Latest work in progress

After having decide to start producing art at the age of 40 I did a few pieces on and off. When I was 43 I did a few drawings but then other things in my life got in the way. After a seventeen month gap I am now free to embark on a proper try at evolving my art work and giving it a real chance to improve. I decided to slow my whole approach, take more time and have some patience and improve on past work. On my first drawing of Kate Middleton (See previous video entry) I think I achieved that. My second effort showed even more improvement and was a drawing of Morgan Freeman. This is my third portrait drawing. I did some play around stuff in-between (a Planet of the Apes sketch) and on the back of the Morgan Freeman drawing I have received three commissions, which I will be starting on soon, as I am just waiting to receive my new glasses. Anyway, here are the first three stages of my new drawing.

Morgan Freeman Pencil Drawing

Kate Middleton Pencil Portrait Drawing

I thought it was about time I put some of my drawings up. The last one I worked on was the Michael Fasbender one below. It isn't quite finished yet as I have been working with inks lately and of course started up with the clay modelling. Below that one are some of my older drawings dating back three years or more. Then finally a couple of my ink works including a quick sketch of Jack Wilshere from my beloved +Arsenal

Hee Hee. Ten minute jobbie for a doss to get the feel of the clay. I think he's cute and I shall call him Sebastian :0)

My new pasta maker or as I like to call it 'clay roller' came today. What a bargain. Got it for 10 euros on Marktplaats and I reckon it would cost over 60 and probably near a hundred in the shops. The best thing for me is the fact that I have seen a few people mention it is best to get one with 1 to 3 settings for different thickness and this one has 9, so well chuffed. It can also do thin strips with two different widths as well as the sheets. So chuffed. Happy days!

OK, so I didn't get my stuff for my clay modelling this week....I couldn't wait, so I got it at the weekend! I went to Harolds as I said I would in Rotterdam on Saturday and I got myself a few things. I purchased some Fima clay for the smaller projects that I'll be starting with. I am as yet undecided as to what clay to get for my bigger projects. I aim to make small ornaments and trinkets and maybe some jewellery for use with my girlfriend, Lara's jewellery making efforts. Eventually I want to make figures from TV, film and comics. Below are some pictures of each quarter of my work surface with the pliers and tools on and another which holds my rotating model stand and the final long double desk, which holds my drawing board and my laptop. I got all the basic tools and already have a good back-up of paints and brushes to paint my models with; and of course my airbrush, which may yet prove invaluable.


    

 Above is a quarter of my workspace and the space I will be using to cut stuff and build armatures and the  like.


    



 Next to it is the other half of the desk, where I will be building the models. Look at my lovely new rotating model stand. Will come in handy to rotate my work and save me handling it too much. I will be working the clay on glass which will hopefully stop it losing any oil and avoid it crumbling or becoming too dry.


 


Some of the tools I purchased. Smoothing tools, wooden and metal. Hole making devices and of course the clay itself.

Below are some more tools, some tweezers and some armature wire both aluminium and a stronger steel. Plus some copper wire for wrapping around the armature to attach parts and bulk others.

 I will use the pliers to cut and shape the armature wire. Below are some varnishes and oils for paint mixing and glazing the models once baked and painted.

More smoothing and shaping tools and some useful wire.

Plenty of brushes in my collection.

Chalks and pastels will come in useful for colouring cheeks as will the actual blusher I have from Lara.

My airbrush.

Copic markers and ink pens  for my ink work.

Various pencils and mechanical pencils and rubbers.

More pencils and lead!

Charcoal, glue, erasers and shaped rulers.

More Copic markers.

Airbrush paints and oil paints.

Acrylics.

Glues and cotton pads.

My pasta maker, for rolling clay, arrives tomorrow. Exciting stuff!