I've been sketching animals and nature on location since 1989, usually in pen and ink. I saw this takhi/Przewalski's horse at Hustai National Park in Mongolia. Takhi are the only surviving species of genetically wild horse and Mongolia is the only place in the world when they can be seen running free in their native habitat.
I did this drawing from a photo for the 2018 Inktober event using a Pilot EF fountain pen and a Prismacolor white pencil in a Strathmore Toned Tan sketchbook.
I photographed this baby elephant at the San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park some years ago. He had to walk close to twice as fast to stay with his mother. Created for Inktober 2018. Drawn with a *takes a deep breath* P. Soennecken Bremerburseneeder EF nib, Perle Noire ink on Strathmore 300 vellum bristol (my current go to pen and ink paper).
During a trip to England in 2015 I got to spend over an hour working my way around Stonehenge doing sketches of it from various angles. A crow landed on one of the big sarsen stones long enough to add it to my sketch. It can seem smaller than one imagines at first, but its presence grows on you as you make the circuit. Sadly, a rope barrier had to be put around it years ago due to soil compaction, so it's not possible to walk out among them. But it's an amazing sight in any case. I used a Sakura Micron 0.1 pen in a Pentalic Nature Sketch sketchbook.
This is how I've been "doodlng" recently....doing direct (no pencil underdrawing) ink sketches of animals and other subjects to try out various dip pen nibs that I've been accumulating. All are from my own reference photos. Dip pen nibs and Platinum Carbon ink on 9x12" Strathmore 300 vellum bristol
I do quick sketches during my travels in just pen and ink, but when I have more time I'll also add color with water soluble pencils and sometimes watercolors. These three are from last year's Mongolia trip. Ulaanbaatar, the capital, is pretty crazy, but I've grown to like it in 3-4 day doses. I actually rented an apartment last year, so got a feel for what's its like to live in the city rather than just stay in a guesthouse or hotel. What I really love is camping or staying in gers (what we learned to call a yurt, which is a Russian word; "ger" is the Mongolian word and simply means "home") in the countryside. l spend most of my time in the countryside the farther out the better.
These two storks were part of a larger flock I saw during an art workshop/safari in Kenya in 2004. Pilot EF fountain pen on Strathmore 300 vellum bristol. Originally done for Inktober 2018.
I started work today to do small drawings using various dip pen nibs, also adding lettering (I've worked as a sign painter, calligrapher and hand-lettering artist in the past). I used my own photo reference and did them quickly without fussing. I did the turkey vulture with a Gillott 291 Mapping Pen nib and the river otter with a Gillott Artist 1950 nib. In both cases the paper is Strathmore 300 vellum bristol, about 4x6".
I miss grapefruit. Doesn't it just figure? The only medicine I take and it has to have that limitation. It could be worse. Stop whining Jim. At least you made it to the World Series of doodling. Well...in my mind anyway.
Rad experience joining a local drawing group for the first time yesterday although I didn't realise how inconvenient my backpack was going to be, it made me slow to set up / pack up and a few of us had to organise a locker at the gallery as we didn't know backpacks weren't allowed so I spent most of today sewing a bag/sketchbook cover which fits an A4 sketchbook, pencils, id and phone and also has some backing in it so I can easily sketch on my lap without dropping my stuff all over the place. I'm going to do a bit more work on my weird comic book page tonight but in the mean time this is my sea serpent digitally coloured, he lives at Apollo Bay and likes to sleep camouflaged amongst the lifesaver rings.
I have neglected posting for too long! "Abstract Forest" will be uploaded to all my sites over the next day or so, so keep checking back for clothing, pillows, and more with the new print!!! The original drawing is going to be for sale at a local art show (if my application passes). Find all my art product sites here: https://linktr.ee/okhismakingart
