick sketch of Lapsana Communis.

Here is my marigold, from a photo I took against a black bin - a very handy prop as it turns out. This took about 20 minutes in all - literally to break the artist's equivalent of stage fright.

It was received very well by the illustration group members and was chosen as one of the picks!

Nigella

This is also from a photo in my garden, taken after the rain. This didn't work out quite how I expected - a tad darked and more spontaneous than I intended. I will have to work on taking my time with details!

When my water colours were calling I thought it was time to use a more traditional 'botany' composition. So, here it is in all its simplicity.

Week 21 Stripes**

Two images

This week started off with a 'does what it says on the tin' illustration. I needed something bright and colourful after last week's sombre theme.
Simply stripes of watercolour on watercolour paper. The paper is white, but I had trouble brightening the white without losing the colour of the paint.
I haven't given it a title, but I was thinking about the sun rising behind trees in a wood.

The second offering is taken from a photo I took a couple of years ago at Whipsnade Zoo of a group of lemurs. I love how their very stripy tails are fanned out. I always intended to paint the photo at some point but at least this sketch is step in the right direction.
Pencil and fine liner on plain, copier paper.

I have also noticed a great white, untouched patch on the foremost lemur, oops!

I can hardly believe it, both my illustrations were picked this week! 

Feeling a little emotional tbh.

Week 20 Melancholy*

Two images

Brace yourselves - it's very sad looking week!

I always intended to do a portrait for this challenge.  I didn't think it would be a self portrait, but as luck would have it I had a little bit of bad news this week and it was enough to enable me to pose for a selfie and then paint it. 

For my first picture this week I started with one of my little round doodle people hiding under a table with a teddy. I used oil pastels -  I have no idea how most people use these, but I am learning they don't layer well and certainly don't cope with lighter colours on top of darker ones.

Oh yes - this week I mostly had trouble with noses.

Up date: my self portrait was chosen to be in this weeks picks. My heart skipped a beat when I saw it was included. See the whole list:
Melancholy Picks on 52 week illustration blog

Week 16 Structure

Two images

Chemical structures re-conceived as constellations - digital - pixlr

 A ruined abbey - acrylic sketch 

Week 15 Vietnam*

Two images

When I was thinking about what to do for this theme I heard references to 'Good Morning Vietnam' on the radio, so I researched some war images. I wanted to include the peace protests and anti war feeling going on in America at the time too.
This is a sort of mash up of three photos, with a pink pop of peace flowers in the guns.
I know the execution is not amazing - I spent longer thinking about it than actually doing it!
Pencil on copier paper and digital flowers added in pixlr.

So excited again to have been included in this week's picks!
Vietnam picks of the week on the 52 Week Illustration blog


There were so many beautiful images of Vietnam as it is now, so I thought I would redress the balance with this aerial view of picturesque islands.
Watercolour.