“King James VI & I Oak Portrait Two”

“King James VI & I Oak Portrait Two” [shown above] was produced in two drafts. The first draft took 28 minutes 58 seconds. The second (final) draft next day took 7 minutes 40 seconds, tidying a few branches and adding further depth to leaves. A total of just under thirty-seven (37) minutes in all. I promptly signed the artwork afterwards.

The photograph was taken on 19th May 2020, three years ago precisely. I published those Oak photographs on my blog that very day. You can see those photographs by clicking the link here https://theunfathomableartist.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/conservation-local-nature-reserve/.

This sketch is very much as successful for its quickness and quality to produce as “Leafy Hollow”. You can see “Leafy Hollow” by clicking the link here https://theunfathomableartist.wordpress.com/2022/06/26/leafy-hollow/.

Each artist has their own ‘standard’ in terms of quality. For me, “Leafy Hollow” and this sketch “King James VI & I Oak Portrait Two” exemplify a ‘perfect’ artwork near effortlessly with regards to the time taken to complete from start to finish.

I view these visual works for the speed they are produced similar to an artist writing a chart topping song in 20 minutes.

To understand my reasoning here, it took me hours upon hours to get “Malevolence upon Trees” to the standard I hold every.. single.. time.. for my artworks. You can see “Malevolence upon Trees” here https://theunfathomableartist.wordpress.com/2021/04/24/malevolence-upon-trees/. The intricacy and complexity of the latters pencil work is clear though through all those extra hours.

Personally I happily delight whenever an artwork reaches ‘the standard’ much more quickly. This is more about efficiency as an artist than anything else. I noted Andy Warhol’s interest to produce masterpieces quickly. So too Basquiat and Monet.

Therefore I have sought to somehow emulate this work ethic when producing new pieces, if possible.

For instance, a professional actor can often absorb lines they need to learn for a role very quickly. Whereas an untrained person would take much longer to do so accurately. We could imagine professional translators and PA’s having a comparable ability. As an artist I view the swiftness of my working as part of the profession itself.

Of course, such beauties as the Sistine Chapel, time-honoured sculptures and Realist oils should not be hastily made. Often impressive intricacy and complexity requires reasonable time.

Here is the photograph inspiration for my latest sketch:

“King James VI & I Oak Portrait Two – photograph” [19th May 2020] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

I entitled my latest sketch as ‘Portrait Two’ since I class “James I VI Oak – Autumn Landscape” [27^th June 2022] as the first ‘portrait’ of this magnificent 1612 Oak tree. Whereby both sketches do not feature as part of a wider Landscape composition.

Hope you enjoy.

Lake Path in Street Lamp Light

“Lake Path in Street Lamp Light” was completed in three drafts totalling fifty-one minutes in all. The first draft felt like only several minutes had passed.

The photograph was taken on 2nd October 2022. From this I knew I would produce an artwork since the composition looked wonderful. It is the sort of composition artists enjoy making.

Lots of elements to create interest. Different lights, sky blue glimpses, leaves dappled under the lamps, a hardly perceivable metal fence and a sense of theatrical mystery.

“Lake Path in Street Lamp Light” is in the Impressionist style with some chance peculiar features.

Here is the photograph for my sketch:

“Lake Path in Street Lamp Light – photograph” [2nd October 2022 at 1928hrs] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

As per my usual art working for quick drawings I sketched straight from the photograph onto the canvas without prior study.

Interestingly I have ran along this pathway many times for leisure. I have visited this area since childhood with warm affection for all the surrounding beauty.

My sketch also picks up on how I personally viewed the pathway that evening. With some details more discernible in the darkness than they are from the photograph.

I wanted the shadows to look impressive, artistic and as delicious as possible. My three drafts took 37 minutes 07 seconds (all structures and shapes defined), 2 minutes 44 seconds (added one line detail to a wall) and 11 minutes 06 seconds (made the street lamp lighting effect the following day) to be precise.

Afterwards I promptly signed the canvas.

Hope you enjoy.

Orchard Trees in Hay Meadow with Icy Ridge Willow

orchard tree in hay meadow May 2023 Icy Ridge Willow Wildflower Meadow — “Orchard Tree in Hay Meadow” [9th May 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, quick sketch with H, HB, 4B and 8B pencils signed in black ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 3043 x 2596 pixels.

“Orchard Tree in Hay Meadow” was completed in just two drafts of 25 minutes and <15 minutes respectively. Just under 40 minutes in total.

Over 25 orchard trees were planted in Hay Meadow this year, 2023. Interestingly when I sketched “Wooden Walkway with Birds Feet” on the 5th and 6th January 2023, the orchard trees had not yet been planted. Standing from the same wooden walkway perspective, you would now see the orchard trees to the right.

I took various photographs, deciding upon this composition as one of the most artistic. Since these planted orchard trees are quite young (approximately several feet to twelve feet in height) they have a tree guard cage with an irrigation system around each tree to help them grow.

I believe this sketch is of a plum tree.

Here is the composition for my Orchard Tree sketch:

“Orchard Tree in Hay Meadow – photograph” [evening of 16th April 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

Next we have a sketch of Ridge Willow, immediately below:

“Icy Ridge Willow” [12^th May 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, sketch with H, HB, 4B and 8B pencils signed in black ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 2856 x 2415 pixels.

“Icy Ridge Willow” was completed in the first and only draft in just under 27 minutes.

The photograph was taken on 21^st January 2023 along with several other beautiful shots of the Nature Reserve in a misty fog. Including a short video of Meadow One, Wildflower Meadow.

For those interested in having a look at these, here is a selection of the finest compositions, starting with “Icy Ridge Willow – photograph” itself:

“Icy Ridge Willow – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

I loved the icy swirls on the ground. I knew in January I must sketch this photo.

Ridge Willow is south, directly adjacent/part of Hay Meadow.

“Wildflower Meadow Entrance no.1 Left – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

It is approximately 200 yards to the trees you see farground, from the gate.

“Wildflower Meadow SW Jan 2023 – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

Birds sing and nest in these trees. Top left there is a bat that flies nightly.

“Wildflower Meadow SW – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

This looks towards the gate entrance to Wildflower Meadow. To the mid-left is where “The Curious Face in the Pond“ [23rd Oct – 7th Nov 2021] was derived. The pond would be frozen on this day in January.

“Wildflower Meadow North – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

Here you see the King James VI & I Oak of 1612 (prominent tree, left).

“Wildflower Meadow WN – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

This faces west, with the fused horse chestnut tree to your left, the King James VI & I Oak of 1612 to the right, facing north.

“Hay Meadow Ground January 2023 – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

Am I the only one believing this photograph to be somewhat cool? Ice and snow, really cool.

“Wildflower Meadow Entrance no.2 Right – photograph” [21st January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

This photograph is slightly right of the central composition I produced in my sketch “Entrance to Wildflower Meadow” on 23rd May 2022. I thought these misty-foggy shots were interesting enough to include both here on my blog.

If you feel you could make a sketch from any of my photographs I am more than happy for you to do so.

Finally here is a quick video of Wildflower Meadow:

Hope you enjoyed my blog article, sketches and short video.

Mountain Home

“i have a mountain i call home,

it is a place no one knows,

no one [here] goes,

it is free to me,

i travel there everyday,

no one [here] can fathom,

they do not understand,

i make the mighty place a minnow,

the minnow place i make mighty,

i form a planet with my breath [my own breath within],

only so as to travel there one day i choose,

its dimensions i know [for i shall make it that way],

it will be one of my homes [for me],

for now i shall make this home lovelier,

as when the Tree were merely roots in the wet soils,

waiting for me as shade with our Sun.”

Kathy Lajvardi – Pop Artist

Kathy Lajvardi describes her inspiration for “Unbreakable Queens“.

The best way to introduce you to Kathy Lajvardi is to include a video in her own words describing the inspiration for her “Unbreakable Queens” Series of works (immediately above).

Kathy is immensely driven. A career spanning blue chip Corporate graphics design, film production stills/animation links, book publishing, musical artists photography and senior art direction. My blog article focuses specifically upon her own handmade painted artworks and high quality prints.

Music is a powerfully evocative platform to communicate emotions and ideas. Like Pop Art master Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kathy Lajvardi involves music in her artmaking process. Her video explains her great love of music and culture being direct artistic influences.

We live in a tough world commercially. Women worked in a male-dominated world in the late 19th Century, even in historically colonial empires. A quick look at the Suffragettes Movement in the United Kingdom in the early 1900’s highlights that women have not always had a fair deal with working opportunities and the generalised rights afforded to men.

With oppression occurring particularly against women in various places people naturally gravitate to highly successful artists such as Beyonce and Madonna. Go-getters, trailblazers, international superstars in a predominant man’s world.

Of course, Westernised norms do not necessarily mean successful societies. Poverty, crime and inequality blights numerous nations regardless of religion, status or working opportunities. There is a swathe of populist movements/trends sweeping the globe primarily through emotional sentiments fuelled via technological communication. It is clearly wise to keep the laws of a land to avoid certain difficulties.

So what can people do with injustice?

Kathy Lajvardi has art as an outlet.

Building upon a rising backdrop of female empowerment Kathy uses symbolism within her work in multi-layered and carefully considered ways to get her message across.

Ancient Persia extolled the literal height of artistic representation along with ancient Egyptian and other Mesopotamian cultures. Therefore it is only meet that Kathy would draw upon her Iranian roots as an artist growing up in California.

Kathy Lajvardi with her “Unbreakable Queens Series” and “Unstoppable, Break” artworks.

You have planned your work, thrown your heart into the project. We should rightfully be proud with personal achievements.

Art is often surprisingly hard work. Social media allows artists to become known, personally. Their dreams, aspirations, how they feel as individual persons. Insights into their lives.

I see multi-facets to Kathy’s personality through her artwork and social media. A woman whom confidently negotiates the commercial world through academic learning, experience, networking and malleability.

“Malleability – the ability to be easily changed into a new shape.” – Cambridge Dictionary.

“**Unbreakable Queens Series**” by Kathy Lajvardi featuring ‘**Queen Beyonce**‘, ‘**Queen Madonna**‘, ‘**Queen Googoosh**‘ and ‘**Queen Janet’.**

Let me present to you dear Readers one of my spontaneous word associations with regards to the art I see in the “Unbreakable Queens Series” by Kathy Lajvardi:

Tackling challenges head-on, living up to expectations, responsibilities, despair followed by hope, affinity to a higher power, pensive humbleness, patience – all with stylised iconography.

“**Unstoppable, Rise**” and “**Unstoppable, Break**” by Kathy Lajvardi featured in exhibition gallery space.

Kathy incorporates Iranian history and heritage in “Unstoppable, Rise” and “Unstoppable, Break“.

The crowns in her Pop Art works represent past Iranian monarchy. The lion head is seated upon a woman’s body. Iran’s national flag colors are visible to bring a sense of hope. Kathy’s artworks are very intricate, vibrant with sophistication.

I thought I would post a photograph from Wikipedia of Googoosh from an earlier concert, here:

**Googoosh** performing in **Tehran** *prior* to 1979.

Googoosh is an inspiration to Iranians. A beautiful lady with a strong voice, critically acclaimed in music and films for decades. Here is a list of some of her secular achievements:

1971: first prize and gold record at the Midem trade fair in Cannes (as “Gougoush”) performing two songs in French.

1973: The best actress for Bita in Iranian Sepas film festival

2014: Best Iranian Female Singer (World Music Awards)

2017: Best Music Video For Do Panjereh (Directed by Yasmin Asha) Festigious Film Awards March 2017

2022: Performed at the Expo Festival

[Quotations from Wikipedia).

For a female Iranian performer this shows the ability for people to celebrate the value of their national pride and unique culture.

It is no wonder why Kathy Lajvardi is inspired by an Iranian artist whose fame has transcended many decades. I wanted to get the sense of Kathy’s reasons for producing her recent artwork series. Googoosh is one of those reasons. It might surprise some in Western culture to believe Iranian culture has a rich heritage in films and music.

Whilst Kathy Lajvardi lives in Orange County, LA, (her family emigrating due to the late 1970’s political and military Iranian Revolution) she has a heartfelt yearning with her Iranian hometown and peoples.

What is greater.. the freedom for girls and women to engage in secular education or the bullet and the bomb?

It was the bullet and the bomb that brought about the Iranian Revolution in the late 1970’s.

King James Oak in Winter Snow

“King James VI & I Oak of 1612 in Winter Snow” [10^th January 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, drawing with H, HB, 4B, 8B and sky blue pencils, signed in black ink on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm gesso primed canvas [pad], digitally edited image 3130 x 2680 pixels.

For my new sketch drawing “King James VI & I Oak of 1612 in Winter Snow” my first draft took 45 minutes.

With the second final draft of 36 minutes I tidied the Oak detail, grasses were added/shaded, the Oak and trees defined, near-ground shadows darkened, striation lines added near the fence, fence posts and traces of the fence included, leaves far-ground details refined and then I immediately signed the artwork.

I made this quite sketchy with a sense of the cold winter beauty and lively as possible.

Here is my original photograph:

“King James VI & I Oak of 1612 in Winter Snow – photograph” [25th January 2021, 1452hrs] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

I take carefully composed photographs from time to time when I am walking about. As you can see, this photograph has brought a new artwork nearly two years on from when it was taken. The shadowy blue tones along with the nicely drawn Oak art my favourite details.

Sometimes after the first draft I wonder how I will make a sketch into an artwork. The first draft of “King James VI & I Oak of 1612 in Winter Snow” was instantly successful, as artists say. Therefore I knew it wouldn’t need too much for me to happily finish the fine details.

I briefly considered blending the blue tones before deciding that this style is exactly what the artwork required. Simplicity and raw construction with everything except the King James VI & I Oak of 1612. The latter becoming a focal point of the whole piece.

One hour and twenty-one minutes in entirety.

I love my new artwork and hope you like this too.

Icy Lake Photography

“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.

Hayfield Meadow Grasses & Creatures

“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.

Hope you enjoy 🙂

Rusted Cart of the Nature Reserve

My sketch above, “Rusted Cart of the Nature Reserve”, consists of approximately an hour-and-a-half to two hours of sketching/drawing work.

I took the photograph for the sketch composition earlier that first day, here it is:

“Rusted Cart of the Nature Reserve – photograph” [11^th February 2022] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist.

This is a sketchy mood-style artwork rather than drawing out intricate details. The composition is kept as true as possible. Areas that looked like eyes, in my sketch, have become highlighted for effect.

Although whilst I was happily sketching to reference the shade and branches, I do believe the idea of eyes is correctly placed into the landscape.

This is a fun piece of art, I hope you enjoy.

“these rains”

🎧 “these rains” video still version with audio, performed by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, 15th November 2021.

I thought it would be fun to include a handwritten version too:

“these rains” iron gall ink dip nib pen, first draft. Drops of rain can be seen as an idea on the canvas paper.

The Unfathomable Artist

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