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Showing posts with label illustrations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label illustrations. Show all posts

Monday, 16 March 2020

The shyness of a Hare...



Dear reader,

Last fall on the island of Texel, we had rented a real nice cottage where we could do our own thing. We often like to sleep late while on holiday and when one is in a B&B you have to be around for breakfast at nine in the morning. So, we were quite at home in our cottage. We made our own breakfast when we felt like it, went for walks and cycling tours and slept late when we felt like it. Of course my notebooks and sketchbooks and art materials that I needed accompanied me to get through the rainy days.

Close to the end of our stay, we had one particular wet day. However as the sun set, the rain subsided a bit. Just as I wanted to get my coat to go for a walk with my hubby, I saw this hare! She was fast and very pretty. I rushed to get my camera and raced outside... I followed the hare into the bushes and thought I wouldn't get a shot at it, but then all of a sudden it stood still: There in the middle of the dunes. I must have taken some ten or twenty shots when it started running again and left me in awe. What a beauty it was, she made my day! As I returned soaking wet to the cottage (it had started to rain again, and I hadn't noticed)  I was deliriously happy with what I just witnessed. Such a little animal, yet so gracious!

Today I had the opportunity to explore some new mixed medium techniques to further develop my own style. I had such a ball with this little beauty of a hare! She makes me think of that day on holiday in the fall but also of Easter, chocolate eggs and springtime. Even though the Corona virus is throwing a major damper on our lives, seeking the things we love doing help us get through it!


Stay safe, and till next time!
Astrid




 Watercolour and mixed medium on A3 paper  
© Artwork by Astrid Keus (March 2020) 
Resources: Ana Santos

Monday, 23 September 2019

About tigers...

Many years ago, when I was still at the National School of Arts, (Die Kruin) South Africa, we had a very interesting prescribed book for the German language. The story was about a tiger in India, and how it was considered a very sacred animal in their culture. The book fascinated me endlessly and I found the tiger to be one of the most beautiful animals in the world. Not only did the story about the tiger introduce me to the Indian culture, but also how one needs to preserve these nearly extinct species for the future!

As an animal lover, especially for anything 'catlike',  I challenged myself to draw the tiger in pastel pencils. I was pretty pleased with this one... :)


Illustration of a tiger
Size:A3 framed
Medium: Pastel Pencil on Clairefontaine Pastelmat
Photography: Jason Morgan, with kind permission
© Artwork by Astrid Keus (June 2019)

Thursday, 12 February 2015

Tuesday, 29 July 2014

Wednesday, 25 June 2014

Water colour illustration 2014

Bird of different feathers


illustration of a bird in watercolours, size: 24x32cm
© Astrid Keus   February 2014