Thomas Barwick

A Medieval Crone

Jenny & Moo

Here's a new one done with a reed pen, i love how pooped Jenny my Mrs looks, if you like this drawing then click on the link 'Bobble & Moo' on the right to see a few more. Reed pens really are amazing i cannot recommend them enough to all you inky fingered types.

The Virgin of the Flight into Egypt

Another drawing from a stone carving by Gislebertus but putting even more of the knowledge from looking at Thomas Bewick into the process.

St Michael

Drawn from a carving at the Cathedral of Autun in France, 12th Century the carving is by The master Gislebertus, who carved almost all the sculpture in Autun. I'm very pleased with this one the simplification is really working and i can see how the whole book could look.

Here the Brute Harpies make their Nests - New CD design

Here's the principle artwork for the new Julian Gaskell and His Ragged Trousered Philanthropists , it's called 'Here the Brute Harpies Make their Nest' a line from the book from which the bands name is taken.

Portrait of Tom ( not me another Tom )

Did a bit of drawing for a new CD cover for Julian Gaskell last week, and had a go at a portrait of Tom who plays the double bass with them, its not a totally accurate likeness but a good drawing none the less, so i thought i'd post it, as it probably wont feature on the final artwork. Check out the band here the new CD is mixed and will be out soon.

FREE DESKTOP ART

click on the link to download this image for your desktop its about 900k
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I drew all these people on the train this year, kind of from memory and kind of observed, so i'd observe them but then they'd be
gone as the train pulled out and i'd invent the rest. I made them so small after looking at wood engravings by Thomas Bewick, he drew these tiny little people that are amazing, i'll scan some and add them at some point.

Eve - Cathedral at Autun

This is a drawing from a stone carving by Gislebertus, who worked at Autun from 1125 till 1145 carving many beautiful sculptures.
This drawing is a detail of a carving he made of 'Eve' i am really enjoying the process of turning a photograph of a carving into a drawing. I wonder if Gislebertus worked with a model and in some way i am drawing a real woman from the 12th Century. Here is a great quote from Denis Grivot's book ' Twelth Century Sculpture in the Cathedral at Autun' about Gislebertus. " The precision of his method, his discipline, moderation as well as boldness, his deliberate distortions, and his sweetness, when considered necessary." Not a bad prescription for what i want my drawings to hold inside them and they are certainly developing in the right direction. BUT imagine the skill required to invest this level of subtle expression of human traits into a block of stone, quite remarkable.

Bamboo pathway at Trebah Gardens Cornwall

Nice page in the new 'Visual Dictionary of Illustration'

Its published by AVA, i love that i am illustrating 'Interpretation' this is great for me as i am trying more and more to work in this way and respond to text, especially the Chekhov short story i want to illustrate, but haven't as yet. Though i am building up some great Russian angst about not having got around to it yet, so that OK so long as i do eventually take it on.
Here's the image as it appeared in my own book 'Ratio' it was done as a series of illustrations that where an interpretation of the work of the visionary Sci Fi author John Brunner, of whom i am a massive fan, specifically a book called 'The jagged Orbit'.