I am a self taught artist, living in Sandbach, Cheshire. As a child I spent many hours drawing birds but stopped completely in my early teens. I rediscovered a passion for drawing one spring evening in 2019 after spotting a solitary stonechat on the Cornish coastal path. I borrowed a pencil from my wife Lynne, sat in our campervan and started drawing birds again, a stonechat being the first. Now, drawing plays a big part in my life and I wonder why I had ever stopped doing something I loved so much.
Drawing has become a habit, having been drawing every day for almost 3 years.
Using a range of mediums, including charcoal, graphite, ink and pastels, I aim to capture the human form, both figurative and portrait. I also draw elements of the landscape and nature - mainly trees and the occasional bird. A still life drawing also makes an occasional appearance in my practice.
I favour a minimalist sketchy approach, sometimes arguably incomplete, leaving the viewer to fill in the gaps. Although the idea of painting is tempting, I always return to drawing sometimes bringing a splash of colour with paint or pastels. I aspire to be a little more experimental and I don't always want to reflect the beautiful - sometimes (as with music) I prefer things to be a little darker.
I'm inspired by the work of many artists including the likes of Frank Auerbach, Walter Sickert, Kathe Kollwitz and contemporary artists - both their preliminary sketches in preparation for paintings and drawings which I feel are complete in themselves. I find it amazing what they can convey with just a few lines.
I share a studio with my wife Lynne and we have two adult children, Jake and Emily. When not drawing, I'm keen to be outside, whether walking, fell running, climbing or bird watching. I also have a life long passion for music which often keeps me company whilst drawing.
If you would like to commission a portrait, purchase a drawing or have any other enquiries, please do not hesitate to get in touch via my contact page. I will be happy to help.
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyrobertsartist