Ninja Scroll

I had a commission to copy (while freely interpreting) an image from Ninja Scroll. Till last week, I'd never heard of Ninja Scroll. It's a "Japanese action thriller anime [movie and then TV series] set in feudal Japan, by director/writer Yoshiaki Kawariji, best known for his previous thriller Wicked City," about which I had also, of course, never heard. The character designs were done by Yutaka Minowa (thanks Wiki!)  I was pleased to find a reason to work on beautiful watercolour paper with Indian ink and a calligraphy brush.  Here are the two images I chose, out of several I made... any more takers?  I'll make new ones, or similar projects if anyone wants... contactable through my website.

Each drawing indian ink and gouache on heavy A3 watercolour Canson paper.

Underfoot

Ha... this time it's inanimate! I'll be away from here for a few days.

Watching TV

Quick sketches late at night. 

Brush markers, watercolour and (in the first spread) collage in untitled sketchbook.

Late

I've been going through old sketchbooks that I'm sending to Portugal for an exhibition of sketchbooks in Almada in January 2011. I found some quick nature sketches made in late July that I'd forgotten to scan at the time... and the I've included the back of the sketchbook too, with a ticket in the pocket.

Brush markers in Moleskine sketchbook.

Rabbit, run

News of the week

Brush markers and watercolour in untitled sketchbook.

Dogs

On a walk in Stamford meadows...

Brush markers and watercolour in untitled sketchbook.

Grey day, grey city.

Whereas our nearest town, Stamford (5 miles away) is beautiful and filled with green spaces and Georgian stone architecture, our nearest city - Peterborough - is quite grim and grey, filled with lots of shops and malls that lose their allure to me after about five minutes of enthusiasm at the possible benefits of shopping in a city. There's a wonderful cathedral, though, and I did these drawings at the point where the cathedral close meets the shopping precinct. 

Brush markers (and watercolour washes in the first two) in untitled sketchbook.

One more

from my photographs taken in Israel, Jaffa again. 

Brush marker and watercolour in untitled sketchbook.

MOT test

This was about a three minute sketch (who's counting) done while I was waiting for my car to come through its MOT test. This mother was so serene and good natured, or am I fantasising?

Brush markers in Moleskine diary.