Portrait

This is a portrait I have been working on. It still has a way to go, but I thought you would be interested in seeing it as it is just now...

I am working on him in Photoshop.

Life Drawing

I mentioned in my previous post - Update, News and Outlander - that I was making changes, and taking my art in a new direction; well, on Tuesday night I took the plunge, and attended a life drawing class. As I looked around at everyone setting up drawing boards and easels, I realised that it was 15 years since I last attended one.

To warm up we did a series of 10 1 minute poses, then a 5 minute one, a 10 minute one and finally a pose that lasted 40 minutes. I'd forgotten how important the warm up is - it helps to get your mind settled, your hand working and, for me, a little extra time to dispense with the nerves.

Here's one of my sketches - and I can already see loads of mistakes and changes I would like to make...

Life drawing by Tracy Butler

...but it's a start.

I'll be going back in a couple of weeks.

Update, News and Outlander

It has been a while, to put it lightly, since I last posted; but I have been busy. And I realise that the last time I published anything was almost 2 years ago. Since then I...

...have made a lot of cakes...

...have been writing, and had a few things published...

...have been illustrating a book...

...and ultimately, have been working on an American TV series called Outlander based on the books by Diana Gabaldon (a Starz production). I worked within Breakdown and Dye in the costume department, where I took blow torches, cheese graters, mud and paint (among many other things) to costumes, making them look worn, loved, abused or just old. Here is the trailer.

A still from Outlander

In all the months I worked there, having a ball, I realised that I didn't give my cakes a second thought, but I really missed my art.

Soooooo, I'm starting again, with my paintings. However, I have had time (2 years) to think about my work, and things are going to change, my approach, tools, materials, subjects and general outlook.

I have a lot to do in order to get up to a standard I am happy with as I am making a lot of changes.

If you if will keep me company along the way, I will keep you up to date.