“Rabbit in Meadow Sunset”

“Rabbit in Meadow Sunset” [17th June 2021] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist is my most recent Meadow Conservation series of sketched artworks. Featuring the fields of my local nature reserve.

It originally looked like this:

earlier draft version of “Rabbit in Meadow Sunset”

However, having subsequently photographed an adorable baby rabbit on one of my walks that day I decided to include the rabbit in my sketch.

I believed that for my Meadow Conservation series of artworks, the first draft was too eerie for the beauty I wished to highlight in the field. On the paper, the final version is slightly greater in contrast than in the first image above.

I think it looks even better when you actually see it for yourself, as the dark highlights are closer in values to the first draft on the paper.

Here is the cute lil baby rabbit.. it.. is.. really really.. a joyous little creature:

DIstant photograph of a baby rabbit on a field near Ridge Willow [June 2021]

Through my appreciation of past masters I am seeing the inspiration of Picasso, Van Gogh, and in this rabbit, Edvard Munch in my work. The style of my drawing the rabbit’s expression was completely chance, through over-sketching work on the paper.

Not until I zoomed in on the baby rabbit’s head did I see an unintended facial expression.

Immediately I thought, Munch of inspiration. I also chose to keep the ‘eyes in the grass’ just above right of the rabbit. A small dog went chasing the rabbits away, so perhaps this is why I inadvertently drew the rabbit showing ghastly surprise.

The reason I kept this expression in my artwork is to kind of picture the effect manmade negative climate change and habitat destruction is having on wildlife.

I might sketch this lovely baby rabbit again, to show its qualities in a non-stylistic, realist way.

Chess in Art

“Passing” [7th June 2021] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, sketch with 3H HB 3B pencils signed in black ink on A4 250gsm Artist’s paper.

This artwork title, “Passing” [7th June 2021] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, is a literal translation of an early board game called ‘Senet’ popular in ancient Egypt from at least c2600BCE – 3100BCE.

I have known to play the game of chess from an early age, due to my Dad having a great interest in chess throughout his life. Reading books, owning chess computers, playing over the board at chess clubs et al. My Dad was secretary at county and local club level.

I myself captained a local chess club playing home and away events, won a club classical over-the-board Swiss Tournament and made runner-up in a club classical over the board annual All Play All competition.

Here is my Swiss Tournament winner’s trophy in 2003 (without showing my personal name inscribed on the trophy for anonymity):

My Swiss Tournament 2003 Winner’s trophy won at a Chess Club over the board annual competition.

Every chess player appreciates that to receive a competition trophy is a very happy achievement. Even more so knowing some of my opponents had competed successfully at county level. One of my opponents from this 2003 tournament had previously drew a chess Grandmaster (GM) in an over-the-board simultaneous competition!

The reason I created this artwork shown above is for my love of chess, the beauty of the game and its place in art history.

Here is the spiritually symbolic ancient Egyptian board game of Senet being played by Queen Nefertari [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nefertari]:

Nefertari (1295–1255 BC) playing the ancient Egyptian game **‘Senet’** [photography of the wall relief by The Yorck Project – 2002)

As an artwork it’s particularly interesting to note Queen Nefertari is seated upon a square chequered drapered chair. Clearly we also see Senet pieces displayed in-game on the table board, not unlike modern chess pieces!!

This communicates to us the thinking abilities of ancient human beings, culturally, spiritually and intellectually. Whilst our sciences and some religious ideas might differ through centuries of new learning, human intelligence is really a preservation of society, our individual life course and personal/collective decisions.

“J’adoube”

“Buzzards Wood Hollow” – sketch

“Buzzards Wood Hollow” [9th June 2021] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, sketch with 3H HB 3B pencils signed in black ink on A4 250gsm Artist’s paper.

I photographed a few compositions of the entrance to Buzzards Wood via the central hollow from Meadow Three. This opening is directly opposite to Ridge Willow and Wrens Wood. There are three additional entranceways into Buzzards Wood.

There are four pathways within and immediately surrounding Buzzards Wood. Whenever I’m writing regarding Buzzards Wood I’m usually referring to the Nature Reserve area. However, Buzzards Wood technically also encompasses the wood to the rear (bow, north) beyond the Nature Reserve itself, in my opinion.

Buzzards fly regularly over the meadows, woods, and towards the north, where there is a local fishing pond. The post at the lower right of my sketch actually used to be a wooden bench. I rather hope it is restored as a bench as this is a great sitting place, centrally in Meadow Three.

Further along to this bench is a ‘watervole ground stone’. Rabbits do seem to enjoy using the flat stone surface as a convenient toilet, haha. A ‘rabbit ground stone’ can be viewed inside Buzzards Wood at the pathway crossroads, nicely covered by the shade of trees to enjoy. Rabbits frequent all three meadows, the private land to the west and all around the 29 acre lake to the south.

Another ‘ground stone’ meets with you to the left as one enters Meadow Three from Meadow One, walking up a small number of steps.

My sketch style in this article strongly reminds me of the beautifully artistic childrens animations I used to watch as a boy.

In keeping with that theme I included fanciful eyes and faces, Picasso-esque, to add fun to some of these series of artworks.

“the Rabbits of Ridge Willow – sketch one”

“the Rabbits of Ridge Willow – sketch one” really is a very quick simple sketch from a photograph of a rabbit at Ridge Willow.

I was stood still watching it lift up from its grass cover to chew some hay.

The first sketch session details were drawn ‘plein air’ in half an hour whilst I sat just in front of Ridge Willow, by their nearby burrow.

This artwork is purely fun. Discovering there were rabbits actually living on Ridge Willow is a delight of nature.

“Modulated Paragon”

“Modulated Paragon” – a poem by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, © 19th January 2021, poetry image text in UD Digi Kyokasho NK-B font.

‘Irrepressible enumerate tracks,

Grandiose entrepreneurial stacks,

Coracle floated entomological,

Diplomatical syntax categorical,

Stretched-out handed,

Gold lined annexati{A}n0n,

Electric arcing,

Maelstrom modulated Paragon,

Algebraic constanted Automat{e}-ion,

Forrader ravenous trajectory,

the Superlative Plenipotentiary,

Prepositionalled lattice crowned,

Elevationary.’

– a poem by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, © 19th January 2021.

“I Want To Change The World, Different Same” the higledi-pigledie version

“I Want To Change The World, Different Same” the ‘higledi-pigledie version’ [30th July 2020] – a saying by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, dip nib pen using original iron gall ink on A3 [180 gsm] Artist’s paper.

“I want to change the world by making it different and I want to change the world by keeping it the same.” derived from my original saying published on this blog 24th February 2015. Wrote in an electronic message to my dear Nan some time earlier.

The original blog articles containing my quote-saying in various constructive versions are available to read here:

Twombly and Distant Voices and A Dodecahedron.

Triple Seismic Waves with Oscillation #1

‘Triple Seismic Waves with Oscillation #1’ [July 2020] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, dip nib ink pen on A3 180gsm paper.

Spontaneously sharing my latest dip nib ink pen artwork using iron gall ink entitled ‘Triple Seismic Waves with Oscillation #1’.

Electronic oscillation produces pleasing visual effects. This artwork seeks to replicate the idea in drawing form using my free hand technique for the curved lines. I love scientific art. Curves, electronics, seismographs, oscillators, earthquakes, sound waves, along with the beauty of artistic courses.

For this artwork I use a nib that creates a double ink line due to the noticeably distant ‘tines’ of the metallic nib. The flow of ink is important with dip nibs where one is wishing to produce a continuous line across a ‘decent measure of time’ once upon the paper.

The effect of oscillation can been seen vertically in this artwork.

Oak Branch Astronomy

‘Kinin Valley’ [copyright 7th May 2020] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, digital photography.

Imagine NASA has just this second received new images from their distantly galactic travelling satellite probe. Kinin Valley, shown above, could have been photographed 100,000 miles from space. Detailing its epic landscape of cavernous valleys and Mars like red rock formations.

‘Nebulaic Cyclones with Wormhole Striations’ [copyright 7th May 2020] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, digital photography.

As the deep space probe passes over this alien lunar surface we see a huge meteor has struck an immensely dry area to our left in the above image, Nebulaic Cyclones with Wormhole Striations. Upper right we can make out what appears to be storm scars of ancient water erosion.

At the lower mid section of the image we observe heavy sloping, a natural quarry descending downwards towards us. An alien species has perhaps eaten into the landscape in worm-like striations, burrowing strange etches into this now lifeless moon.

‘The Helix Whorls’ [copyright 7th May 2020] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, digital photography.

NASA gathers together a team of specialist scientists to categorically figure out ‘The Helix Whorls’ phenomenon.

A time traveller probably visited last Wednesday, one million three hundred thousand years ago, at a time when sturdy shell covered creatures roamed this moon’s macro-phasic atmosphere.

‘Robur Canyon’ [copyright 7th May 2020] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, digital photography.

Mythical legends have spoken of monsters lurking in structures exactly as described in Robur Canyon. Dark matter without discernible mass, form or measurable depth causes disenchanted quietness upon anyone approaching its entrance ways – shown above, to the right and lower right, at two distinctive places.

‘Inescapable Monster Moon’ [copyright 7th May 2020] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, digital photography.

Similar in idea to our own Man in the Moon, this image conjures a vivid resemblance with the terrestrial deep sea Fangtooth, Anoplogaster cornuta. Actually the pit to the lower left could be 20,000 feet deep!

Imagination is Art.

type: The Unfathomable Artist

‘type: The Unfathomable Artist #1’ [19th February 2020] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, Digital Pop Artwork, MS Shell Dig 2 and Times New Roman fonts, 7016 x 4951 pixels, 600dpi, A4 Landscape format.

Digital Pop Artworks digitally produced to technologically articulate the need for global climate change policies.

Subtle version two shown immediately below, with the future idea to create written words and iconography throughout the blue canvas space:

‘type: The Unfathomable Artist #2’ [20th May 2020] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, Digital Pop Artwork, MS Shell Dig 2 font, 4412 pixels x 3981 pixels, 600dpi, A4 Landscape format.

Version three with Times New Roman ‘type’ font and ITC Kristen chosen for the main green yellow alternating Unfathomable text shown below:

‘type: The Unfathomable Artist #3’ [24th May 2020] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, Digital Pop Artwork, Times New Roman and ITC Kristen fonts, 7016 pixels x 4961 pixels, 600dpi, A4 Landscape format.

At the time of editing this page on 24th May 2020 I have started work on two oil paintings for my ‘type: The Unfathomable Artist‘ series of pop artworks. The blue screen backgrounds are already completed. I’m waiting for the refined linseed oil mixed within the oil paints to dry before adding the painted fonts.

I’m likely to choose version #3 as the first oil painting artwork for me to finish. Then version #1, as seen in these Digital Pop Artworks. The blue backgrounds already look delicious.

‘Clay Jug’

‘Clay Jug’ [2012] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, Sketch on A4 card paper.

Photograph taken by bending the card into a three dimensional curved form to emulate the physical properties of the clay.

I prefer that those appreciating my artworks might fully understand my interest in clay works such as this jug pictured. For clarification I’d like to share some of my reasons for loving clay works.

Firstly my hometown is quite literally referenced upon natural red clay itself. The area surrounding my birthplace is also notable for its Middle Ages trade in pottery. The jug dated sometime between the 12th to the 14th Century, sketch pictured, is on display at my local city museum.

It’s delightful to me that my early art classes included much clay making using my middle school’s professional kiln and glazes. Metal, wood, textiles and paper mache classes would all become a regular part of my week to week schooling growing up into high school.

17th July 1986 is the date I completed a pottery piece for my Grandad George. Even though my Grandad George passed away 2007 I still have that very pottery I gave to him in 1986. He kept it proudly on his windowsill for years where the Hills smile gently upon the Plains.

My early pottery piece makes me laugh to this day, particularly describing his exceptional sense of humour.

Love of clay works, to me, is all about an existential sense of Continuity.

The Unfathomable Artist

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