Drawings,processes, and Sketches by Samantha Dolan

[samanthadolan]

100 Days of British flora and Fauna - Day 31

Back to trying to crack this old chestnut! I started this 100 day project with the intention to create a little nature painting everyday for 100 days. But I’ve got way side tracked by other things so now I’m just going to aim for 100 paintings without the time constraint. It’s no fun when I set too many rules on my creativity anyway! So here’s to a 100 at some point project!! 😅 

[samanthadolan]

100 Days of British Flora and Fauna - Day 23

The pine marten is one of my favourite little mammals. They have such cute faces but are also vicious acrobats. I have a memory of seeing one of these running up a tree when I was cycling on holiday as a kid.

I created this using gouache and pencil to capture the warm chocolate texture of its fur. The great thing about setting myself this little challenge is I get to experiment with different ways to use my tools, drawing new surfaces I wouldn’t have considered before. That oil based pencil has been sitting in the pencil draw for ages and now I finally have a purpose for it. Its a fantastic texture maker!

[samanthadolan]

100 Days of British Flora and Fauna - Day 22

A quick scribble for todays #100daysofbritishfloraandfauna. I don’t know how I feel about moles. They are a bit like weird underground velvet shovels and I’m not sure if they actually have tails?

[samanthadolan]

100 Days of British Flora and Fauna - Day 21

A pensive looking red squirrel for day 21 of my #100daysofbritishfloraandfauna.

[samanthadolan]

100 days of British Flora and Fauna - Day 20

Another addition to my butterfly collection for my 100 day project. As I work on these daily paintings its nice to see little collections within the 100 paintings collection start to come together.

[samanthadolan]

A Series of Things That Make Me Well

At the start of every year I make a big list of all the things I want to learn and grow creatively. One of the points I always ponder on is figure drawing. Back when my creative work was more art focussed I would draw and paint people quite easily. But time can make these sort of skills a little rusty. 

So I’ve started a personal project to get that creative muscle working again. Based around the different activities that bring me a feeling of calm and wellness, Im hoping it will give me a chance to combine my illustrative style with my ambition to draw more people. It is also a project that allows me to contemplate how I look after my wellbeing in regards to how hard I work and the development of my creative work. Sometimes I need a reminder to take a few minutes away from working on the next big thing.

I find being outside is a great way for me to recharge my batteries so its seemed like an obvious starting point. Both running and walking provide a good mental reset when i need to improve my mood.  These illustrations were created using a combination of procreate and photoshop. I’m enjoying the challenge of creating an entire scene digitally and having the ability to edit the little people in the wilderness until they are set in just the right place. ​

I’m not sure what direction this series will take me but even if its just a record of things to remind me to look after my self better it will be a worthwhile project.  Sometimes focussing on your health and happiness is the best way to make your creative work improve.

[samanthadolan]

100 Days of British Flora and Fauna - Day 19

Another british butterfly for my 100 day collection. Hopefully I’ll paint most of the births ones during my daily painting.

[samanthadolan]

100 Days of British Flora and Fauna - Day 18

Here’s the painting from last weeks easter weekend. It wouldn’t be Easter Sunday without a wee fat bunny. I wondered what rabbits had to do with Easter and it turns out they are celebrated around this time of year since before the 13th century in pre Christian Europe. Eostra, the goddess of spring and fertility was one of the deities celebrated and her symbol is a rabbit 🐇. As for the rabbits hiding eggs that’s still a mystery to me?🤔

[samanthadolan]

100 Days of British flora and Fauna - Day 17

Day 17 of #100daysofbritishfloraandfauna. Lots of 🐞, ladybirds, ladybugs or ladybeetles! I didnt realise the name was so varied. What do you call them? 

[samanthadolan]

100 Days of British Flora and Fauna - Day 14, 15 & 16

It’s catch up time! I spent some minutes this morning catching up on my #100daysofbritishfloraandfauna so here’s 3 days worth of doodles! Sticking with my favourite themes of Botany and birds today. All are vaguely accurate in botanic or biological ways apart from the thistle because I got confused to what type I was painting. There are so many that look similar but are technically different so no fancy Latin name for that one! I’m happy with it just being purple and spiky!

[samanthadolan]

100 Days of British Flora and Fauna - Day 13

A quick and messy red clover sketch after a day at the beach. I didn’t know until I was looking for drawing reference photos that you can eat red clovers! I might have to have a nibble the next time I see them in the woods

[samanthadolan]

100 Days of British Flora and Fauna - Day 12

A common newt for todays daily painting. They are my favourite little amphibians in the British isles 

[samanthadolan]

100 Days of British Flora and Fauna - Day 10 & 11

fungi sketches for day 10 and 11 of #100daysofbritishfloraandfauna . I think i need to spend time with some hot press watercolour paper painting some very detailed mushrooms. They have so many details once you start looking closely that don’t translate well to a sketchbook situation. Also my lesson of the day is to avoid all red fungi even if they do look cool! Anything that involves the word emetica in its name probs deserves a wide berth! Also I found that green branch on my run today, I just need to work out what it is before I draw it. Makes a good photo prop for now

[samanthadolan]

Seaside Adventure

I’ve been working on ways to spark new creativity recently. It can be difficult to feel excited about making new things when you are constantly designing and working away at collections of illustrations. Sometimes the monotony of completion can make my brain forget that illustrating and drawing is supposed to be fun. So Ive been setting myself little artist dates with myself inspired by the book ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron . The idea of committing time and making space to get out of your comfort zone for the sake of creating is something that works well for me.

My first little trip was to Elie beach. Ive been following a hashtag on instagram called #walktosee created by the illustrator Helen Stephens. The aim is to get outside and draw or paint what you see. I liked the idea of making my creative pursuit into an adventure so I packed up my watercolours, stopped by a farmers market for snacks and supplies and hit the beach.

Its bit scary painting in public but I tried to ignore the inner critic and get to work. Luckily it was bitterly windy which took my mind off it’s selfconciousness. I just got paint to paper before my fingers froze off! Its been a long time since Ive attempted landscape painting but I was quite happy with the results and it definitely blew away the creative cobwebs.

Ive already picked out the next spot below for when I get back to the coast. Next time I’ll be taking some extra layers, hats and gloves so I can camp out a bit longer with my paints and see if I can build on my landscape skills.

[samanthadolan]

100 Days of British Flora and Fauna - Day 9

For todays #100daysofbritishfloraandfauna I painted a Great Spotted Woodpecker. About a month ago I saw one of these when out running I’ve ran past the tree I saw it in at least once a week with a hope of seeing it again. But so far I’ve had no luck. There’s lots of evidence its there since the trees are full of holes but its winning our game of hide and seek so far.

[samanthadolan]

100Days of British Flora and Fauna - Day 8

For todays daily painting I decided to get back to painting birds, the Tawny owl to be specific. There is a mystery something that uses our roof at night as a picnic table / regurgitarium. I think it might be one of these but I’ve never seen it. There are to many small animal bones and owl pellets on the ground during the summer for it not to be an owl (it’s mega creepy if it’s not an owl!).

[samanthadolan]

100 Days of British Flora and Fauna - Day 7

A quick scribble to complete today’s #100daysofbritishfloraandfauna. I drew some hellebores, hawkweed and coltsfoot for today’s sketch but they are far from botanically correct. I was too busy having fun with pencils, crayons and paint to think about the precise details.