Wednesday, 21 November 2012

Size matters.

In my art forum we have a number of projects going on for us all to join in with. I haven't had a lot of time for my art over the past few weeks but found myself with the best part of an hour available so I looked at the challenges to see what I could do.

The result is this quick sketch of Robin Hoods Bay on the Yorkshire coast. I'm the first to admit that it's not the best drawing I've ever done.

HOWEVER ....

What I AM pleased about is that the topic I chose to do was "Small". This sketch is only 4cm x 3cm (approximately 1½" x 1"). I've never drawn so small before but found it much easier than I'd expected. Stating the obvious, keeping the pencil sharp was essential (understatement). Under normal circumstances we have to reduce our images to get them online but this time I've had to enlarge it. LOL.

I show the sketch here with some postage stamps just to put it into perspective.



This was a fabulous practice exercise and was great fun. I shall be doing more if these miniatures.






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34 comments:

  1. Unknown22 November 2012 at 05:21

    Good grief, I could never draw so small. Kudos to you.

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    1. John (JWJarts)22 November 2012 at 16:31

      I had to take my specs off and I kept smudging the paper with my nose. lol. Thanks Sue.

      Delete
  2. Judy22 November 2012 at 09:06

    Wow that IS small! I have never tried that, but can imagine it must be fun. Looks great, John!

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  3. Anonymous22 November 2012 at 10:33

    That's really small. Beautiful drawn John.

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  4. Victor Errington22 November 2012 at 13:54

    Hi John.
    A sharp pencil you say, You need more than that my friend, you also need the skill to go with it, and you have it. Well done John and all the best.
    Vic.

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    1. John (JWJarts)22 November 2012 at 16:34

      Thank you Vic, that's very much appreciated.
      All the best.

      Delete
  5. Barbra Joan22 November 2012 at 15:05

    Well, this is really something !! .. which proves how good you are at drawing, either large or very tiny... Excellent John. !
    BJ

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    1. John (JWJarts)22 November 2012 at 16:37

      Thank you BJ. As I was doing this I thought of your Art Journals. This is one way in which your journals could contain 'originals'. ;)

      Delete
  6. Jane22 November 2012 at 16:38

    Oh my , this is really small, I would think this almost impossible :-) But incredibly you pulled it off very well, well done John !

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    1. John (JWJarts)22 November 2012 at 17:09

      Thank you Jane. In fairness, it was an easy subject but nevertheless, I'm very pleased.

      Delete
  7. Laura22 November 2012 at 17:07

    OMG John that is tiny. I thought ACEO's were small but this one takes the biscuit. It wasn't apparent until I saw the postage stamps. Love it and you still managed to capture the quaintness of Robin Hood's Bay even that small. Great job.

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    1. John (JWJarts)22 November 2012 at 17:14

      Thanks Laura. Yes, ACEO's are 2½" x 3½", which is about 4-times larger than this. Glad you like it.

      Delete
  8. Sandra Busby22 November 2012 at 18:08

    Oh wow! This is.amazing! What a fun project! And a fabulous drawing - I'm sure I couldn't draw so small :0)

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    1. John (JWJarts)22 November 2012 at 21:48

      Thank you very much Sandra. Yes, it was great fun ... it just didn't last long enough. lol.

      Delete
  9. Pat23 November 2012 at 07:20

    Gosh! That is small - but you did a fabulous job :) x

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  10. Gatepost productions23 November 2012 at 09:33

    Would you be eligible for a small business award? :0) Really clever, John. Why not give it a serrated edge like a postal stamp and send it to a a philatelic magazine?

    Your posts are always interesting, John - great variety as well,

    Cheers!

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    1. John (JWJarts)23 November 2012 at 10:10

      Haha ... Good idea John. I am contemplating doing a small series of Credit Card size pictures ... it would be nice to work big.

      You know what they say about 'variety' ... it's a sign of someone who hasn't got a clue what to do next. lol.

      Cheers John.


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  11. JANE MINTER24 November 2012 at 08:25

    tiny ! invaluable sketch ..look foward to seeing more john

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  12. Keith Tilley27 November 2012 at 10:18

    On the contrary John, I think this is as good as anything you've done. Technically it's brilliant, with all the tricky perspective and tonal values, but I also like it for the way you've conveyed so much in such a small space. The cluster of buildings, with their different roof-lines, gives a good sense of the character of the village, but the distant shoreline also establishes it as a fishing community. Outstanding work for such a small size.

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    1. John (JWJarts)27 November 2012 at 13:31

      Thank you Keith. I really appreciate your comments and I always find it uplifting and encouraging when an artist of your calibre sees something good in my work.

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  13. _Frankb1028 November 2012 at 19:58

    Criky John, I reckon you could get a job with Royal Mail - designing stamps!

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  14. jsicignano2.blogspot.com30 November 2012 at 17:02

    John, I love it, as usual you have created a mini masterpiece.

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  15. Bruce Sherman9 December 2012 at 14:05

    Good Morning John!.... "Imagineering"... at its highest level! Smaall has nothing to do with size... when one thinks of outside of the "normal" box in which we usually work!

    This sketch is mighty in my mind... for a number of solid reasons. Firstly... your choice of perspective looking over top of this beautiful and eclectic mix of architectrural shaes invites the viewer to share your unusual view of this scene.

    I feel very much involved (virtually) in the setting which sweeps the eye from the foreground to the beach in the background. Your development of aerial perspective in such a limited format requires much more than a sharp pencil Sir. It requires immense skill and a willing mind to work outside of the box

    Simply put... its "philatelic quality"... as diminutive as it is has the same attraction as a postage stamp has had in my own life! Small often says more... and what remains unsaid often carries the most weight! A gem John!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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    1. John (JWJarts)11 December 2012 at 18:20

      Thank you very much Bruce, I really appreciate everything you've written here. I shouldn't take too much credit though as this is one of those pictures that 'just happened', if you know what I mean. Still, it was (and still is) very satisfying to do and now all I have to do is figure out the best way of framing it.

      Warmest regards,
      John

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  16. Catharina Engberg9 December 2012 at 22:46

    I call that skill! Take care John. :)

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  17. Catharina Engberg10 December 2012 at 22:24

    You could try to make it as a stamp. Go ahead and ask about it, Because it´s very beautyful. Could make some money out of it? ;)

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    1. John (JWJarts)11 December 2012 at 18:21

      Make a stamp? Interesting. I'll have to try and find out more about what's involved. Thanks for the suggestion Catharina.

      Delete

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