graphite

Pippin

PippinThis ball of fuzz is Pippin, and he’s a burrowing owl which is native to North and South America and as the name suggests, they like to live in burrows. This one was a commission of him as a growing baby and requested in my favourite medium graphite.

You might think that dealing only with one colour is easier, but it can actually be more challenging to balance the tones correctly so that you have both a dramatic picture and realism.

9 x 12 graphite
Rebecca Preece

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Burrowing Owl

Burrowing OwlI decided to experiment with a few blending tools on this one to see if it could speed up my time, as having my neck issues means I can’t sit for long periods. I thought I would try some graphite powder, and oh my gosh that stuff just goes EVERYWHERE! It is so so messy you only have to look at it and boom it’s on everything! The jar is now squirrelled away on the top shelf in disgrace.

I also got a bunch of blending stumps and sponges, and well, let’s just say that my humble cotton bud and 4b pencil will not be retiring any time soon! Sometimes the best method just ends up being the one you are familiar with.

Original and prints available

16×12 graphite on HP paper
M. Platte

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Kestrel

Kestrel on WireI recently had some painful issues with my neck vertebrae, resulting in nerve problems down my arms & hands. Frustratingly it meant that I wasn’t able to draw for some time. After some recuperation and treatment, I am now spending a few short hours getting back into drawing. It’s a slow process, and more treatment may be needed going forward, but for now at least I can be happy in the knowledge that I haven’t completely forgotten how to do this!

Original & prints available

9×12 Graphite on HP Paper
Jon Pauling

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Harlan

I wanted to add a couple of falconry/working dogs to my print store to compliment the birds. I was really taken with this lovely pose, and although there wasn’t a lot of detail in the reference I concentrated on tone and used the grain of the paper to compliment the fur.

Harlan
9 x 12 Graphite
Naomi Hayne

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Dunnock

dunnock

Another wildlife piece recently completed – the Dunnock is often overlooked as a rather humble brownish bird, however, up close their plumage is rather lovely and full of patterns. Drawing in graphite has allowed me to emphasise this more and I am pleased with how this one has turned out.

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Lancelot

Lancelot

Taking a break from a rather complicated colour piece I am working on, to sketch some local wildlife in graphite. I am lucky to have 2 small nature reserves within walking distance of my house so I thought why not use the residents as inspiration!

5×7 graphite on paper.

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FFC – Calendar Project

I’ve been a bit quiet on here due to working on a BIG project that I can now share – I have been creating illustrations for the first-ever Female Falconers Club Calendar.

To celebrate and support women in falconry, these illustrations are of club members and their birds of prey.

The calendar is a complimentary gift for members.

gemma
naomi
amy-n
amy-w
rox
nadine
mhairi
livvy
sarah
babs
pippa
birbs

 

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Falconers Wedding

Wedding invites I was asked to create for a falconer friend. Several sketches and ideas were suggested before finally arriving at a lovely image of a pair of peregrines ‘kissing’ (in reality feeding each other).

The cards were then held together using a leather falconry jess and eyelet (for the non-falconer – these are used on a hawk’s legs), completing the theme as many of their invited friends were also falconers.

The invitations were sent out but sadly due to Covid the wedding has now been postponed, which is a shame as these cards have been one of my favourite designs I have done. A new date card will be issued in due course and I wish the couple well for the future.

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Goshawk

Goshawk now complete. One of the largest head studies I’ve done at 16 x 12inch.

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You Lookin’ at Me?

I’ve been tasked with drawing peregrines for a design-these ones will not feature in the finished work, but are warm-ups and experiments as I figure out how I want it to look. I am rather smitten with the one on the left!

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