Once again, the set of photos I snapped last fall captured my attention, and I drew this larger sunflower and sparrow piece. After weeks of using mineral paper and Claybord, it’s a pleasure to once again use ink on paper. I especially enjoyed the line work on the leaves.
I may want to do a little more on this small metalpoint drawing, but this was a good time to take a break. Drawing a a rigid surface was great, and I’ll definitely do this again. I was surprised at the value range.
It’s ironic that with graphite, artists want to avoid a sheen but with metalpoint, it’s considered to be kind of delightful.
Another 6”x6” Claybord using ink, this time a little more stylized.
I truly love winter, but during this cold snap, I suddenly remembered robins and crab apple blossoms and planting a garden and hanging clothes outside to dry. The next thing I knew, I was drawing this robin.
This may be the only time I’ve used this paper with any success. It’s a bamboo paper that seems to absorb water well and the colors are nice and bright, but the surface is soft so that I’ve never appreciated the rather dreamy effect until now.
Ironically, I based this painting off a photo I took a few years ago in November. I remember thinking I was seeing the last of the robins until spring. I used another photo of this same robin in another drawing, one of my favorites, I think.