I remember Pedro the Basset from 25+ years ago, when you sent me a copy. I also remember being shocked when I saw it.
Imagine being introduced by someone to their daughter... and realising she's the split-image of your own. The same techniques used. An alarmingly similar creation. Scary!
Then the more modern landscape shows that your style has loosened, as mine did too, over time. I think you begin to realise that sharpness of detail is important, but
only where it's appropriate. Here, the detail of the face of the round bale pulls it right into the foreground, so everything else recedes. If you change the river to a beck (stream) and plaster the White Horse of Kilburn on the hills, this could almost be the view behind my studio.
It's a super drawing and drags me right into it. Then I bounce back to take a much slower journey through it, and there is so much to discover.
I'm guessing 'Sea Bass' is about the half-way mark? You had by now, as I stated earlier, discovered the art of softening detail where detail isn't required. Such as the soft seam on his shoulder that pushes the much sharper face forwards. I love the beard too, but that's a post for another day
Thanks for letting us see these. You might consider posting them in the Graphite gallery forum too?
And to see more of Julian's masterful works:
JulianCourtDrawing.com