This is a photoshop composite of the features I liked the best from the iPad and ink sketches. I wanted to refine things a bit but still keep it chunky and loose. I don’t need to be too precious about following my sketch to the exact letter in the final linocut. Having a hoot doing all this.

Here’s some brush pen sketches based on the previous iPad sketch, trying to refine feather patterns and forms for the linocut.

Trying out designs for an owl linocut. Been quite a while since I used the iPad for any sketching but I found it useful in this instance. I don’t have an apple pencil so it’s quite a loose and chunky sketch, but then again, given I’m linocutting, that’s a good starting place to refine from I think.

more stretching of owls

It’s owl stretching time…. sorry, sketching time.

A poster illustration sketch for Robert Eggers The Lighthouse that came to me after a little doodling. Much as I’d like to draw them in I left off the sea beast suction cups on the curving transition from mermaid’s tail to lighthouse. Didn’t want things to add another level of plot in there and over egg things. The film is so darn enigmatic it leaves itself wide open to visual interpretation.

Another sketch from watching Eggers The Lighthouse. The alluring scrimshaw mermaid. Love that word, scrimshaw. I could see this as a peeling paint, weather worn sign swinging above a pub called The Mermaid.

Watched Robert Eggers The Lighthouse last night for what must now be the third or fourth time at least. Okay, it’s maybe not the most relaxing or accessable of films to unwind in front of but it’s a truly remarkable piece of work on all counts. The cinematography and production design are just stunning to look at. The performances are riveting to watch and the sound design is immersive and unsettling. I love the salty sea dog dialogue as well. 

“Doldrums. Doldrums.”

I had to have a go this morning at a quick, loose, pencil sketch of Willem Dafoe as Wickie Thomas Wake. What a superb characterful performance and he looks every bit the part too.

A vintage children’s book find, “Herbert Goes On Holiday” written and illustrated by Thadon Westmaw (quite a name). Did anyone else read the whimsical adventures of Herbert Hippo when they were little? There are more of Thadon Westmaw’s Herbert books to find out there. I remember seeing:
Herbert needs no introduction
Herbert and the pancake problem
Herbert down the drain
Herbert has his head in the clouds
Herbert and the burglars

Looking right at the back of my plan chest today I found the original ink sketch of this rather shocked, spotty the triceratops. As I’d not posted it on my tumblr before I thought I’d give it an outing. Reminiscent of my card build triceratops  from a few years later.