“Wooden Walkway with Birds Feet” [5th/6th January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, drawing with H, HB, 4B, 8B, sunlight yellow and sky blue pencils, signed in blue ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 1879 x 1601 pixels.
The first draft took 50 minutes resulting in a good structure of landscape outlines, shadows and main object details. The three Birds feet, three metallic emblems at the foot of the steps, already featured in draft one.
My second draft took under 25 minutes – in this draft I redrew some elements of the wooden walkway bridge, brought colour to the Sun and created the ‘steel structured’ blue sky lines.
The third draft was completed within 10 minutes. This included additional leaves around canvas spaces, a few new branches, defining the top pathway edge and some microfine grasses. Later in the evening I happily signed the artwork.
One hour and thirty minutes after signing for “Wooden Walkway with Birds Feet” in total.
I drew the emblems a different perspective in keeping with an earlier photograph I had taken of the Birds Feet dated 15th July 2022. 15th July 2022 is the same day I made “Cloud Bloom”. The photographs for “Cloud Bloom” and “Birds Feet” were taken within two minutes of each other.
The Nature Reserve where these photographs are taken have many lovely artworks. Animal stone reliefs and the birds feet I have mentioned.
Here is the photograph for the Birds Feet emblems:
“Birds Feet on the Wooden Walkway – photograph” [15th July 2022] photograph by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.
Now for the photograph inspiring my latest artwork:
“Wooden Walkway with Birds Feet – photograph” [17th October 2021, 1824hrs] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist
“Wooden Walkway with Birds Feet” faces east. If you look west there you have the complimentary artwork viewpoint of “Harvest from Wildflower Meadow” [31st August 2021] photographed from the very steps you see in this artwork.
“Paddling Dogs River Bridge” [26th December 2022-2nd January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, drawing with H, HB, 4B, 8B, charcoal stick, leaf green, light green, fauna brown and sky blue pencils, signed in black ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 3064 x 2631 pixels.
I have already made commentary regarding the art making process for this sketch shown above in my earlier blog article entitled My Work in Progress.
For easier comparable reference, here is the original photograph from whence my artwork is derived, immediately below:
“Paddling Dogs River Bridge – photograph” [14th October 2021, 1617hrs] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.
For the enjoyment of my dear Readers I would like to include a few personal quotations by me during the making of “Paddling Dogs River Bridge”:
“First draft 46m [minutes] second draft 22m.
always amazes that some artworks just do, others take time to make good. idk. for me i appreciate Monet is the masterpiece maker of landscapes.
anyway yes it does have some faces. i only noticed whilst to send too [typo] you. I’ve overworked canvases before. not certain this needs much more really. its like the Gosling. i didnt like it so much at first. then i loved it 🎨 for its uniqueness 📝
nb Im calling this one Paddling Dogs River, prolly, even though obv it is [obscured Lake] stream/river” – Tuesday 27th December 2022, 1836hrs.
“No changes for the water. I could obsess about the shapes, i obsessed for half an hour just with water.
i never intended realism ideas just impressionistic. Despite my love for trees and bushes, artistically they art so difficult for me sometimes.
I think its minimalist quality is its charm, its uniqueness. Its the beautiful River [obscured] and the concrete block of a manmade feature, adjacent. This could be the forming of the [obscured] Lake in symbolism. [my hometown] is made from the quarry of the lake itself or so i understand anyway.” – Tuesday 27th December 2022, 1122hrs.
“How do we save the Poles, the Earth from climate catastrophe? How much climate devastation is enough?
In 1977 there was a blizzard that arrived by reason of cause and effect. It is nothing [purposed] Newtonian, merely mans own engineered involvement with the woeful disruption of nature.
It is all foretold in numerous modern fictional works let alone 19th century classical literature. “Writers could perceive the destruction.”.
Everything is cause and effect. In this we can perceive a Newtonian effect occurring. A law of climate physics.
Without law and order as regards human beings there is chaos. 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 et al. There is a wildfire of climate destruction the WHO has advised upon for three decades.” – Thursday 29th December 2022, 1401hrs.
Of course, here I am discussing mans own designated climate laws, some or many disregarded for commercial venture.A spiritual corruption if you will.The foretelling is the numerous fictional works explaining a dystopian future.
The Newtonian effect would include for instance the millions of tonnes of sea ice lost annually through manmade commercial ruination. The rain/snow must logically fall somewhere in this atmospherically manipulated commercially overheated Earth. The international press has clearly documented increased flooding in certain parts of the world.
Wherever climate laws are abandoned or corruptively bypassed, the result sadly, tragically, is loss of life and economic disaster.
“Art. Fourth draft done. Approx 20 mins. Whilst the River [obscured] is beautiful, my chosen composition isn’t the classical beauty landscape.
The concrete block is very urban. I love the water, the faces. The photo is more beautiful.
anyway i love the water, the river i drew. For me, everything about this artwork is the River [obscured].
Possibly this is nature versus manmade constructs?
Approx 2 hours over four drafts. You know, as i made this i thought.. every artist that produces another version through the oft difficult drawing process, i applaud your professionalism.” – Thursday 29th December 2022, words my own in abbreviated communication style of modern culture.
I would like to mention that over the past few weeks I had consciously [as usual] thought of commercial farming practices. I believe that somehow subconsciously my work is amplifying the plight of some livestock conditions, inadvertently.
I wish this blog article to be thought-provoking with a sense of strong feeling toward positive climate change.
nb Artwork image photographed indoor with the door open to let the natural light shine upon the canvas.
I prefer a photographically brightened version for online publication to delineate the canvas texture. However, I appreciate that due to monitor screens and smartphones this might vary the appearance of the shadows within artworks.
Obviously edits are intended to replicate what I see looking at my sketch. Here is my photographed sketch with fewer post-production edits:
“Paddling Dogs River Bridge – edited image two” [26th December 2022-2nd January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, drawing with H, HB, 4B, 8B, charcoal stick, leaf green, light green, fauna brown and sky blue pencils, signed in black ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 3064 x 2636 pixels.
With image two (shown immediately above) the darker river tones on the left are probably more accurate to the original canvas. Whilst the right-sided river detail is slightly darker than the original.
It’s all very much of a muchness since hand-drawn artworks are always nicer to see in person. Although a lovely advantage to online works is the ability to zoom-in on fine details for a closer look at structure and pencil work upon the canvas fibers.
I hope you enjoy my artwork and heartfelt thoughts.
“Paddling Dogs River Bridge – draft four” – work in progress.
All the artwork images you see here are works in progress. Even the last draft shown above is an indoor photograph. Therefore the lighting is not correct for the equipment I use. I do not have diffusers or specialist lighting equipment at home.
Besides, it rains from time to time here in the UK so I haven’t had the opportunity to take the best photograph. Furthermore I haven’t signed the artwork as yet.
I just wanted to share how my artworks sometimes develop in a raw way. These photographs are mostly for my own art decisions whilst I am producing new works. I never intended for these artworks to be shared. I just thought it might be interesting for readers to see my own art making processes.
Fourth draft took approximately 20 minutes.
“Paddling Dogs River Bridge – draft three” – work in progress.
Third draft took 30 minutes, shown above. I artistically obsessed with the water. If anything ‘mulls’ my time, its probably water. I love to get the sense of water correctly.
“Paddling Dogs River Bridge – draft two” – work in progress.
22 minutes for draft two, shown above. I promise that any faces or coincidental ideas you see here art pure chance. 100%. Whether detailing be fauna, sticks or branches etc. Purity is not easily understood.
“Paddling Dogs River Bridge – draft one” – work in progress.
Draft one took 46 minutes, since this began the outline structure and shapes along with some detailing. I am already finding depth with the river water within the first draft.
Here is the photograph:
“Paddling Dogs River Bridge – photograph” [14th October 2021, 1617hrs] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.
“Swans Place on a December Afternoon” [24th December 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, drawing with H, HB, 4B, 8B, charcoal pencil, charcoal sticks, sunlight yellow, leaf green, light green and sky blue pencils, signed in black ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 3217 x 2757 pixels.
“Swans Place on a December Afternoon” is composed from an original photograph [F1.9 1/917s 3.60mm ISO 40] using only a smartphone camera taken at 1435hrs on 6th December 2022 by myself. . The first draft outlining the landscape and trees took 23 minutes. My second draft included the leaves and sun/sunlight pencil effects taking 22 minutes. The third-final draft included all the colour details you see with the sunlight yellow, leaf green, light green and sky blue pencils taking 26 minutes.
Seventy one minutes total for “Swans Place on a December Afternoon” clock timed.
Here is the photograph directly inspiring my quick drawing:
“Swans Place on a December Afternoon” original photograph by Matt The Unfathomable Artist. [F1.9 1/917s 3.60mm ISO 40] with smartphone camera at 1435hrs on 6th December 2022.
“Icy Lake – Tracing Paper version” [15th December 2022] Digital art, 2592 x 1944 pixels, by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.
“Icy Lake – Tracing Paper version” shown above is one of my favourite digital versions from the icy lake composition photographed on the same day. The original unedited composition is not shown.
You can click on any of these images to see each version in greater detail.
“Icy Lake – Starry Particles version” [15th December 2022] Digital art, 2592 x 1944 pixels, Time 0.314, by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.
With “Icy Lake – Starry Particles version” [immediately above] I made many visual changes to the artwork to find the perfect mix between stars and darkness of the icy lake. Artists have practised unusual perspectives for millenia. The idea these icy waters replicate stars or luminous particles is pleasing to our senses visually.
“Icy Lake – Shadow version” [15th December 2022] Digital art, 2457 x 1680 pixels, by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.
“Icy Lake – Shadow version” [shown above] is produced by embossing the image to varying degrees until one finds the most effective visual effect. This image looks the most computerised, digital or engineered.
“Icy Lake – Black & White version” [15th December 2022] Digital art, 2592 x 1944 pixels, by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.
By removing colour “Icy Lake – Black & White version” provides us with a stunningly beautiful image. Explaining the coldness of the wintry conditions in the most honestly efficient light.
“Alien Leaves Analysis SolarScape” [20th November 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, original [edited] photograph, digital image 2592 x 1944 pixels.
The setting for my SolarScapes upon this blog page is to imagine an Alien is viewing our planet to understand its healthfulness and active sustainability for life.
Perhaps said Aliens are observing Earth merely to conquer its apex inhabitants? Or might their curious interest from vast distances be as new would-be custodians of beautiful Earth?
If we as Aliens considered the atmospheric air pollution within Earth, studying the mechanics regarding its diabolical liveable state – would we [as Aliens] not assume hierarchical human beings lacked common sense for their species and other creatures?
-‘They draw up the noxious ethers and liquids, then burn these in supermassive quantities whilst madly polluting their own inhabited cities! Seas, rivers, you name it, they pollute it. Even wild dogs of the plains and manta rays from the depths face extinction.’
‘What do they call this process?’ the alien companion asks earnestly,
-‘CIVILIZATION, my dear Alien! Modern DEVELOPED civilization at that!’
‘Goodness gracious, have they NO decorum?’
Obviously these particular aliens are immensely learned in all manner of languages.
“Watery Blackhole SolarScape” [20th November 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, original [edited] photograph, digital image 2592 x 1944 pixels.
——-
“Martian Sky #3 SolarScape” [20th November 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, original [edited] photograph, digital image 2592 x 1944 pixels.
——-
“Martian Sky #1 SolarScape” [20th November 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, original [edited] photograph, digital image 2592 x 1944 pixels.
——-
“Leaning Tree SolarScape” [20th November 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, original [edited] photograph, digital image 2592 x 1944 pixels.
——-
“Martian Sky #2 SolarScape” [20th November 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, original [edited] photograph, digital image 2592 x 1944 pixels.
——-
“Alien Leaf Analysis SolarScape” [20th November 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, original [edited] photograph, digital image 2592 x 1944 pixels.
——-
“Silvery Red Treeline SolarScape” [20th November 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, original [edited] photograph, digital image 2592 x 1944 pixels.
——-
“Martian Lake SolarScape” [20th November 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, original [edited] photograph, digital image 2592 x 1944 pixels.
——-
“Martian Tree Canopy SolarScape” [20th November 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, original [edited] photograph, digital image 2592 x 1944 pixels.
My original photographs of ten artistic compositions were taken in Autumn on 19th November 2022 with my compact field camera whilst out for a refreshing nature walk.
“My Violin Sketch” [30th October 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, sketch with HB and 4B pencils, signed in black ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digital image 1700 x 1990 pixels.
Original freehand sketch drawing.
The first draft to this sketch was completed in approximately 30 minutes. A final draft was made the following day to accentuate the violin details.
I purchased my violin in the mid-2000’s, taking rudimentary time to practice bowing to gain any kind of notes from its beauty.
It was at this time I made “Violin Composition No.1”. here, immediately below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCczkbiDsk2/ (please note this is not the full composition. Notes are near repeated on the E string). I shall play the full composition version at the earliest and post this to my social media in due course for you.
Here is the original photograph of my violin, shown below, with the general composition you see in the sketch. To make good of the arrangement I placed the bow next to the violin:
“My Violin #1 – Photograph” [18th September 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.
Look at my beautiful violin. Well made musical instruments are truly a wonderment to our senses. I believe with the violin slightly angled in the sketch it appears to be in a natural position, as if being played.
I cannot describe in words how much I love my sketch and my actual violin. The violin sketch is delighting me in full view through the day whilst I prepare same for storage. The first draft was completed so quickly I can barely believe my own work.
Inspired so greatly I really feel this could produce a phase of architectural, mechanical and engineering artworks.
Further musical compositions by me here (headphones or good speakers are best):
“Violin Composition No.2” [September 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, immediately below:
“Galaxies Reverberation #10” [12th October 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, drawing in H, HB, 4B, 8B pencils with charcoal, signed in black ink on A3 250g/m² mixed media paper, digitally edited artwork image 3651 x 2609 pixels.
A quick blog article documenting recent artworks.
Shown above is a Galaxies drawing including galactic reverberation 📢. Galaxies Reverberation #10 features charcoal galaxial drum-swirls with fingerprint multimedia :).
Just prior in my order of works is a fun charcoal piece entitled “Charcoal Seismic Galaxies #1”, shown below:
“Charcoal Seismic Galaxies #1” [16th September 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, drawing in H , HB, 4B, 8B and charcoal (s) (h) pencils with charcoal stick for contrast detailing, including underdrawn geometric lines in (HB) pencils, signed in black ink on A3 250g/m² mixed media paper, digitally edited artwork image 3716 x 2675 pixels.
“Charcoal Seismic Galaxies #1” continues my scientific themed seismic waves into [charcoal] galaxies.
I feel both these works likely look much more dramatic and interesting than they might appear online. Galaxies Reverberation #10 has a cool light effect when lighting is placed in a swirling motion around the piece. The silvery looking Saturn-like rings reflect the light.
“Hayfield Meadow Grasses” [16th August 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, drawing with H, HB, 4B and 8B, signed in black ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 2683 x 3110 pixels.
“Hayfield Meadow Grasses” is a pencil canvas produced from two photographs dated 2121hrs 8th July and 2044hrs 15th August 2022.
The main composition is produced from the earlier photo. Cottongrass (mid-centre-right) is added for artistic effect from the latter photograph. I kept the cottongrass macro-composition derived from its same image.
The artwork is in the style of plant pressings found in botanical books. Also, early scientific drawings, which date at the least throughout the past two millennia.
The artwork is made within 30 minutes.
Here is the photograph taken 2121hrs 8th July:
Here is the photograph taken 2044hrs 15th August 2022:
As you can see with comparing my artwork with the photographs, I included two buttercups and the sense of the meadow grasses moving. The cottongrass in the latter photograph features three horizontal and three vertically placed depictions of same.
Whilst I did not try to fashion a face from the cottongrass, it does seem to appear as such. Likewise the buttercups take a similar form, appearing as eyes. I absolutely love this piece. Quite honestly it’s as perfect as I would hope for in my ‘planning’ an artwork.
I write ‘planning’ [an artwork] since I rarely do so. Most of my work is spontaneous as I draw or paint etc.
In fact in my rather spontaneous mood, please let me share with you an artwork I made on/before 29th June 2022, in around one hour and ten minutes. Entitled: “Gosling Walking About”:
“Gosling Walking About” [29th June 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, drawing with H, HB, 4B, 8B and charcoal stick, unsigned on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 3026 x 2567 pixels.
I didn’t sign “Gosling Walking About” at the time as I was unsure if I loved the artwork. I do. Although I shall probably not sign this artwork for no reason whatsoever. Except.. I love this as it is on the canvas.
More spontaneity. Here are two dog artworks. Two different young dogs from within my family. I’m not sure I ever drew a dog before as an adult, to be perfectly honest.
The first is “Untitled Dog Portrait”:
“Untitled Dog Portrait” [24th December 2021] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, drawing with H, HB, 4B, 8B, green, yellow, blue and black pencils signed in blue ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 2762 x 3462 pixels.
Surprisingly for the artwork, “Untitled Dog Portrait” features a very energetic family doggie.
Next we have a second family dog, a mischievous cute puppy, I shall call “Untitled Dog Relaxing”:
“Untitled Dog Relaxing” [9th July 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, drawing with H, HB, 4B and 8B, signed in black ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 3400 x 2890 pixels.
This family pup found it all rather hilarious for me to chase him as he ran around with some garden flowers in his mouth the other day. Here, he is pictured relaxing under some shade looking at me in July.
“Hayfield Oak Leaves – Original” [12th August 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, drawing with H, HB, 4B and 8B, signed in black ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 2642 x 3116 pixels.
Following on from my previous series “Cluster of Oak Leaves” [CLICK link to see}, my new work entitled “Hayfield Oak Leaves – Original”, shown immediately above, is a digital Edition from a different pencil canvas composition than my ‘Cluster of Oak Leaves’ version.
The “Hayfield Oak Leaves” series you see on this blog page is produced from a photograph dated 1948hrs 3rd August 2022.
The photograph is from the same young Oak tree, yet different leaves. Additionally these latter series of works are in ‘Portrait’ rather than ‘Landscape’ as viewed on the canvas and photograph.
“Hayfield Oak Leaves – Green” [12th August 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, original drawing with H, HB, 4B and 8B, signed in black ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 2642 x 3116 pixels.
“Hayfield Oak Leaves – Green” [12th August 2022], shown immediately above, is a digital Edition of my original pencil canvas version, in Green.
“Hayfield Oak Leaves – Mirrored” [12th August 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, original drawing with H, HB, 4B and 8B, signed in black ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 2642 x 3116 pixels.
“Hayfield Oak Leaves – Mirrored” [12th August 2022] is a Mirrored digital Edition of my original pencil canvas artwork. The Original is shown at the top of this article.
‘Mirrored’ makes known the importance of conservation and reversal of manmade-climate-change/environmental-destruction for humanitarian reasons.
My favourite detail is the large leaf above my signature. In all three compositions this resembles a chameleon. This is pure chance. I did intentionally choose not to add further detail to this particular leaf, just because I liked it that way.
In ‘Mirrored’ this same leaf appears as four chameleons. For me I see moose, elephants, teddy bears and flying squirrels in ‘Mirrored’. All pure chance.
My artwork also has spiritual value. ‘Mirrored’ [unknowingly by me] is similar to slave-like symbology I have seen from the early 20th century. Signs used to help black Americans in the early 1900’s.
Therefore, to me, my artwork is directing us as human beings. Through nature itself – nature as a slave to mankind’s custodianship of Earth, to kindly provide it with safe passage from environmentally harsh human activities.
Here is the original photograph:
“Hayfield Oak Leaves – Photograph – unedited” [1948hrs 3rd August 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.
I loved this composition upon composing the arrangement within my camera. I knew I needed to sketch this. “Hayfield Oak Leaves – Original” is produced within one hour. These pieces are personally exploratory, experimentation with the ‘idea of oak leaves’ in an Impressionist style.
In my works I hope to provide layers of my thought streams with you.
The Unfathomable Artist 