Apologies for the mild dose of Narcissism, but I often sketch portraits of others so I thought I’d have a go at a self-portrait for a change.
Continue readingSelf-portrait sketch
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Category Archives: Art
Tips for Sketching #13 (Perseverance)
Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.
Walter Elliot
I had an old friend visit at the weekend. It was one of those catch-ups that I look forward to, as many of my friends are not local (this particular one lives in China) and so we rarely meet up.
That’s life. We’re all busy, but it does make catch-ups with friends all the more special.
We chatted about all sorts of things, and inevitably we ended up talking about art. He’s an “old school” role-player like myself, so I’m always hungry for feedback on my latest project from a fellow geek (‘Dragon’s Lair’ below).
The Lambda and the Line: Shields, Symbols, and Solidarity in Sparta
One of my favourite things about a vacation is idling away the time reading books I enjoy. Often this involves recapturing my youth and immersing myself in the many rich stories of Greek mythology. On my recent break to Greece (Skiathos) I had the pleasure of reading Paul Cartledge’s fascinating book ‘The Spartans.’
Continue readingWhen East Met West in Stone
The Nabatean Touch on the Temple of Apollo Hylates
One of my favourite places to visit in Cyprus is tucked away in the ancient city of Kourion, the Temple of Apollo Hylates. This site isn’t just a piece of Greek history—it’s a striking example of cultural fusion.
Continue readingTips for sketching #12 (Sketch books)
Do you keep your old sketch books?
By sketch books, I mean the place where you doodle and practise new techniques. I don’t necessarily mean the works that you’re supremely proud of and show to your friends, or post on social media.
Continue readingTips for sketching #11 (Drama)
How do you create drama in your drawings?
This is something I’ve been reflecting on recently, as it’s tricky to get right. As ever, you learn from your mistakes, and feedback from others is also enormously helpful. I don’t profess to have all the answers, but I’d like to share some of the things I’ve learnt along the way.
Continue readingTips for sketching #10 (light and shadow)
Regular visitors to my blog will know that I’m a big fan of the dark fantasy genre of art. This typically involves working in black and white to create a tense and brooding atmosphere.
There are many recurring tropes to this style of drawing and I want to explore how light and shadow specifically can be used to great effect.
Continue readingTips for sketching #9 (feedback)
Receiving feedback on your work is so important if you want to improve. Presenting your work to others can be scary though. Drawing can be intensely personal, so it’s understandable that you might get defensive about it.
Continue readingTips for sketching #8 (imperfection)
There is always something new to learn when it comes to sketching. Perfection is a goal for many, but I’ve learned to embrace imperfection.
Continue readingSanctuary of Aphrodite tour (Kouklia)
The sanctuary of Aphrodite at Kouklia is one of my favourite places to visit on holiday. It’s such a tranquil place.
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Scott's Unfinished Pictures 