"Bulldog" by Mike Sibley

[Mike Sibley]

B51_BULLDOG.jpg

Bulldog - Open Edition print by Mike Sibley

This lovely Bulldog belonged to a young couple who allowed me to take almost 180 photographs at a show and then loaned me a large pack of additional photos. I thoroughly enjoyed this drawing but it is the last in the series of 52 breeds. I had a break of a few months before drawing this, but I was growing tired of always drawing at the scale and I felt my work was beginning to stagnate.

The drawing took approximately 115 hours to complete.

Close-ups and Details: https://sibleyfineart.com/gallery_OE.ht ... 1--bulldog

[Laurene]

That may have been how you felt at the time Mike, but it certainly didn't show in your work. This is one of my favourites of yours. I never tire of looking at the subtle variations of values in that soft muzzle. Exquisitely done!

[Mike Sibley]

Thanks, Laurene. I think the break was good for me and, once I began the drawing I thoroughly enjoyed it. That was followed by an Irish Wolfhound... it progressed as far as becoming guidelines on my drawing paper... but I knew it was time to stop and change direction. So I abandoned that one, told my publisher "no more head-studies" and moved on to the Limited Edition prints, which I've always self-published.

However, I have always been pleased with the Bulldog. It was the 52nd drawing in the series and, by then, I really did know what I was doing

[LindasPencils]

One of my favourites as well - but I like 'Riley' better! Please show him here too! Your animal/dog work is stunning and I can see the enjoyment of drawing that you have in the work.

[Mike Sibley]

As you're OK with me showing Riley, I'll do that now, Linda.

How do you feel about me linking to the video I made for you? Think it might be useful?

Although I know I'm going to be very embarrassed by the state of my hands during the six months I took to draw it - all those missing chunks and broken nails! Somehow small-scale farming and art don't really go together - but I manage somehow

[LindasPencils]

I would love to see the video posted there! Useful and enjoyable. It explains the journey of this drawing well and it is a real pleasure to see Riley bloom from your hands.

...and btw, I can vouch that gardening and pruning do nothing much for hands and nails either - you should see the stat of my hands after yesterday's garden clean up!

[Mike Sibley]

...and btw, I can vouch that gardening and pruning do nothing much for hands and nails either - you should see the state of my hands after yesterday's garden clean up!

Pheeeew! I'm glad I'm not alone with that problem! But I still feel embarrassed looking at the video.

I have a 720p version somewhere on my server. I'll dig it out tomorrow and post a link to it with Riley's drawing. Thanks. I think it might be useful to some folk - even if it's just "you're an artist - take care of your hands!"

[kymchambers]

Mike, do you still have reference photos that you used for this Bulldog Portrait? Would love to see reference pics and the final drawing if you have any of those.

[kymchambers]

I would love to see the final drawing of Riley. You also have a reference photo for this one. Can you post it as well. Would love to see these!!!

[Mike Sibley]

I'll see if I can dig them out for you, Kym. But they are old film photos, not digital. And, because I'd take 4 or 5 rolls of film knowing I'd only keep a few of the photos, I used very cheap (think Supasnaps!) processing. Consequently, they tend to fade after a few years.

I know where the photos are - I just need time to dig them out and scan them. However, I also think the principal photos weren't mine but were returned to the dog's owners. As I recall, they were studio photos with the highlight detail burned out, and nothing in the shadow areas either. So I used my own photos to rebuild everything I couldn't see.