Southbank in Brisbane

Last year I spent some time in Southbank parklands in Brisbane and took a collection of photos for future reference. This is one of the many fountains in the parklands.

I have always loved this photo so I decided to be very brave and try to draw it. Here is the result:

I am not sure that it is finished. I find that taking a photo with the digital camera and looking at it that way helps me decide if the drawing is finished. Having done that I can spot one part that I will change.

I have used pastel pencils on blue Canson Mi-Tientes paper.

I would welcome any comments please.

EDM Challenge 44

Happy Easter everyone!

It is nice to have a little time on my hands and to be able to draw. Last night I drew a kookaburra that I was lucky enough to photograph in Noosa Woods several years ago. I couldn't believe that he would stay still for me to take the camera out and then click. I love the blue in their feathers but am not certain that I captured that in this drawing. It is drawn with pastel pencils.

I guess that this satisfies this week's challenge as well since I tried to use the coloured pencils and generally I stay within my comfort zone and use pencil to draw.

Stave Church, Norway

I've made another attempt at drawing, having recovered from meeting my last deadline. Got out some photos of when I visited my friends in Norway in 2003. Here is my interpretation of a lovely Stave Church in West Norway. These Churches are so beautiful with exceptional craftmanship in their building and a sense of mystery about them. The outside in interesting and the interior is fascinating.
This drawing has been done in 4B and 6B pencil.

Swamplands Dreaming

I've been very quiet lately but this is because I have been very busy working and now my latest piece is finished. Of all the art works I have ever made this has been the most valuable - measured in what I have learnt. I have taken risks, experimented with different mediums, tried different techniques and really pushed limits and consequently I have reached a place I have never been before.

I have a new appreciation of brushwork, glazes, the difference between opaque, semi-transparent and transparent colours. There is so much now that I am no longer afraid of!

Attitude is everything. I have treated this piece as an experimental piece. Therefore, I could try anything and I had nothing to lose. When I wasn't happy with parts of it, I painted over them and started again. The result is that I have created better work than I have ever created before. Nothing happened that I could not fix, change, improve or alter.

But... it is exhausting. I am so tired and it has taken so much out of me. And it feels just great!

Below is the finished painting.

And here are some close up views: