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Today I worked on refining the hair, star top and back ground...I've added in grave stones too plus the next figure who appears to have taken up power walking!

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I've spent today finishing the second tree, the sky ..aspects of the viaduct, and blending the hair, face and clothing of that remarkably handsome chap! In other news, my running continues to be a regular feature of my week. In the last 7 days, I've run 5 sessions of 5 1/2 miles each time...that means I've done a marathon in a week!..I'm hoping to increase my distance to include  a 6 mile run in the next week.

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I've decided to make the back grounds trees in a stylised way...I know the style is called 'Broom' because it's one I used when I grew bonsai trees. the shape goes well with the arches of the viaduct and other curves such as the girls and the planets.

Ruddigore - or, the Witch's Curse.Finished artwork.

Bit of a frustrating day today..had arranged to go out for afternoon tea with my friend Di, but the unavailability of the car till later than I thought and the need to rework the drawing you see here meant I had to postpone the trip. Anyway, here at long last is the finished and final piece of artwork for the Rose Hill Musical Society's production of Ruddigore. I'm amazed that they come back to me each year to produce their artwork.My rather childish illustrations are rather lightweight and comical...(a bit like the operettas I suppose!)...oh. and I'm cheap!...

Below is a reminder of last year's artwork for HMS Pinafore.you just have to imagine all the extra text that the printer adds indicating ticket prices, venue and performance times...

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I find it perplexing that occasionally I hear that some people find my work hard to deal with because of the nudity and subject matter. i like the fact that I can illicit reactions in my viewers...true art causes reaction...acceptance and complacency are enemies to me. thankfully Michael Angelo, Raphael, Davinci, Rubens, etc on and on and every classically accepted and revered artist in history have also had their  erm knockers and detractors...it didn't seem to do them any harm!..and it won't do me any harm....I shall strive and continue to produce work that causes reaction! :)

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I really enjoy putting the back ground into my work..the characters assume a greater relevance when viewed in context to their surrounding. A bit obvious to say I suppose, but I tend to like rather sombre twilight/ night time scenes as the softness and shadows brings a dream like quality to proceedings...my reasons and influences exist in the shadows and darkness of time..the deep core of my past...they live in my dreams, my fantasies..and my thoughts.

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Even though I say it myself. I'm quite pleased with the chap second from far left..a huffing puffing overweight me chugging along at the start of my fitness campaign!...oh, and some trees!

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In the background, I've drawn a line of figures.These two little fella's are walking..in fact the second figure is power walking! You see, when I took the photos to use as reference for my self portrait here, it was the impetus I needed to start my fitness campaign.so I thought that to represent that, I'd begin by having walking figures at this side of the picture, by the time they reach the other side of the page they will be running. The figures you see here are silhouetted...further detail will be picked out eventually!

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Progressed with the white blobbly flower things..what are they exactly?..ooh! and there are runnners on the horizon...and did I ever point out the DNA Double Helix dripping from the tea cup?...I thought not!

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A couple of hours work on the ground cover today..also managed to fit in a 5.18 mile run..actually the furthest I've ever run non stop..it was a challenge and I succeeded. you know...I think the end is in sight for this picture..it's been a long project. Probably with in the next two weeks...but I've still to introduce some interesting elements before then!

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Have now begun work on the ground...!

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I've now finished the windows in the coach and the locomotive...at last!! Now I have to concentrate on the under arches areas. In other news, I increased my running distance to 5 miles today and managed to run non stop for the entirety! Plenty of uphill sections including one very steep hill (Hillsway if you know Derby!)..at times I'm sure I could have walked quicker!! But I did it and feel really proud of myself. I'll run the same distance for 4 or 5 days then increase to 5.5!

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Sat around waiting for email from my client re - Ruddigore artwork, but it didn't come so eventually got myself back into Teatime here..not worked on it since last Friday. It's funny, but even that short break means it takes a while to re accustom myself to what I should be doing. anyway..that done, I can point out that I've continued to work on the lighted windows of the coach...I've been working from right to left darkening the window surrounds as I go..perhaps you can see where I've finished work for today towards the last window where the paneling is suddenly lighter.

Fit Before 50!

As many of you will know..since early May this year , I've started a campaign to get myself into shape, lose weight and get fit. I've been using a web site which allows me to map and measure my walking/ running routes. walkjogrun.net is an easy to use site which not only gives information on distance run, but estimates the time to cover the course and the amount of calories that you'll burn. With a whole host of other info and details on routes that other site members have logged it's a brilliant (and totally free) tool to make your walking/running more satisfying where ever in the world you are!

Yesterday I was approached by Caitlin who monitors Tweets and Facebook communications. She asked me if she could write about me in  an entry to the site's blog. So below I've included a link to the blog post she kindly wrote about me...I'm really honoured to be recognised for my effort and I hope that you'll take some inspiration from my story!


http://www.walkjogrun.net/blog/index.cfm/2011/9/12/Fit-before-50-One-mans-weight-loss-and-fitness-journey

Ruddigore - or, the Witch's Curse.II

Here is the final piece of inked art work for the Ruddigore publicity. I next scanned this image and printed out two copies whch I then colourized. 

Below you can see the basic B/W image in centre, then a blue monotoned version and a fulll colour version. They have been sent to the client who now has to decide which version to go with. Hopefully I'll produce the final piece tomorrow.

Ruddigore - or, the Witch's Curse.

For the past six years, I've been asked to produce publicity material for a local Operatic group who produce an annual Gilbert and Sullivan operetta . The Rose hill Musical Society are performing 'Ruddigore' this year. As part of the story, the 'Hero' is surrounded by ghosts who are the living images of his dead relatives who emerge from large portraits. After producing half a dozen rough images for the client, the drawing below was chosen as the one to base the final artwork on.

Having satisfied with the above sketch, I then moved onto producing the pencil work on which I would apply the final inking. Below you can see that I've developed each figure to a higher degree.

 Below I've applied ink to the hero figure as he is frightened by the emerging ghost from the painting. the stage costumes are based on the Regency period in UK which was circa 1790 - 1820 ish!

 Below you can see I've now inked the ghost and his picture frame...two other frames can be seen giving a bit of dramatic perspective to the composition. I've penciled in the title 'Ruddigore'..the 'R' of which will be like a picture frame holding a silhouetted image of a witch.

The final work will be completed tomorrow. Once scanned, I will be producing a full colour and 2 colour version of the image which the client can chose from for final delivery to the printers who add the final text for printing.

If you'd like to read more about the plot and characters from 'Ruddigore' click here

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I've completed the sky and now moved onto the windows..I'd not got any reference material for lighted coach windows, so I've used my imagination..I think they look alright for the purpose here.The problem is that once the light level was established, it made the outer surface of the coach look too bright, so I've begun to darken it panel by panel as I progress to each window...the same goes for the bridge.

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Had a slightly reduced amount of working time today due to having been invited to lunch with an school friend. Was a very enjoyable time at The Mistral Bistro in Wirksworth ( Brie and Cranberry Baguette ! ) But I was able to fill in part of the major planet and continue the steam. tomorrow I'm hoping to complete the top left hand corner and then move onto the windows.

Over the weekend I'm planning to work on the publicity material for 'Ruddigore'...I also need to spend time developing sketches for my next idea which is taking shape conceptually quite nicely!

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Sorry it's blurred...spent over 5 hours again today on the steam...will aim to finish the steam and remaining planets by the end of the week!

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Yesterday I spent my time working on sketches for publicity material advertising the annual Gilbert and Sullivan production by Rose Hill Musical Society. Ruddigore ( or the Witches Curse) is going to be a fun piece to work on. I met with the commissioning officer and settled on a final idea for the posters/ handbills. I'll set to work on the final artwork later in the week.

Today I needed to get back to work on Tea time. Yet more of the same with the steam and smoke.

The incredible shrinking man!

I know I posted these photos with the exception of the last one some time ago, but just wanted to show you what a bit of resolve can achieve. I started out on my get fit campaign at the beginig of May this year. The motivation was the photograph you see first here for my 'Tea time' picture.I was so horrified by the weight I'd put on and the fact that this year I celebrate my 50th birthday...I wanted to enter my second half century in the best shape of my life as opposed to the worst and heaviest condition I found myself in! So with the aid of some dietary guidelines, a desire to start exercising and a new pair of trainers...I got going.

 The photograph below shows me after I'd bought the gear and started Power Walking...initially walking for 20 mins, I quickly managed to step up the distance I walked. As the weight started to come off..so the distance and my stamina increased!

 The picture below was taken in June after I'd increased my daily power walks from 2 miles to 6 - 7 miles. I'd lost nearly 2 stone by now and was feeling like a different person (despite the glum look on my face!)

I took this photo (below) this morning after I came back from a 3.7 mile run. I have not given up power Walking, but running gives me an added challenge and is quicker !Each power walk session was taking one and a half hours...

I hope you'll forgive the vanity..I'm really proud of what I've achieved...I've lost 3 stone now and I'm probably in the best physical condition of my life...I know I look a bit of a prat and those shorts do me no favours what so ever...but there you go..!

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This is slow going, but it'll be worth it when it's eventually finished...which seems a long way off at the moment. I'm hoping to have more time to work from Monday as now my eldest Son has moved out to his new accommodation for University, My other son has enrolled at a local college to study art (!) and my daughter goes back to school on Tuesday! The school holidays seem everlasting...but you're always left wondering where the time has gone at the end!

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