Thursday 8 November 2012

Back from the Printers




Some of my early work came out of retirement for a new lease of life in the hands of my brilliant printers. It was like working with old friends again. We lived near both buildings during our early days. The former in Germany (1961 - 64 and 1979 - 83), and the latter in Wiltshire - Lacock Village (most of my kids young lives).

The village has been used as a film and television set, notably for the 1995 production of Pride and Prejudice, the 2007 production of  Cranford . It has also made brief appearances in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Most recently, in the Spring of 2012, it was a filming location for the fantasy adventure movie Mariah Mundi and the Midas Box which is scheduled for release in 2013... you saw it here first folks!


click on image
                  Cologne Cathedral      
                         17 inches x 11 inches              
          Pen & Ink on Cartridge Paper 
Sign of the Angel
                13 inches x 8 inches            
    Pen & Ink on Cartridge Paper

38 comments:

  1. Spectacular as usual. When you're hot, you're hot. Live it, love it.

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  2. Some artists I admire and hope I can get to draw like them; your art I admire and just let it go at that, as like the Hymalaya's for me it's unattainable.
    But admire I can and do!

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    1. How kind, Lynn, thank you. But your quilts look like they were made in heaven?

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  3. Magnificent drawings all, John!!! BRAVO!

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  4. The Cologne Cathedral is amazing. Hows are your eyes holding up? Yes, I know it was done with younger eyes, but still!
    Love sign of the Angel too.

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    1. Considering I went blind in one eye for 6 months, had a retina prob... they seem to be working ok.

      They are, however, suspicious of each other and keep watching each other closely ;)

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  5. wow....more brilliant work....perfect!

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  6. Hard to even believe they have been drawn by a human hand.
    Do you have a scanner between eye and hand much more efficient than any equipment!
    You are very stunning draftsman, dear John!!!

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    1. Thank you Rita ... Cologne Cathedral is one of my favourite buildings it is always a pleasure to dwell amongst its spires.

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  7. Fabulous work, John! Amazing detail, esp. in the Cologne cathedral! I was wondering, John, is it wise to show such high quality pictures on your blog, without protecting them from copying? Maybe a copyright statement on them?

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    1. Judy, you are so kind.

      How do I do that? I can see the wisdom in your words

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  8. As brilliantly executed as the church building is, I must say that I am so drawn (no pun intended) to the second. I love these small village buildings like this one. So quaint!

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    1. It's a quaint little village isn't it? So glad you liked it Sherry

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  9. Hi john, two magnificent drawings. I find really impressive the details of the cathedral, I wonder if you use to draw a magnifying glass or special glasses. Great works! Ciao!

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    1. Always nice to see you, Tito. I think the secret for me, is to draw it large and then print smaller. There is little demand for originals in pen and ink, but there is a market for good quality prints. I wear glasses, but I use nothing special. Ciao!

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  10. Both of these are fantastic John. You never cease to amaze me with how much detail you put in in your drawings. The Cathedral is an architectural masterpiece but the 'Angel' is oozing with character. I'm off to break my pencils.

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    1. Thank you, John. Your pencil drawings are second to none - it was the one you did of the Lake District that first got my attention

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  11. Hi John,

    Magnificent! I am always in awe of your brilliant work. Another Bravo, my friend.

    All the best to you,
    Joan

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  12. Thank you, Joan. I'm glad 'Sandy' passed you by, but no word on Hilda

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  13. Both are fantastic drawings and I can hardly believe the incredible attention to detail in the cathedral. I would not be surprised if you became permanately cross eyed after doing that! And I love the delicate rendition of the Angel drawing. Each so different, both so masterful.

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    1. Its like anything else, Susan, I just focus on the detail I'm drawing ...it ends up a complex series of individual details. It rakes me ages to see it as anything else, but eventually I see it as a completed picture.

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  14. Ciao John,
    anch'io sono sempre in soggezione di fronte ai tuoi lavori, sono sempre maestosi e iper dettagliati ...Posso chiederti quanto tempo impieghi per disegnare un lavoro come la "cattedrale di Colonia"?
    In ogni caso, sono magnificenze le costruzioni, ma anche i tuoi disegni!!
    Ciao, ciao, Floriana

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    1. Cologne cathedral took weeks. The problem with ink is that there is no turning back and very little chance of correcting an error. So with a drawing like the cathedral, there is a chance of ruining it after 10 days work and having to start again.

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  15. These works are superb, John ... each quite beautiful in their own way! :)

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  16. The detail in your drawings is remarkable! I can't imagine where you would begin! They are wonderful :0)

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  17. John - wow. Cologne cathedral is an amazing structure and how you capture so much detail in perfectly replication of the real thing always amazes me. The second one, I don't know the place but it looks beautiful - very quaint and 'Olde English'!

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  18. The precision and details of your drawings always amaze me - the perfect perspective, etc. But there is more than that. These are amazing drawings, beautifully executed - I can't believe you did them so long ago. I would have thought that you'd just now be working up to this. Excellent drawings.

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    1. Thanks, Dan! Just got back from London... it will be a day or two before I get back to blogging properly. I still don't know if I could do Cologne Cathedral like that again... it was a time when everything seemed to work out well

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  19. John, I'M BACK and I'm okay...thank you SO much for your concern. I feel like my blogger friends are my family..So emotional! The storm has taught me how fragile life is and how the community stands together at a time like this. Tomorrow Fema will be at my house to check out the damage. It is nothing compared to what my neighbors had. Some had 6ft of water in their house. I only had 8 inches which damaged my washer and dryer and boiler...Their entire life is out on the curb..Very sad!!

    As always, I'm speechless with your work...You are amazing, my friend ...the patience and talent is incredible!!

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    1. Thank goodness for that, I've been so worried for you, Hilda. I grew up on an island in the Thames Estuary that was prone to flooding and wild weather, so I know how you must all feel. I've just seen this on my return from London, hence the delay in replying

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  20. thought of you when we visted cologne ...stunning work john

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  21. Thank you, Jane - we loved living in Cologne

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