Some drawings for a change!

I was very much inspired by some of the drawing I saw at the G.S.A Degree Show at the start of the summer, so much so that I thought I'd do a bit. I wanted to try out a technique I had read about in a 'how to put together a folio' book, which was graphite and linseed oil. So, killing two birds with one stone, or maybe three as it gave me some much needed drawing practice, the results are below.
The figures are drawn from the 1/6 scale models I make. I have loads to work my way through and would eventually like to get back to painting from them. To paint from them was the initial reason I began making them in the first place. A couple of hundred down the line and I think I've worked from at the most a dozen of them. I had William Orpen and a few other of the Great War artists while I was doing these.
The ships are WW1 Dreadnoughts and battleships. I love their archaic structures. They are a real mix of 19th and 20th century design. I intend to do a bit more with them along the lines of Le Quy Tong and Patricia Cain; some subtle colour and line work. Don't know fully what yet; it'll come to me eventually.
The technique is really nice. The linseed oil allows you to 'paint' with the graphite. Work a bit onto the page then use the linseed oil to blur and blend. It also makes the dark tones really dark. I also really like the yellowing the oil leaves on the paper.I've collaged the surfaces a bit behind the soldiers to see which gives the best response. The surface that gave the best result was tracing paper but the oil can't be absorbed so it doesn't dry unfortunately.

Double Cross 2

This is the second version of the Double Cross idea. This has come out far more textured than the first version as it was nearly all painted with a palette knife. I think the two would look really good hung together although both of them have gone to different homes. I am really pleased with the way the lettering came out on this one. I left it much more plain than on version 1. I was a bit concerned that the background was a bit palid but looking at it from a distance as it were, the less colourful background works against the much stronger planes.
This was commissioned by a colleague as a present for a relative and I was really pleased that he recognised the quote from Ephesians as he had seen it in Cologne (I think) Cathedral. I hope this coincidence means he will enjoy the piece on a much deeper level than just at face value.

Double Cross 2
Acrylic, gold leaf and pen on canvas board

Here's a detail from the lower half

 Some work in progress shots.

And the two together

It's interesting for me to see the two together and to see how different they have turned out despite the fact that they are back to back in my sketch book and both ideas were hatched at the sime time. What I am pleased with is the variation in colour and hue between each piece. For me it illustrates the variety, richness and unexpected brightness of the early German camouflage schemes.