A 4B and a Drawing Pen

Just thought I would knock together a quick post of a few report drawings that I have finished in the past month for the 2009/2010 Fair Isle Bird Report. Nothing to shout about or feel personally over the moon with but a worthy blog entry to express my exploration and practice with different drawing styles/techniques so far in 2012 whilst I continue to search for a happy ground in the world of colour...................I'M JUST TOO NEGATIVE!

I would also like to thank everybody who has commented so nicely about my work and don't want to appear rude for not replying. For some time now I haven't been able to comment on my own blog or anybody Else's blog which is infuriating given some of the stunning work I have seen on some other bird/wildlife blogs that I would love to comment on and congratulate the artists.

Time Wait's for No Man!

As King Canute once said "the tide abides for, tarrieth for no man, stays no man, tide nor time tarrieth no man" and how true he was.

Recently I have been struggling to balance work with art and returning home after a very busy day and have found it ever increasingly difficult to physically and mentally engage in my on going art projects and outstanding work.

However recently it has been this very routine that has brought about a new method of illustration in me that feels very irrational and rushed but yet feels very pure. Its as if my tiredness is tapping into the subconscious flow of my artistic brain and lines and shapes I create are of undiluted which I am beginning to enjoy. I find that if i concentrate on something too much I easily slip into a grey area where I begin to overwork a piece and do too much to it and begin to dislike the finished result.

On the other hand I may just be so tired that I'm simply talking and producing utter rubbish and apologise in advance if I sound like a nutter.


Anyway here is an Autumn Adult Female Long-tailed Duck that I have recently completed that is intended for the 2009/2010 Fair Isle Bird Report.



I hope to continue to produce some more illustrations in this same technique as the adrenaline rush whilst doing it up to completion is fantastic.

Artist in Focus: Lukasz Bednarz

http://lukaszbednarz.blogspot.com/

A Polish artist Taking Photo Realism to another level! Outstanding!

The Iceland Gull watercolour is to die for

Prince Caspian

After spending a lovely sunny, cold and crisp Sunday afternoon sat watching and sketching this 1st Winter Caspian Gull at Wheldrake Ings I felt compelled to work from photos and sketches to complete a finished Biro sketch of what can only be described as a stunning young larid...Structurally they are a delight to illustrate and A PRINCE AMONG GULLS especially in this plumage.




A big thank you to Tim Jones for not only finding the bird but for providing me with a lift to see this bird and to Chris Gomersall for great company and a great afternoons birding.

Recent Work and Work In Progress 2012

Its that time of year again where I'm going through Biro's like they are going out of fashion with report drawings but I love it...

Here are a few pieces I have been toying with during 2012 so far. I feel very optimistic about my art this year with some nice ideas and some new techniques up my ink stained sleeves.

I have been jotting them all down and adding to the ever increasing paper mountain at the corner of my desk. I hope to bring some of these ideas to you this year and aim to push my art as far as possible....Some ideas I hope will be winners and some will inevitably be flops but nothing ventured nothing gained...THAT'S THE FUN OF ART!

Thanks for your time, Jack

White-throated Robin (Hartlepool Headland 2011)
This is a loose painting I'm working on for two very kind lads who took me for this beautiful bird.



Pied Wheatear (Spurn 2011)



Penduline Tit (Wintersett Reservoir 2011)



Great Grey Shrike showing some a-typical excubitor features (Wroot 2012)



Oh and before I forget

Checkout these two links for some draw droppingly beautiful work:

DAVID DALY'S Incredible New Website (IRELAND PRODUCES AVIAN ART GEINUS'S) http://www.davedalyartist.com/index.php

and IAN LEWINGTON'S NEW Website that is Bird Art on steroids http://www.ian-lewington.co.uk/

The Real FATHER OF CHRISTMAS

LARS JONSSON!!!

This is what happens when Lars Jonsson does Christmas



could you honesty ask for a better decoration for a christmas tree! WOW

You would be easily forgiven for thinking he is not real (Given paintings like this) but believe me he is and more of his magic can be seen at

http://larsjonsson.se including some incredible new pieces of work!

I must apologise prefusely for not posting any of my work recently but I have been simply too busy at work to do any. This said I aim to get a lot done over the festive period and new year and aim to get a lot posted once I return from Spurn where I am heading for Christmas in search of Pygmy Owl. It may sound daft but given the number just across the north sea and Spurns track record of owls there is always a chance...NOTHING VENTURED,NOTHING GAINED as they say.

As always I'am very grateful indeed to all those who have supported me in 2011 and hope I can continue to upload work for you to enjoy in 2012.



Thanks Again and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Best Wishes Jack Ashton-Booth

ISABELLINE WHEATEAR (Oenanthe isabellina)

Given that I missed one of these cracking birds at Spurn recently I had to make do with second best and just stare vacantly at Killian Mullarney's beyond incredible drawing that I found a while back that I pinned up on my notice/montage board!



Isabelline Wheatear Illustrated by the ONE AND ONLY Killian Mullarney
(aka the William Occam of bird art i.e. 'one should not multiply entities beyond necessity)

Above where I sit and draw in my flat whilst working on my finished pieces I have a cork board on which I pin up everything that either inspires me or has a special place in my heart.



It sounds soft I know but in the times when I'm struggling to find a natural flow whilst drawing, sketching or painting I just sit back and disappear into the world on my board where birds and bird art take centre stage away from the banality of everyday life.

Unfortunately I collect so many cut outs and images that I have spread to cork board in the kitchen, one day I hope to have a studio with walls made from cork and a room dedicated to bird artists, birds and memories!