Mirror Image

I've been continuing my series of drawings this week, and today I switched from charcoal to pencil.

I am really getting the most out of the sharper, more lyrical, line and greater 'sparseness' that this allows.

Some of these self portraits will be included in the breast cancer exhibition that I'm currently putting together.

More drawings here on my website.

Beautiful

I was very fortunate to have a whole day with a friend who worked very hard indeed at sitting for me as my model.

She was very tolerant, and patient with my sometimes rather abrupt direction. In my enthusiasm I sometimes put models in poses which are not always easy to hold, but this did not faze her.

For this session I worked on lots of quick charcoal studies. Next time she sits for me I'll use pencils, which will demand a different approach. I had a really enjoyable and productive day, and I'm really looking forward to drawing her again in November.

I've put more of the drawings up on my website.

These drawings are part of a series I'm working on in preparation for an exhibition I'm planning on the theme of breast cancer and women who've been affected by it. I'll write more about this in the coming weeks.

Mirror

These figures studies were produced using charcoal, paper, a mirror - and myself as the model.

It might sound blindingly obvious, but it is rather hard to keep still at the same time as drawing.

This presents an interesting challenge that makes me simultaneously enjoy the process, and more fully appreciate the luxury of working from a model that isn't me.

Precious Lives

I have a couple of paintings in an exhibition which opens this week on Tresco.

These were painted in spring this year, following my trip to the island. They have been beautifully custom-framed by hand.

I wrote about the paintings here and here.

And this painting has already sold, with part of the price going towards the Precious Lives Appeal for a children's hospice in the south west.

If you are interested in buying either of these two flower paintings, please contact Gallery Tresco direct.

H. Barber 36" x 32"

As finished work leaves the studio I'm preparing more canvases for the seascapes and other paintings I'm going to work on in the coming months.

The first stage of this process is to slot together the bought stretchers, and cut canvas to size from a large roll.