The Artichoke

The Artichoke is my favorite of the pubs where my parents live. This 15th century Inn has three working fireplaces and even an old well that is
inside the building but the best part is, no television, how is that for progress?

My Sister's House

I brief stroll from my parents house is my sister's house, a really inviting  little cottage halfway between The George and the Artichoke.

Cross Keys Lodge

After 5 drawing of my mum, here is the house where my parents live. Cross Keys Lodge in Chartham, and to keep the pub theme going the house used to be a pub called The Cross Keys, I would love to have known it back then too, I'm pretty sure the room I sleep in was where the pool table was.

My Mum

The nicest drawing but not the best likeness. This is the last one in the series.

My Mum

All these drawings look so different but they all work for me on some level.

My Mum

I felt like I was getting somewhere with this one.

My Mum

Number 2, quite different but it worked on some level.

My Mum

I got to sit and draw my mum over the holidays, 5 drawings in all, this is number 1

Compass

I brought this compass at a flea market with the single intention of drawing it. I love the challenge of this kind of thing.

The City Arms Inn is another of my favorite Canterbury bars. It's in a 15th century building and the pub has been around for over 300 years. The two lads outside asked me to put them in the drawing, James and Terry Gallacher, all the way from bonnie Scotland.

Cricketers

This is my favorite pub in Canterbury, The Cricketers, I don't like cricket, boring game played by people who weren't good at football, but the pub is wonderful and those lucky enough to get to Canterbury should pop in for a pint.

The George

This is The George in Chartham, Kent in England, walking distance from where my parents live and well worth the walk.

The View for the Malt Shovel

The Malt Shovel is a great old bar in Edinburgh, I was sat out side with a pint when I drew this view facing up Cockburn street, I think that's right anyway.

The Black Bull

Happy New Year everyone. Yes, I've been gone for a while but I've been drawing none the less. I'm going to attempt daily posting again, I've got a small back log of drawings that I did whilst back home in the UK. here is number one, the black Bull in Mid Calder, Scotland, it's walking distance from the house where my wife grew up.

7B New York City.

This is 7B one of my favorite bars in New York, this painting is available on a mug and calendar at a Zazzle store. Ive been working on these bar paintings for years now and it feels good to be able to offer them is a tangible form, pleas take a look.http://www.zazzle.com/new_yorks_finest_bars_calendar-158343283661998629

Demo

I finally finished my homework.

Nancy Whiskey Pub

I finally finished another bar exterior, I think I started this one about a year ago. I have to get more organized. This image amongst many others are available on mugs and greetings cards at a Zazzle store I just opened. Check it out here. http://www.zazzle.com/barart

Bike Demo

This is another painting demo for another class. The point here is to get a very fast result by putting down the major darks and midtones in transparent washes and then painting the light tomes back on top with opaque paint. I used to do loads of paintings like this back in the days of my technical illustration career.

Demo

Here are three more stages. I'm building the lights and darks, pushing the values to lead the eye. Not finished but at this last stage all the major decisions have been made, now I can work on then final details that should bring it to life.

Demo

Didn't get too much more time on this but moving ever forward.

Eyes 3

it's a bit spot the difference but I'm calling it done, it's at the Society as I type.

Demo

I've added a couple of elements here, the horses and the gull, beyond that It hasn't changed too much but I should have some time to work on it over the weekend.

Eyes Part 2

I had another look, so did she.

Demo

Here are a couple of stages of a painting demonstration in doing for one of my classes at FIT. I'm working in gouache and building the values in washes, working up the whole image at the same time. I have reference for each element of the painting and as I get closer to finishing I'll start to ad additional elements to support to story telling.

Eye

This is an odd little painting done the size of a trading card for the Society of Illustrators members open. Not quite sure what all this is about.

Nancy Whiskey

This is a painting I finished yesterday. Back to the drawing board for now.

White Horse Tavern

I never did post the finish of this one

Sons of my Father

This is the finished book cover, I enjoyed putting this one together.