Still alive

Having sort of given up on visual art, it has been ages since I posted anything here. But I found myself regaining my old interest in natural history, and thought this blog might serve me as a sort of personal, online field guide to whatever I find in nature.

I still do the odd sketch, but now mostly to aid plant identification.

This is a ballpoint sketch illustrating some features of the Cape honeysuckle, Tecomaria capensis. Often used as garden hedge plant around here.

Some photos:

And two more...

Two more miniatures in post-impressionist style. Both are in oil on canvas board, 10 cm x 10 cm (4 x 4 inch).

This is not altogether whimsical; I took the reference photo of this strange friendship a year or two ago. The calf is not quite as blue in the original as it appears here - it can be rather difficult to get the colours on a digital photo exactly as they appear in the original:

Portrait of Itumeleng:

I have never actually tried to paint (as opposed to draw) a portrait, so the whole thing was done in a somewhat overcautious and tentative manner. Maybe it will go better next time.

Post-impressionist miniatures

Two small paintings in the post-impressionist style. Oil on canvas board, 10 x 10 cm ( 4 x 4 inch).

A plethora of pigeons

I have been trying to use bold, black charcoal outlines to create something of an expressionist style. I have seen extremely detailed, refined work done in charcoal, but I don't think I could ever manage that (not even in pencil!) Hence, for me, charcoal is a medium for fast, playful work.

I like birds, so here I drew one pigeon after the other.

#32: Compound leaf

Compound leaf of a carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua). As I mentioned before, I just love old, well weathered leaves as subjects for drawing!

#31: Glass and plastic figurine

Back to my series of drawings from direct observation. I have become badly rusty, I fear.

Fallen flowers

Found a whole carpet of these colourful flowers under a tree. I have no idea what kind of tree, but they made for a nice subject for a few sketches. Ballpoint pen and coloured pencil on bits of scrap printer paper.