Don't forget what an great gift idea our hand signed illustrations are for your loved ones this Christmas. Have a look around this site and find something special.
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| Gift ideas for Christmas! |
The Art of England: Paintings of England: Buy original drawings and hand signed prints.
Wednesday 4 December 2013
Tuesday 12 November 2013
Original art now available in London!
We have pleasure in announcing a great new location to buy our original London drawings and illustrations: The Londoner's Home in Islington N1. The fascinating shop is well worth a visit - a artist and designer/maker's own vision - an eclectic mix of original arts, objects, curios and fashion pieces all created in the UK by true artisans. It is a living breathing workshop.
So, do pop in and say hi to Louie Eden Brown, the owner, and Billy his faithful Dachshund!
Illustrations for sale here are:
The Londoner's Home
Upstairs at:
294 Upper Street
Islington
London N1 2TU
07956 500925
Thursday 10.30am to 7pm
Friday 10.30am to 6.30pm
Saturday 10.30am to 6.30pm
Sunday 11.30am to 5.30pm
www.louieedenbrown.com
So, do pop in and say hi to Louie Eden Brown, the owner, and Billy his faithful Dachshund!
Illustrations for sale here are:
- Tower Bridge
- The Palace of Westminster
- Westminster Abbey
- St Paul's Cathedral
- Buckingham Palace
London Stockists:
The Londoner's Home
The Londoner's Home
Upstairs at:
294 Upper Street
Islington
London N1 2TU
07956 500925
Thursday 10.30am to 7pm
Friday 10.30am to 6.30pm
Saturday 10.30am to 6.30pm
Sunday 11.30am to 5.30pm
www.louieedenbrown.com
Wednesday 10 July 2013
The Bull Theydon Bois Print
Theydon Bois is a little village right on the fringes of Epping Forest - a former Royal forest. The Bull has long stood as a public house, and here my pen and marker drawing pictures it in the winter snow.
The Bull ,Theydon Bois, Essex.
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2013
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| The Bull, Theydon Bois |
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2013
See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps!
Tuesday 9 July 2013
Sketch of The Sail Lofts, Tollesbury
I sketched these Grade II listed Sail Lofts in Woodrolfe Road whilst visiting Tollesbury in Essex. They are hard to miss as you approach the marina along Woodrolfe Road, and have a charm all of their own. I should imagine it would keep an exterior painter very busy during a lifetime (as well as a carpenter), but what a lovely nest of lofts they are.
Tollesbury Parish Council's website tells us that the "Tollesbury Sail Lofts were built c.1900 to serve the local fishing fleet and probably the great J class yachts which were owned by wealthy Edwardians and skippered around the Mediterranean by men from Tollesbury. The most well known of these yachts, 'Flying' was entered by Tommy Sopwith in the Americas Cup."
Original sketch of Sale Lofts, Tollesbury, Essex
Hand signed A4 Print of pencil sketch on 90lb watercolour paper £14.99
Original 13.5" x 10" pencil sketch on 140lb watercolour paper £55
© All illustrations Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012
Tollesbury Parish Council's website tells us that the "Tollesbury Sail Lofts were built c.1900 to serve the local fishing fleet and probably the great J class yachts which were owned by wealthy Edwardians and skippered around the Mediterranean by men from Tollesbury. The most well known of these yachts, 'Flying' was entered by Tommy Sopwith in the Americas Cup."
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| Tollesbury Sail Lofts |
Original sketch of Sale Lofts, Tollesbury, Essex
Hand signed A4 Print of pencil sketch on 90lb watercolour paper £14.99
Original 13.5" x 10" pencil sketch on 140lb watercolour paper £55
© All illustrations Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012
See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps!
Wednesday 3 July 2013
How to Draw lesson - Buildings
I thought it would be interesting to show how to draw the various stages of an illustration using a mixture of dip pen, indian ink and watercolour. I have chosen this drawing of St. Paul's Cathedral in the heart of London for the How to draw lesson.
How to draw lesson stage 1:
Composition
Composition is all important - consider a focal point and use diagonal lines of interest to almost subliminally point towards them. These can quite naturally happen in most scenes if you stand in the right place, so have a good walk around and consider adding furrows, branches and clouds that gently bring the eye to the most interesting part of your composition. Using a little more detail in these focal areas can have the same effect. Be 'loose' where you don't wish the viewer to settle their gaze.
How to mark out your drawing
I meticulously pencil out all the keylines of the drawing in soft graphite pencil on heavy watercolour paper. This type of paper will resist the cockling effect of water painted onto its surface. Use a soft pencil and don not press too hard. Don't be afraid to use a rubber if you get the wrong outlines - this is quite normal. Tidy up any stray lines with a putty rubber - this type of rubber is expensive but they last forever and don't leave tiny pieces or polish the paper like a traditional rubber.
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| How to draw stage 1: Sketch out in pencil |
How to draw lesson stage 2:
Work out where your lightest points will be. Masking fluid (rather like weak Copydex) helps to keep any white areas away from the colour wash so apply fluid. I the picture below you might just see the slightly yellow fluid where my points of white will be. You can freely paint straight over the dry fluid, and very easily rub off at the end.
I use diluted Indian ink to capture all tonal differences of drawing and start to bring it to life. Test out the tone on a spare piece of paper before placing your colour on your painting, although you do have a few seconds where you can rescue fresh paint with a dry piece of tissue if a disaster happens.
How to paint sky
This sky starts as pure water on the paper to make the clear sky ready to accept tone. I introduce ink and let it bleed and diffuse just like the real sky starting from the top which is darker. The ink needs help to reach the horizon which can be done with a weak or dry brush. I turn the picture 180˚ and tilt slightly so any ink bleeds skywards so you have the heavier tone at the top of the painting. Whilst still wet and fresh, the sky can be lifted off by using soft tissue which reveals the white paper again to ease in fluffy white clouds.
Let each tone of paint dry between stages, you can use a hair dryer to speed this process up. If you apply new tone to a damp part of the painting you can create interesting cauliflower-like blooms, but practice this first to see how different dampnesses react to fresh ink.
Dragging a nearly dry brush at a very tilted angle across the texture paper produces another pleasing effect, but again practice will make perfect. You can see this technique at the foot of my drawing.
How to paint light and shade
Do consider where the sun is in the sky and where it bathes surfaces. The correct placement of shadows are essential to give the three dimensional realism. I tend to cautiously add more and more tone for shadows, as it's OK to tone darker in stages allowing the previous wash to dry. What's difficult to recover from is if you over-do first time round.
Strangely enough you can rub out pencil lines through the ink at the end, but I think seeing the skeleton of pencil lines adds to the flow of the painting. If you rub hard in the same place with the rubber you can start to lift off the ink, which can be used for effect.
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| Stage 2: Apply indian ink wash / watercolour |
How to draw lesson stage 3:
How to add depth to your painting
I use pen to outline all the key elements of St Paul's Cathedral and pencil for the far distance to give things a sense of depth. Lines in the distance should be finer and lighter to have a sense of regression. This means the foreground is likely to use dark bolder lines than the distance.
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| Stage 3: Apply pen work |
How to draw lesson stage 4:
I flick ink to suggest foliage or pick out the texture of the paper with the side of a soft black pencil letting the paper texture assist. The masking fluid can be rubbed off to real brilliant white either at the end to reveal pure white, or earlier and a light wash applied over the white areas to tint back a little.
If you wish, white highlights not already revealed or missed with masking fluid can be added with process white.
How to Paint trees
Trees are best drawn with a pencil from the ground upwards. Always mimic the way foliage grows. If using pencil start with a firmer broader line and gently ease the pressure as you get to the tip of a branch. Dab leaves on but hold the brush at the angle in which leaves sprout from branches.
How to draw buildings
On building surfaces and the ground always consider the texture of what you are drawing and always drag the paint across the surface in the same plane. If the brush dries during a long stroke it can actually look better than a constant wash - experiment!
The final result should all pull together. I often walk away and revisit it a hour later and see if anything obvious improvements can be made - does the focal point need strengthening? Do the shadow areas suggest bright sunlight or an overcast light? All these finer points can be addresses at this point.
How to draw time lapse movie
Many of the lesson's stages are shown in this time lapse movie of how to draw Buckingham Palace in London.
The finished framed print
See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps! |
Tuesday 2 July 2013
Map of my sketches in England
Here is a handy map to see where I have been recently with my sketchbook.You can click on the blue flags to see my pictures and write-ups.
View The Art of England in a larger map
Sunday 30 June 2013
Tollesbury drawings
Visiting Tollesbury and ambling through the apparent disorder of moorings and boats in the sunshine is a pure joy.
There is the bright red Lightship (Trinity) which seems to be on the horizon wherever your vantage point.
There's also the old weather-beaten sheds placed here and there and the Marina full of boats and their rigging tapping in the wind. A must visit as the stroll to the lightship is most pleasant across Woodrolfe Creek and the marshes.
There is the bright red Lightship (Trinity) which seems to be on the horizon wherever your vantage point.
There's also the old weather-beaten sheds placed here and there and the Marina full of boats and their rigging tapping in the wind. A must visit as the stroll to the lightship is most pleasant across Woodrolfe Creek and the marshes.
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| Tollesbury boat shed drawing |
Thursday 20 June 2013
Burnham Overy Windmill Commission
I completed this commission for a family who were to stay to celebrate a family member's birthday at the Windmill. What a lovely holiday and setting!
Print of Burnham Overy Staithe Windmill, Essex
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on 90lb watercolour paper £14.99
© All illustrations Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2013
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| Burnham Overy Staithe Windmill Colour Print |
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on 90lb watercolour paper £14.99
© All illustrations Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2013
See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps!
Tuesday 7 May 2013
Drawing of Cressing Temple Barns
Cressing Temple
The two 13th Century barns at Cressing Temple, Essex were host to an Antiques and Collectors fair last weekend and I took the opportunity to visit and look at all the curios and antiques on offer. The barns are truly magnificent and a worthy setting for this type of event.My pen, wash and pencil drawing takes in the two barns, fresh in spring sunshine and perhaps the first decent bathing of sunshine for a good few months. The scale is impressive - note the people I have penned in in my painting. Barley Barn (c.1205) is to the left of the illustration and the Wheat Barn is to the right (c.1257).
The Tudor walled garden is next on my list of Essex jewels that deserve some time spent in them with sketchpad. Watch this space and do get down there for yourselves. The site has been here since 1137 so why wait any longer? The Barns are located Witham and Braintree.
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| Drawing of Cressing Temple Barns |
Thursday 11 April 2013
Drawing of St Giles, Langford, Essex
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| St Giles Church Langford Essex |
St Giles Church in Langford
The subject for my drawing is the beautiful St. Giles Church in the village of Langford, near Maldon in Essex. I have the double-pleasure of not only being introduced to it for the first time and capturing its beauty, but next year I am honoured to be a best man to a close friend within its 11-12th Century walls. I am really looking forward to the build up to the day.My late afternoon illustration captures the low sun's light cutting across the grounds, with the mature trees casting their long finger-like shadows across the roads that pass two sides of the Church.
The church is believed to be Early Norman construction, and roman artifacts have been discovered on the site too.
Monday 8 April 2013
Local Greetings Cards
We have pleasure in announcing the launch of a range of 4 quality local greetings cards.
The first local greetings cards designs to be available as greetings cards are of Tiptree Windmill, The Jam Factory Tiptree), Maldon Promenade, and The Hythe (Maldon).The cards are an impressive size, measuring 9x5.5 inches (just under standard UK letter size so use a standard stamp). They are printed on quality stiff white card and are blank inside for your own personal geeting. The greetings cards come with a white matching envelope in cellophane.
At present the greetings cards are available from the Wilkin & Sons Tiptree Jam Shop, and the Cheap Shop in Church Road Tiptree. Other retailers will be announced shortly!
Buy Here
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| Essex Greetings Cards |
See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps!
Wednesday 3 April 2013
Drawing of 'The Chantry' in Billericay
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| Drawing of Chantry House, Billericay |
I have been told that Chantry House is Billericay's oldest building and dates back to 1510 (not 1501 as stated on the building). It was from this building that the Pilgrim Fathers set sail to settle in America Aboard the 'Mayflower'.
I recently walked with my wife the length of Billericay High Street on a bright but bitter spring day and visited all my old haunts that where I played as boy. We had a rather nice coffee in the little teashop in 'Slipped Discs' next door.
It was nice to finally sketch and pay homage to such an old building that has been ever-present on the High Street for centuries and seen many generations stroll past it's doors.
I hope you like my drawing and urge you to visit sometime. Prints available soon.
Original drawing of The Chantry, Billericay Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on 90lb watercolour paper £14.99
Original 12" x 9" pen, ink and watercolour on 140lb watercolour paper £125
© All illustrations Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012
See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps!
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| The Chantry in the 1930s |
Tuesday 2 April 2013
Billericay - 30 years on
I thought it might be fun to look back and see how the views I have illustrated have changed in the past 30 years in Billericay.
Not surprisingly, not a lot is my verdict. It was great walking the streets where I spent my childhood. I enjoyed an excellent coffee in the cafe/record shop next to the 'Chantry'. And so, I decided as my next work, to sketch the oldest building in Billericay. The 'Chantry' dates back to 1510 and is the place from which the Pilgrim Fathers embarked to settle in North America.
Keep watching and all the best to everyone in Billericay & the USA :-)
Not surprisingly, not a lot is my verdict. It was great walking the streets where I spent my childhood. I enjoyed an excellent coffee in the cafe/record shop next to the 'Chantry'. And so, I decided as my next work, to sketch the oldest building in Billericay. The 'Chantry' dates back to 1510 and is the place from which the Pilgrim Fathers embarked to settle in North America.
Keep watching and all the best to everyone in Billericay & the USA :-)
See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps!
Wednesday 13 March 2013
The Art of England on Facebook
We are now on Facebook too! Click the link to visit our pages - Don't forget to like please!
See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps!
Monday 4 March 2013
Drawing of St Peters Church, Great Totham
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| St Marys Church, Great Totham |
Drawing of St Peters Great Totham
St Peters Church in Great Totham, Essex is tucked away down a country lane on a S-bend so it's quite the pleasant surprise when you stumble upon it. Nestled between Maldon and Tiptree this church dates back to Norman times. The church is rich with character and is just as beautiful and historical inside.
The Church has special significance as we chose this Church for our wedding in May 2010 and have special memories of that special day. I drew a pencil sketch of it to grace our wedding invitations and order of service, so this is the second illustration of St Peters Church I have penned.
Hope you like my drawing this quintessentially English Church. It's worth a visit at anytime and if you are a local, well worth supporting. I have used pencil and ink and finished with pen and sharpie marker for my drawing.
Original drawing of St Peters, Great Totham Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on 90lb watercolour paper £14.99
Original 12" x 9" pen, ink and watercolour on 140lb watercolour paper £125
© All illustrations Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012
See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps!
Saturday 2 February 2013
Time Lapse drawing of Buckingham Palace
Drawing time lapse of Buckingham Palace
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| Time lapse drawing |
The drawing itself took about 2 hours and I have compressed it down into one minute.
I will make prints available on my website soon.
The movie is on YouTube and can be seen here: http://youtu.be/m1zGiufP5aU
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| Illustration of Buckingham Palace |
Original 12" x 9" pen, ink and watercolour on 140lb watercolour paper £195
© All illustrations Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012
See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps!
Monday 28 January 2013
Drawing of Maldon and its waterfront
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| Drawing of Maldon, Essex |
My Drawing of Maldon and its waterfront
New year's day 2013 was a bright, clear, slightly chilly morning in Essex.My wife and I decided to take a stroll from Heybridge into Maldon and along the promenade. Beauty was everywhere. Morris dancers dance and struck sticks outside the Queen's, the smell of chimneys laced the air and seabirds were flying in tighly packed groups like starlings are famed for, each sharp turn flashing white as the sun caught their wing surfaces. Hundreds of people were walking their dogs and strolling with their families to grab some post-Christmas fresh air and enjoy the free scenery. Beautiful.
I caught this view (how could one miss it?) looking back at the Hythe over the lazy curve of the Blackwater estuary. The drawing can be seen during its creation in time lapse here.
You must visit Maldon and enjoy for yourselves!
Original drawing of Maldon, Essex
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on 90lb watercolour paper £14.99
Original 12" x 9" pen, ink and watercolour on 140lb watercolour paper £125
© All illustrations Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012
See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps!
Wednesday 23 January 2013
We are now also on Tumblr
We have lunched a Tumblr page (Micro blogging social network) where you can follow us.
It can be accessed here theartofengland.tumblr.com
It can be accessed here theartofengland.tumblr.com
See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps!
Monday 21 January 2013
Drawing of Tower Bridge
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| Drawing of Tower Bridge |
Another iconic building from 1894, or rather bridge, in London. This drawing of Tower Bridge shows the world famous bridge that straddles the River Thames close to the Tower of London (hence it's name). The upper walkway gallery between the towers gives a great view of the Thames I must say.
The bridge has had a few incidents during its history, namely a double decker bus jumping a 3 foot gap as the bridge started to rise in 1952 and my favourite: (words from Wikipedia):
The Hawker Hunter Tower Bridge incident occurred on 5 April 1968 when a Royal Air Force Hawker Hunter FGA.9 jet fighter from No. 1 Squadron, flown by Flt Lt Alan Pollock, flew through Tower Bridge.
Unimpressed that senior staff were not going to celebrate the RAF's 50th birthday with a fly-past, Pollock decided to do something himself. Without authorisation, Pollock flew the Hunter at low altitude down the Thames, past the Houses of Parliament, and continued on toward Tower Bridge. He flew the Hunter beneath the bridge's walkway, remarking afterwards that it was an afterthought when he saw the bridge looming ahead of him.
Pollock was placed under arrest upon landing, and discharged from the RAF on medical grounds without the chance to defend himself at a court martial.
True Brit.
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on 90lb watercolour paper £14.99
Original 12" x 9" pen, ink and watercolour on 140lb watercolour paper £195
© All illustrations Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012
See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps!
Sunday 13 January 2013
Drawing of St Paul's Cathedral
I thought it would be interesting to show the various stages of illustration with one of my Pen and Ink drawings. I have chosen this drawing of St. Paul's Cathedral in the heart of London for the study.
Stage 1:
I meticulously pencil out all the keylines of the drawing in soft graphite pencil on heavy watercolour paper.
Stage 2:
I use diluted Indian ink to capture all tonal differences of drawing and start to bring it to life. This sky starts as pure water on the paper to make the clear sky ready to accept tone. I introduce ink and let it bleed and diffuse just like the real sky starting from the top which is darker. The ink needs help to reach the horizon which can be done with a weak brush. I turn the picture 180˚ and tilt slightly so any ink bleeds skywards. Whilst still wet and fresh, the sky can be lifted off by using soft tissue which reveals the white paper again to ease in clouds.
Masking fluid (rather like weak Copydex) helps to keep any white areas away from the wash so you should workout where highlights will be in your illustration and apply fluid.
Stage 3:
I use pen to outline all the key elements of St Paul's Cathedral and pencil for the far distance to give things a sense of depth. Lines in the distance should be finer and lighter to have a sense of regression.
Stage 4:
I flick ink to suggest foliage or pick out the texture of the paper with the side of a soft black pencil. The masking fluid can be rubbed off to real brilliant white. White highlights not already revealed with masking fluid can be added with process white.
Stage 1:
I meticulously pencil out all the keylines of the drawing in soft graphite pencil on heavy watercolour paper.
Stage 2:
I use diluted Indian ink to capture all tonal differences of drawing and start to bring it to life. This sky starts as pure water on the paper to make the clear sky ready to accept tone. I introduce ink and let it bleed and diffuse just like the real sky starting from the top which is darker. The ink needs help to reach the horizon which can be done with a weak brush. I turn the picture 180˚ and tilt slightly so any ink bleeds skywards. Whilst still wet and fresh, the sky can be lifted off by using soft tissue which reveals the white paper again to ease in clouds.
Masking fluid (rather like weak Copydex) helps to keep any white areas away from the wash so you should workout where highlights will be in your illustration and apply fluid.
Stage 3:
I use pen to outline all the key elements of St Paul's Cathedral and pencil for the far distance to give things a sense of depth. Lines in the distance should be finer and lighter to have a sense of regression.
Stage 4:
I flick ink to suggest foliage or pick out the texture of the paper with the side of a soft black pencil. The masking fluid can be rubbed off to real brilliant white. White highlights not already revealed with masking fluid can be added with process white.
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| Stage 1: Sketch out in pencil |
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| Stage 2: Apply indian ink wash / watercolour |
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| Stage 3: Apply pen work |
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St Pauls Cathedral drawing
See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps! |
Tuesday 8 January 2013
Illustrations on display
We think its important for customers to have a central point where all the art can be seen first hand and purchased.
We have started developing our displays for the original illustrations and prints for selected art galleries. We will post the first location on this site. Trade enquires are welcome at this stage.
We have started developing our displays for the original illustrations and prints for selected art galleries. We will post the first location on this site. Trade enquires are welcome at this stage.
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