2nd May 2015

I did a doodle today as we are back from our break to the north coast of Wales. Fab fun and sandy mayhem enjoyed all round, but now we need to unpack, putting the washing machine on and collapse in a soggy happy heap.

It's always wonderful to be home.

1st May 2015

I did a doodle today as the final (for now) studies of the works of Ernst Haeckel. I have gone a slightly different way with this one, as the work of Haeckel I have picked shouted "PATTERNS" to me. I think you will see why.

Ascidian:
Ascidiacea (commonly known as the ascidians or sea squirts) is a class in theTunicata subphylum of sac-like marine invertebrate filter feeders. Ascidians are characterized by a tough outer "tunic" made of the polysaccharide tunicin, as compared to other tunicates which are less rigid. [ref Wikipedia]

Haeckel's study of Ascidian is so detailed and beautiful that I wasn't even going to try to mimic it - I couldn't! But I loved the patterns that these gorgeous 'sea squirts' (fab name) produced and wanted to try to develop one of the patterns. So here goes...

The beautiful studies of Ascidian by Ernst Haeckel:

My copy doodle:

My pattern development:

30th April 2015

I did a doodle today as the third of my studies of the works of Ernst Haeckel (see my blog post: Art Forms in Nature >).

This time it's the turn of the Discomedusae (jellyfish to you and me). I have a soft (no pun intended) spot for jellyfish, especially after my Ickle Monday cuties...

 

 

Now, there was no way I was going to do justice to doodles of the detailed, intricate mastery of Ernst Haeckel, but I have my own style and hope I have kept at least a wisp of the beauty that Haeckel created.

Here are my recreation copy-doodles:

And here is the beautiful work of Ernst Haeckel:

29th April 2015

I did a doodle today as part of my studies of the works of Ernst Haeckel (see my blog post: Art Forms in Nature >).

Today I have gone a bit botanic with my Nepenthes (also known as Tropical Pitcher Plants or Monkey Cups, the latter named because monkeys have been seen drinking out of them - I think that is a worthy picture to create in itself).

I think that not only are Haeckels drawings of these stunning, but the plants themselves are madly-beautiful. Big and bulbus and twisted in colour. I love them.

My recreation copy-doodle:

Ernst Haeckel's beautiful illustrated studies:

28th April 2015

Ernst Haeckel. Who? Indeed, I had not heard this name before the other week when I read a Penguin Blog where Suzanne Dean, the cover illustrator of Sara Taylor's 'The Shore', talks about her inspiration and design thought process.

Great blog read (http://penguinblog.co.uk/2015/03/24/the-shore-a-cover-story/)

Suzanne Dean's cover (below) is largely inspired by the biological illustrations of one Ernst Haeckel, a German biologist, naturalist, philosopher, physician, professor and artist. Haeckel discovered and produced detailed illustrations of many new species and he was a firm promoter of Charles Darwin's theories of evolution.

The beautiful cover design by Suzanne Dean for The Shore

Well, "Darwin", "Evolution", "botanic drawings", "studies of nature".... you've got my attention and excitement! I have a fascination with the natural world, the shapes and forms of all things and how they developed and for what purpose. I am constantly amazed about the power, beauty and skill of nature and yearn to know and understand more.

So, I have been swotting up on the life and works of Ernst Haeckel and have been truly mesmorised by some of his drawings. The details, the colours, the patterns. And I find myself wanting to have a go... now my drawing skills are pretty basic, so I wonder what will happen if I put my illustrator hat on and have a play?

Let's see shall we. My plan is to recreate four of Haeckel's works and then go out and about and create my own. These shall all appear on my doodle blog over the next few days, starting with this one...

Above are my copy-doodles from the stunning study by Ernst Haeckel of Nudibranch:

A nudibranch /ˈnjuːdɨbræŋk/^[1] is a member of the Nudibranchia, a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusks which shed their shell after their larval stage.^[2]They are noted for their often extraordinary colors and striking forms. There are currently about 2,300 valid species of nudibranchs.^[3]

The word "nudibranch" comes from the Latin nudus, naked, and the Greek βραγχια,brankhia, gills.

Nudibranchs are often casually called sea slugs, but many sea slugs belong to several taxonomic groups which are not closely related to nudibranchs. A number of these other sea slugs, such as the photosynthetic Sacoglossa and the colorfulAglajidae, are often confused with nudibranchs.

[Ref. Wickipedia]

27th April 2015

I did a doodle today because it is Ickle Monday, hurrah! Time to squeeze a little smile out and brighten up the day.

I am still in North Wales, so inspired by all things welsh I have doodled some ickle baby dragons. Now surely you can't get cuter than ickle baby dragons?!

Happy Ickle Monday everyone.

 

 

26th April 2015

I did a doodle today because it appears that crabs make little girls scream!

Personally, I love a good crab sandwich on granary (sadly gluten free, not quite the same). So after a little bit of teasing, I felt I should hit the rock pools and try to show the 'beauty' of a crab. A somewhat tough mission convincing a four year old girl of a crab's beauty, but hey ho, I'm not easily deterred!

Rock pools. Can't beat them. Several hours of guaranteed fun with splashing, slipping, giggling, squealing, catching, exploring, a bit more squealing and bingo. A crab. So ensconced in a bucket with sand, water and some dubious looking seaweed, Little One had made Crab Cottage a desirable bijou residence for our pincered friend. Here he happily stayed, a little bored and confused, but beady eyes alert.

So it turns out that crabs are "pretty cool", but not as beautiful as shells (the bucket got reassigned and crab-in-residence unceremoniously plopped back in to the rock pool). Oh well.