Portfolio - Pencil

Pencil drawings

For the Love of Drawing

A series of mini projects in pencil.

Burlesque at its best

Burlesque at its best
Burlesque at its best
Burlesque at its best
Burlesque at its best
Burlesque at its best
Burlesque at its best

Artist’s Commentary

I love the simple beauty and intimacy of a pencil drawing; the grainy texture, soft and sharp, and with a light sheen, all within one medium. And drawing from life is the best.

The artist cannot hide behind bright colours, layers of paint or printmaking techniques.

What she draws and then how she draws it, but also equally significant what she doesn’t draw, and how she does that; the artist is fully exposed.

For the love of drawing

For the love of drawing
For the love of drawing
For the love of drawing
For the love of drawing

Artist’s Commentary

Proportion is key to figurative drawing. To an extent it doesn’t matter what mark you make as long as it is in the right place.

Though every mark has to be fully considered from beginning to end. It may start sharp and thin and might end soft and broad – all within one stroke. So within one mark the pressure of the pencil on the paper changes but also its angle. Quality marks that are varied and unique.

The long limbs of classical dancers turned rogue

The long limbs of classical dancers turned rogue
The long limbs of classical dancers turned rogue
The long limbs of classical dancers turned rogue
The long limbs of classical dancers turned rogue
The long limbs of classical dancers turned rogue
The long limbs of classical dancers turned rogue

Artist’s Commentary

Leonardo Da Vinci on figurative drawing – “the good painter has to paint two principal things, that is to say, man and the intention of his mind. The first is easy, and the second difficult because that latter has to be represented through gestures and movements of the limbs. That figure is most praiseworthy which best expresses through its actions the passion of its mind. The movement which is depicted must be appropriate to the mental state of the figure.”

When you are a man

When you are a man
When you are a man
When you are a man
When you are a man

Artist’s Commentary

In drawing from life I aim to capture the essence of the moment. This succeeds when the right mark is made in the right place, it is even better when that mark is unique, has found a new way of describing.

I love the simplicity and intimacy of pencil drawings, the grainy texture, soft and sharp, with a light sheen, all within one medium. You can find the artist’s response to the environment, what details are picked up, how they are described and equally significant what is omitted. The artist is fully exposed.

Paddy joins in

Paddy joins in
Paddy joins in
On the Runway
Makin' Bread

Artist’s Commentary

How to create depth and movement on a two-dimensional surface through geometrical shapes? How to find flow? How to describe something uniquely but also with the minimum number of marks? How to keep the eye interested?