Group display

The class had a large display of all their animal work today from the entire unit, and after taking a look at the work laid out in detail, I have to say I am genuinely impressed, and surprised by the amount of finely detailed work produced.

Items included such things as sketchbooks from the animal unit, as well as a few of the final illustrations. All using a wide range of techniques.

From this group display of artwork, I have taken a few lessons from it for personal, professional and academic gain. For example mainly in areas such as time management, anatomy, detail and also practising quality over quantity of work. These are all areas that I wish for myself to gain improvement upon.


Thomas.

Dawn Holiday

http://www.dawnholliday.com/illustrations/4574142564

Dawn Holiday was born in 1986, and was the eldest sibling in her family. She states that her family are highly creative, in terms of art, and writing. She studied GCSE art, as well as A level art, as well as other educational achievements. She left the institute where she gained her A level, and enrolled onto an illustration course at the UCA. Another important part of her education, was that she pursued a career in animal care, which most likely really helped her to learn about animal anatomy, and proportions. 

She also creates animal fantasy artwork, which could tie in with the work I have been doing with fictional animal hybrids. She creates a lot of 'unicorn' artwork

Thomas.

http://www.dawnholliday.com/#/illustrations/4574142564 < image reference at this link.

Thomas.

Pip McGarry

Pip McGarry is an amazing wildlife artist, who creates ultra realistic animal artwork. His work is very well created, and you can tell he is highly talented, through his fine style. I have added a link to his great gallery, for all to view.

Pip McGarry is recognised as one of the world's leading wildlife artists. He has an international reputation for his oil paintings of such animals as big cats, and African game.

http://www.pipmcgarry.com/Galleries_African.html < image reference at this link.

He first became known, in 2004 as he was part of a very popular seven part series called 'A Brush With the Wild' on a television channel called 'Meridian Television'. This programme was filmed in Kenya, and at Marwell Wildlife, which is in Hampshire. On the programme, he taught several 'celebrities' how to paint wildlife images.

Pip McGarry is the chairman of the largest wildlife art society in Europe, and he has been an 'artist in residence' at Marwell Zoological Park, and he has been for over 12 years.

(Image referenced at this link > http://www.pipmcgarry.com/biography.html) it is also a direct link to his biography.

http://www.pipmcgarry.com/galleries.html <gallery


Thomas.

Strange Animal Hybrids Research

The task on the brief, is for me to create 4 illustrations of made up animals.

I have started work on the first of my A3 illustrations, and I have also decided which animals I would like to use, for each one of my different illustrations. In this blog post, I will take reference from actual photos of the animals I wish to use, and use this as a study point, for creating my final pieces. I will include 2 images from each animal, totalling 21 different photos.

Final #1) Eel, Fish, Hedgehog hybrid

Eel Photos:

#1

#2

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Fish Photos:

#3

#4

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Hedgehog Photos:

#5

#6

Final #2) Fox, Dolphin

Fox Photos:

#7

#8

#9

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Final #3) Lemur, Bird, Beaver

Lemur:

#10

#11

Bird Photos:

#12

#13

Beaver Photos:

#14

#15

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Final #4) Wolf, Gecko, Snake


Wolf Photos:

#16

#17

Gecko Photos:

#18

#19

Snake Photos:

#20

#21

For my first animal hybrid, I came up with the idea of creating a combination of a hedgehog, and an eel. (the head of the hedgehog, and the body and tail of an eel, with a mixture in between).

This lead to the name of the animal, becoming "Hogeel" I found the name to be interesting personally.

I will post a new blog, containing the finished illustration soon, in this blog.

Thomas.



Here are the references of all the images that I have used in this blog, as part of my research.

#1 < http://www.farnhamanglingsociety.com/assets/images-species/eel_anguilla_anguilla.gif
#2 < http://www.earthtimes.org/newsimage/Protanguilla_palau_1_7212.jpg
#3 < http://bettainfo.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/betta_dragon_scale-scaled1000.jpg
#4 < http://www.normalaquatics.com/images/clown5.jpg
#5 < http://www.hellohedgehog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Hedgehog-3.jpg
#6 < http://img.wallpaperstock.net:81/little-hedgehog-wallpapers_8118_1920x1200.jpg
#7 < http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/fox_hunt_logo.jpg
#8 < http://m7.i.pbase.com/o4/96/969596/1/130368007.O4LeHz35.5123p10131_ondAWD.jpg
#9 < http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/naturelibrary/images/ic/credit/640x395/a/at/atlantic_spotted_dolphin/atlantic_spotted_dolphin_1.jpg
#10 < http://www.cryptomundo.com/wp-content/uploads/ring-tailed-lemur.jpg
#11 < http://www.cryptomundo.com/wp-content/uploads/image1.jpeg
#12 < http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/shootzpics/shootzpics0903/shootzpics090300037/4422924-black-bird-beak-open.jpg
#13 < http://www.wallsfeed.org/wallpapers/2012/10/Dove-Bird-beak-Feathers-2048x2048.jpg
#14 < http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/naturelibrary/images/ic/credit/640x395/n/no/north_american_beaver/north_american_beaver_1.jpg
#15 < http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02533/beaver-2_2533418b.jpg
#16 < http://howlingforjustice.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/wolf-gray-color-beautiful-kewl1.jpg
#17 < http://www.dkimages.com/discover/Projects/KE813/previews/70003192.JPG
#18 < http://www.seapets.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/leopard-gecko.jpg
#19 < http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs42/i/2009/113/8/1/Leopard_Gecko_Tongue_by_mack1time.jpg
#20 < https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpllzGn5I91Dg1tZXApnO-ARklMDSj17-Co1H3jExae-fo_Y3i12x-XRLhto18eWyS7USm7GyTwOBhF-UYduuzRMrjhOmvOnXFfGW5sG9cvGlQeruyxjwodh0dswfIuT3ulZ_JIGPP5sQ/s1600/020712+snake+tongue.jpg
#21 < http://media.web.britannica.com/eb-media/32/96232-050-C94A2383.jpg

Helpful bird tutorial

Watched this video about painting birds in watercolour, by a talented artist. Recommend a view, it's really informative...

https://plus.google.com/104843786426592624368/posts/LB7JVWXDaSJ


Thomas.

Printing

Today, I had a go of several different printing techniques, in the specialist print room. Had to say, it was really fun, I did a few monoprint, and etching techniques, onto a range of different materials.

I decided to wait until my pieces finished drying before I took a photo, but I did take one during production.

I will attatch the photo here, very soon

Thomas.

A3 Finals Ideas, and progress

This task on the brief, is for me to create 4 illustrations of made up animals.
I am starting work on the first of my A3 illustrations, and I have decided which animals I would like to use, for each one of my different illustrations.

Final #1) Eel, Fish, Hedgehog hybrid

Final #2) Fox, Dolphin

Final #3) Lemur, Bird, Beaver

Final #4) Wolf, Gecko, Snake

I am currently working on my first illustration, which is still in progress of course

I feel this illustration is coming along well, and I cannot wait to see what the final image will look like. Right now it looks very bare, but I will be adding dar more colour, and also some more detail, in order to make the piece appear more lifelike, and natural.

For this particular piece, I am taking some inspiration from Keith Brockie, by using watercolour paint, to give that very distinct watercolour visual look.

Thomas.

Zel Stoltzfus

Zel Stoltzfus, is an animal illustrator who creates very detailed, and fine pieces. Yet another great illustrator that I have came across.

http://www.freelanced.com/freelancers/portfolio/slides.aspx?freelancerid=35174&sampleid=100746 < image reference at this link.

Zel Stoltzfus's style of creating work, has inspired me to create more detailed illustrations of animals for my unit. In book 5 of my animal sketchbook collection, you can see this, as the majority of illustrations inside are different to my other 4 books. 

An example of how Zel's work inspired me to produce more detailed work, especially in my animal sketchbook number #5.

Book 5 contains more detailed pieces, toward the front of the book. My work isn't up to the same level as Zel Stoltzfus, however I have really tried to push my skills to the maximum, I am not happy that I cannot match the skill Zel holds, however I am really happy I did try my hardest.
He states on his bio, that he loves to sketch, and he loves to add detail to his illustrations. From an early age he has been drawing, and he is happy that he is doing is still, in his adult years. He spent sometime working as an illustrator at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

I don't think I will be taking a realistic approach toward my final images, in the way that Zel Stoltzfus does, therefore I probably wont take any influence from this particular artist.

http://www.freelanced.com/zelstoltzfus


Thomas.

Mark Dando

Mark Dando is a very talented animal illustrator. He lives in Cornwall, and interestingly has an honours degree in zoology, that he received at Nottingham university. His scientific background, coupled with art, secures his pinpoint anatomical skills, when it comes to sketching various animal body parts. 

http://wildlifeillustrator.com/about.htm < image reference at this link.

http://wildlifeillustrator.com/Images/Frontpage.jpg < image reference at this link.
This image features one of mark Dando's illustrations.

After this education, he moved onto a career in graphic design, and after success in the industry, an opportunity, he took up an opportunity to work on natural history projects, in design and wildlife illustration.

His style is realistic, but he has an eye for overall graphical composition, and his inspiration is always from artistic nature.

http://wildlifeillustrator.com < Reference from this site.



Thomas.