Natural Form Drawings

I thought I would share with you a series of drawings that I have been working on in my sketchbook. I am an strong believer in the use of the sketchbook for all artists, illustrators, amateur and professional, any age etc. My sketchbook is a forgiving and unquestioning place that I can go to to write, draw or mark out my thoughts and ideas. I use my book to plan out my paintings, thinking about the choice of colour, composition, texture and how to use the space of the canvas. In this series of drawings I have been looking at cell forms found in the natural world. Using bold complementary and contrasting colours I have been enjoying experimenting with the use of positive and negative space, whilst addressing personal issues relating to illnesses within my family.

The drawings are work in progress and still under working titles.

The drawing is sketched out using white crayon first to give me a working guide

I have always worked quite methodically, moving from one colour to another gradually building up the image

Here are the six finished sketches, I am not to sure about the zoom picture - this probably will not be transferred to canvas. For me it doesn't quite work or have the impact of the other pieces. Every time I pick up a paint brush or pencil I learn something, whether it is about how to apply the medium, create shading, a new texture etc. Even if the work is not a success I think it is always good to look at what you have learnt from this and apply this to the next piece of work.

Murex - the complexities of motherhood 2012

Orchideae - beauty 2012

Cytherea - when love takes over 2012

Zoom untitled 2012

Diatomea II - The four of us 2012

Diatomea untitled 2012

Froth and Spoon

After such an inspirational week, I had an urge when I got in from work this evening to create a new drawing. All week I have been working with children getting them to concentrate on their mark making and explore the mediums they have been given to their full potential. I thought "Why am I not doing this in my practice". I am desperate to get my acrylics out and start creating some colour theory canvases, but feel I have not quite finished with oil pastels. As I have mentioned before I love the quality of the mark, the subtle blending and the strong colours in oil pastels. But how far can I push this medium?

A few weeks ago I visited an English Heritage building with my husband. The first thing we do when we arrive is grab a coffee and cake (my God doesn't that make us sound old!). On this visit once I had stirred my coffee I was intrigued by the marks left on the spoon and took a photo - commenting that I would attack this as a painting in the near future. Well today was the day. Normally I layer a maximum of two colours when using oils as often it can lead to a smudgy nasty colour if you use more, I can be quite heavy handed with my medium as I like to feel the marks being made - for this piece I used my normal technique for the plate, the table and parts of the spoon but for the froth and highlights; in some areas I have `gently` layered up to four colour. I have found that this have allowed me to create great depth and contrast and well as interesting textures. Maybe the acrylics will have to wait a while.

I see this picture as almost a self portrait of my husband and myself - I will leave it up to you to decide who the spoon is and who the froth is!

Froth and Spoon

A close up showing the different colours used