Another study in the books, calling this one done. Really enjoyed taking a little breather from projects to try and stay sharp with a little bit of practice.

Before I started this I had originally intended to start in pencil, and then build it up with pen and finally washes of diluted ink but there really is no need.

A good friend of mine and a fellow artist recently told me the Latin phrase "Ars Longa, Vita Brevis" I think it was originally attributed to Socrates, but basically roughly translates to "The art is long or skilfulness takes time but life is short".

So really there is no need to endlessly try and perfect something, I already learnt everything I could from this and made some mistakes (I completely failed to capture the subtle tilt and inclination of the head in the original and the face leaves a lot to be desired for, plus the proportions are off). But that is totally fine, mistakes are part of learning process and should be embraced. If I spent more time trying to make this look better it would only be for self flattery. Time to move on to the next one.

The sculpture is of course St George, attributed to Miccolo Baroncelli and Domenico Di Paris. I saw it in person at the V&A in London last month, and knew I had to draw it.

Pencil in an A5 sketchbook. Thanks for looking.

Just arrived in the post.

Quite a surreal and satisfying moment for me to see something that I spent a fair amount of time, care and attention towards, be realised and become an actual tangible thing in this world.

I'm really looking forward to reading this.

Pick up your copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C47NHR41

A5 sketchbook page, some Danish heraldry drawn from life at Rosenborg castle and the head of the effigy of Edward III in Westminster Abbey

Some gothic ornament studies after Augustus Pugin, drawn with a dip pen

Some studies in the sketchbook, dip pen and ink & pencil

A nice surprise to see this cover I worked on at the start of the year for t.iss.one/TheBizarchives reprint of George O. Smith's Hellflower has just been published.

There were a few bureaucratic cyber barriers stopping this being released at the time, but it's out now and you can read about it and purchase it here - https://open.substack.com/pub/theobelisk/p/new-book-c3d?r=18err2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Thanks to all the recent subscribers to this channel, and all the old ones for sticking around despite my lacking posting schedule. I very much appreciate all the support. I've got a few projects in the works that I will be able to share in the not too distant future. Be well!

Some studies of old master drawings in a new A6 sketchbook. Pen and ink.