She is a part of me; my teenage self.
I made two drawings of her some years back. They were, I guess, memory drawings.
They were about being in love with reading.
And, er, being a bit of a slob (nothing changed there then).
That theme has been books. Books, books, books.
Autumn last year the (first) book solely about my work was published; Andrea's Book (I really should go into that rather simplistic title at some point, but hey, that's another blog post). Ever since I have been signing, wrapping and packing them off all around the world. For the wrapping paper I've been using the drawings of my girl. I can't remember how it came about - it was some kind of happy accident as the late great Bob Ross would say.
I really wanted this gig and my head was spinning trying to get an idea together. I'd read quite a few books on the list, but many years ago and none of them were jumping out at me. Sleepless nights ensued as I went over and over it. But I was trying to force an idea and that's not how I like to work.
OH! Oh, and my design for the bench? Well, there could only be one thing . I say one 'thing', but I mean one girl. Yes, I was all so obvious really. It was always there. She was always there.
I love this girl. She came through for me again.
progress scan on something else I’ve been working on. Was hard to scan since it’s on board, it’s pencil, ink and coloured pencil so far.
I accidentally deleted this post of mine but it looks like I can just reblog it instead from this other tumblr blog. Lucky!
Plus, it was a great opportunity to get some male models on board. We haven't had anywhere enough guys modelling for us - although they were pretty hard to convince. Who'd have thought these inked up guys would be so shy?
We had a great mix of guys and girls. I did these black and white drawings at the event. I added colour at home, later.
The other great thing about being the artist, in our partnership, is that I get to set some drawing exercises. My exercise for this event was to draw the (model's) body through the tattoos alone. It was more difficult to do than I'd imagined, and I still ended up adding some body lines to my attempt (above).
Despite my car braking down en-route, and being totally stressed out by that by time I got there, I still managed to get a whole load of sketches done. Many more than this in fact, but the rest were on a larger A3 sketchbook - and I'll have to get them scanned by somebody with an A3 scanner.
"Trio" for the Phone Booth Gallery 6th Anniversary show. It’s 6" x 6" or 15.24 cm and is pencil, coloured pencil, acrylic, pastel, ink, iridescent media and oils.
You can read a post about one of my poster artist heroes, the legendary Toulouse Lautrec, and see more of my own creations HERE.
Hey everyone, just added another prelim drawing to the store
http://rodluff.storenvy.com/products/5871919-trio-iii
This original artwork was made in pencil, ink, coloured pencil, acrylic and pastel and measures 6” x 6” or 15.25 x 15.25 cm on Stonehenge 100% cotton fine art paper, 250 gsm in Fawn.
Thanks!
Hey guys, I added another sketch to the store here http://rodluff.storenvy.com/products/5798860-trio-ii This one took a little longer, the media includes pencil, ink, coloured pencil, acrylic, iridescent media and pastel and measures 6” x 6” or 15.25 x 15.25 cm on Stonehenge 100% cotton fine art paper, 250 gsm in Fawn
Hey guys, I added another sketch to the store here http://rodluff.storenvy.com/products/5798860-trio-ii This one took a little longer, the media includes pencil, ink, coloured pencil, acrylic, iridescent media and pastel and measures 6” x 6” or 15.25 x 15.25 cm on Stonehenge 100% cotton fine art paper, 250 gsm in Fawn
Hey guys, I added another sketch to the store here http://rodluff.storenvy.com/products/5798860-trio-ii This one took a little longer, the media includes pencil, ink, coloured pencil, acrylic, iridescent media and pastel and measures 6” x 6” or 15.25 x 15.25 cm on Stonehenge 100% cotton fine art paper, 250 gsm in Fawn
Hey guys, I added another sketch to the store here http://rodluff.storenvy.com/products/5798860-trio-ii This one took a little longer, the media includes pencil, ink, coloured pencil, acrylic, iridescent media and pastel and measures 6” x 6” or 15.25 x 15.25 cm on Stonehenge 100% cotton fine art paper, 250 gsm in Fawn
Hey all, just adding a prelim drawing to the store here: http://rodluff.storenvy.com/products/5768968-quartet The media includes pencil, ink, coloured pencil, acrylic and pastel and measures 6” x 6” or 15.25 x 15.25 cm on Stonehenge 100% cotton fine art paper, 250 gsm in Fawn.
Added a new mini drawing to the store here: http://rodluff.storenvy.com/products/5685664-trio . I wanted to have something original in the store for under $100, it’s a preliminary drawing for a future artwork.
This piece was made in pencil and pastel and measures 6” x 6” or 15.25 x 15.25 cm on Stonehenge 100% cotton fine art paper, 250 gsm in Fawn.
The “Wanderlust” preparatory drawing is now available on my store- http://rodluff.storenvy.com/products/5647327-wanderlust-drawing It was this drawing that inspired the final artwork, which I used in my solo show “Aurora” at Thinkspace Gallery.
The media is pencil, pastel, coloured pencil and acrylic on 640 gsm Fabriano HP Smooth Paper.
It measures 11.8” x 15” or 30 x 38 cm.
"Invocation" was finished today and is now available at - http://rodluff.storenvy.com/products/5609653-invocation
it was created with pencil and pastel on 8” x 10” Moleskine Paper.
It's an example of one of the processes I use when coming up with a piece of work; sometimes a drawing will just pop into my head. Fully formed. I have no idea where it came from, or why it came, but suddenly it's just there. Then it waits around for me to put it onto paper. I sometimes try to ignore it, but when it's there it's there. It doesn't go away.
So there he was. This French guy sat in his kitchen, feeling a little fragile, after a night of partying. Fag in mouth, coffee in hand. It took me 2-3 years to get around to putting him on , but a couple of days ago I picked up my sketchbook and within 2-3 minutes he was born. A few hours of cross hatching followed.
I based the character on a guy I met a few years back in France. He wobbled up to this sophisticated artist's award ceremony/party, on his push bike, in a flat cap and old coat, fag in mouth looking a little wasted and yet sickeningly stylishly European. He then made his way around the place, taking advantage of the free booze. I immediately thought "that's the guy I want to party with".
And we did. And it was a great night.
There's this Ray Davies quote I heard when watching a documentary on The Kinks, that has always stuck in my head. Well, if it wasn't a Ray Davies quote it was by his brother, Dave (?). It goes "It's not how something is reported, it's how it's remembered. That's what they call poetry".
I love that quote. It's also why I love this drawing.
Quick progress photo. I had a few days off over valentines day and the weekend (house of cards bingin’ yo) but on Tuesday I just got back to work on this piece finally. Pencil/Pen.
Quick iPod photo of my progress on this drawing so far, slowly blocking in tones, shapes and patterns! Graphite/pen on paper.