Deciding which animal to concentrate on has not been easy, not having easy access t0 any pets.I have taken the opportunity whenever I can, such as this horse I found myself next to when parked up in the van.
It was tethered so couldn’t go anywhere but it never stopped moving long enough to do a decent study. I tried to concentrate on smaller areas such as the head and caught a variety of poses, none really completed before it moved onto another bit of grass. I could see this was going to be really difficult. As I said earlier I’ve always known this project was to be tackled so during my visits to the Newcastle galleries I have kept an eye open for how local artists approach drawing animals.
At the North East Art Collective http://www.northeastartcollective.co.uk/?p=683
I noticed a local artist specialising in animals in Northumberland. Known as Stanger. he/she states “I paint the birds and animals of my native Northumberland(and other places too)” The artist goes on to say “In my paintings I try to reveal the personality of my subjects. I like the idea that every creature has a distinct character with individual behaviours and qualities” Here is one of the paintings:
A good painting in my opinion, not finely detailed but really capturing the movement and inquisitiveness of the cow.
This Hare by Paul Robinson at The Biscuit Factory caught my eye. In reality I suspect this would have scarpered long before he got this close. It seems to have just realised he’s there and is poised just at the instant it is about to shoot off into a hedge. I wonder how he managed to capture this? His website doesn’t give much information but he must work from photographs for his portrait commissions of pets. http://www.paulrobinsonanimalart.co.uk
His information card at the gallery is informative. He works in charcoal sticks with a very gestural approach. He enjoys the spontaneity and sensitivity of it. Making a virtue out of accidental and awkward marks. He is constantly learning more about animals as subjects and tries to create some sort of emotive quality in the subject as he believes we, as humans, share many physical and emotional traits with them.
Since carrying my sketchbook on my Lake District walks I have been attempting, with little success, to sketch the animals,
These cows lying and grazing at the start of a walk. However, no matter where you go, from the low lying farms to the high fells, you always see sheep. Apart from the very highest fells they can be found everywhere. So with this in mind I decided the famous Herdwick sheep of Lakeland would be my grabbing the chance animal of choice.
They are quite nervous and will scarper if you startle them but they will stand for ages and study you if you stay at a distance. This gives an opportunity to sketch them.
I can also work from photographs I have taken from a closer range.
A work in progress. Will update when completed
Bonesymac Art 