‘tyger tyger’
It’s all in the eyes and making this Tiger pop from the page was about 50hrs of delightful time spent drawing. The title references the poem by William Blake - Tyger Tyger Burning Bright:
“Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry”
Graphite 370mm x 450mm Arches Aquarelle 300gsm Hard Pressed
Original Photo by Shannon Wild
‘Silent Roar’
The lion has an air of power and confidence as he surveys his territory. Lions are one of Africa’s apex land predators and have forever been a symbol of strength, power and ferocity; but he looks calm and focused.
Layers and layers of fine, hard graphite ranging from 8h-2h building depth and texture; with more obvious darker tones though the mane, nose and eye focusing on the horizon.
Graphite on A1 Arches Aquarelle 300gsm Hard Pressed
Original Photo by Shannon Wild
‘komodo dragon’
Indigenous to the island Komodo in Indonesia these amazing dragons kill their prey by using venomous saliva that contains anticoagulants which make their prey bleed out and is tracked by the Komodo’s highly evolved sense of smell.
I genuinely under estimated this drawing at the outset. Usually my drawings contain enough areas that can be shaded/worked on in layers, but here each scale is around 0.5cm and had to be shaded individual, brushed, blending stump used, putty rubber to bring out highlight and repeat the process. I will think twice about approaching scaled animals again for sure.
Graphite A1 on Arches Aquarelle 300gsm Hard Pressed
Original Photo by Shannon Wild
‘hair & horns’
The highland cow, originating from Scotland and easily recognisable from its long horns and shaggy long coat.
Reducing the image to a headshot, reducing noise and making it have symmetry. The layering in this drawing tested my patience, but it always good to have a true test, stick with it and see it to a finish.
Graphite A1 on Arches Aquarelle 300gsm Hard Pressed
Original Photo by Chris MacGregor
‘Majestic’
Siberian Tiger - or Amur tiger are native to Northeast China, Russians Far East and possibly North Korea. Widely recognised as being the largest tiger it hunts wild boar and deer, but have been known to be able to bring down bears. This tiger is part of the conservation work done by the Aspinall Foundation at Port Lympne.
Graphite A1 on Arches Aquarelle 300gsm Hard Pressed
Original Photo by Ben Stevenson
‘Beyond the wire’
Over 10 years later this fence post and wire remains in a section of woodland I frequently pass and the falling beech tree behind it too. It frames a view into a dense pine forest and is such a peaceful area of woodland not often seen, by anyone (until now).
Graphite A3 on Arches Aquarelle 300gsm Hard Pressed
Original Photo by Ben Stevenson
‘Mad as a hatter’
Hare - known for its speed, agility and prolific fertility. To be ‘mad as a march hare’ references the March being the start of their breading season and the animals behaviour, excitable and unpredictable. The term ‘mad as a hatter’ is an English idiom stemming from the 18th Century when hat makers used mercury to process animal fur for felt and its this exposure to chemical element that caused people to display signs of being mad.
Is this Hare mad, or does he just know something we don’t!?
Graphite 400 x 500mm on Arches Aquarelle 300gsm Hard Pressed
Original Photo by Peter Denness
‘concrete lines’
Mark Gonzales aka ‘Gonz’ / ‘The Godfather’ and for obvious reason as a pioneer in of modern street skateboarding and credited with the first know boardslides on handrails. However, its true that this photograph taken by J Grant Brittain is what also caught my eye - his images documenting skateboarding for over 30 years is outstanding.
Graphite A1 on Arches Aquarelle 300gsm Hard Pressed
Original Photo by J Grant Brittain
‘chucks & chapters’
Converse, timeless in style and versatility, a classic and certainly one of the most detailed pieces of artwork I have ever produced. This pair are the leather upper finish and for more images of the detail that went into this piece see ‘Details’
‘above the lines’
This drawing truly represents what my artwork is all about, the simple yet detailed way that movement is capture in a still image. Lights interaction with the subject in all its detail and a nod to the subject, in this case skateboarding, fashion of that time and photography as a whole.
Graphite A3 on Arches Aquarelle 300gsm Hard Pressed
Original Photo by David Marcos