Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Mike's Big Big Book

Sorry, I've been a bit tardy this month. Should've posted off earlier but the Post Office took one look at Mike's big book and said I'd have to come back as the on-duty postman's got a bad back and the other postman's on holiday. Well, I went back and between the three of us we managed to get it on the scales, but then we had to go for a cup of tea while they made the hole in the mailbox bigger and sent off for a custom-built envelope. Still, we got there in the end...

Only kidding. I've had so much on this month I forgot about the time!



from top: thought process, grab, mr. fleas goes walkies, long soak (with condiments), tail, the infernal piano.
(click to enlarge)

13 comments:

steve said...

Wow, Ian. Once again I'm trying to scrape my jaw from the floor. What can I say man, except that you're a genius. These are all exceptional, but that "Thought Process" one! What do you use in your drawings-what medium here?

Ian russell said...

cheers, steve.
usually with these sketchbook pieces I rough out lightly in HB pencil which I like to clean up with a putty eraser.
thought process is micron (yes, steev-o pens, still going strong!) and polychromos colouring pencils.
grab is all polychromos.
mr. fleas is polychromos and felt tips.
soak is an inexpensive set of coloured felt brush tips (kids' school stuff)
tail is faber-pitt brush tips and dayglo markers.
piano is micron and faber-pitt brush tips.

my fav. is the polychromos pencils. they lay down really well, smooth, blend well, and there's no chance of bleed through like with wet media. I only bought the basic tin of 12, but you can buy the pencils separately - I'm certainly going to get some more colours.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

WOWIE ZOWIE, and INCREDIBLE set of illos/sketches/drawings/ART!! Hole mackerel. Yikes. These are GREAT! Each so stunning. And different. SUPER!

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

I LOVE the tail--but I gotta say that that though process one just BLOWS ME AWAY! I love them all. But such IMAGINATION!

Johnnynorms said...

absolutely love the lizards, and great to see into the workings of your thought process - v inspiring Ian.

Andrea said...

I am in awe as well Ian, great work! My favorites are Grab and A Long Soak. Grab makes me like yellow and I usually don't. A Long Soak reminds me of a Frida Kahlo painting and I love that! Bravo sir!

Ian russell said...

I know the Frida Kahlo painting! but the inspiration came to me while taking a bath. living with three women, as I do, there's all this bottled junk around the bath and I thought wouldn't it be handy to have some condiments....

Ian russell said...

...and grab was supposed to be azure blue but, before I remembered, it was already half yellow.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Blue cheese?

Oh sorry, my first thought was Swiss.

Ian russell said...

that might be why I unconsciously chose yellow. :D

Mike Kline said...

Wow! Even more, Mary's "WOWIE ZOWIE" works. I need to try these polychromos pencils out. Wonderful stuff.

Mike Kline said...

My favorite is the "Thought Process." "Grab rocks."

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

I looked for the Polychromos pencils in several places around here, but haven't found them locally, guess I may have to try on-line.