New drawing: My art really DOES look like a plane crash...!!

"That Tracey Emin Says my Art Looks Like a Plane Crash" : 72 x 102cm : Mixed media on handmade paper
Copyright © 2012 by Martin Herbert : Click for a larger view

My biggest drawing to date, just completed. Connoisseurs of 'Arted States' will immediately recognise this as being based on one of the BA 'Great Britons' designs. You can read the whole story of last year's bid for fame and glory starting here.

For those with less patience, this drawing is based on my original design for the 2011 British Airways "Great Britons" art competition. The brief was to create a design to be painted on BA's aircraft during the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and this one was based on the Olympic rings - somewhat extrapolated!

I was one of only 10 artists shortlisted for the prize and was interviewed at the Royal Academy of Arts on London by an illustrious panel including artist Tracey Emin, and RA curator Eliza Bonham-Carter. Sadly I didn't win in the end, but it was all an interesting experience.

The title of the piece is based on Ms. Emin's comment during the interview when she was looking at this particular design :-¦ You can read the full story behind the title here.

It's currently for sale on etsy.com priced at £8,000 - the value of the commission I didn't quite win.  Some higher resolution pics there.

Original drawing in sepia ink, clay pencil with white gouache highlights, and transfer-printed lettering on handmade Khadi paper prepared with a red egg-tempera wash. Paper size 40" x 28" (102 x 70 cm). As with all the drawings I'm doing at the moment, this is a one-off unique original and will not be reproduced as a print.

Me, I think it would be an ideal addition to the walls of some big national company's corporate HQ.  Hint. Hint.

"That Tracey Emin Says my Art Looks Like a Plane Crash" (Detail) : 72 x 102cm : Mixed media on handmade paper
Copyright © 2012 by Martin Herbert : Click for a larger view

Today's "Stream of Consciousness" Drawing

This week's new drawing - now up for sale on etsy.com.

"Finally Say cherish the Present Life" (detail) : Original drawing in sepia ink and clay pencil on handmade Khadi paper : 27" x 20.5" (69 x 52 cm) : Copyright © 2011 by Martin Herbert

"Finally Say Cherish the Present Life"

A unique original drawing in sepia ink and clay pencil with white gouache highlights, on handmade Khadi paper.

The latest in a series of symbolic 'stream of consciousness' drawings. I'm never sure what they mean until they're finished and titled. Sometimes, as in this case, the title comes before the meaning. The message here is "Use your heart now - we are all connected with the tree of life, and our physical bodies will return to the earth and nourish new growth, but learn to embrace the physical reality we are in now and use this life to its greatest potential".

Khadi paper is handmade sheet by sheet in India from 100% recycled cotton rag (they use offcuts from the T-shirt industry). It is acid-free (pH-neutral) and therefore of archive quality. I think it has a superb rough texture for this kind of Renaissance-inspired drawing. I painted a sheet with a wash of English Red egg-tempera, which I prepare myself by making the egg-based medium and grinding it with dry powdered pigment. The drawing is done with sepia ink, Derwent clay-based drawing pencils, and white gouache. I used a vintage anatomical engraving as reference for the heart - the rest is made up as I go along.... It's about as handmade as I can make it, short of making the paper myself (guess that will be coming sooner or later!)

For more photos and full details, click here.

"Finally Say cherish the Present Life" : Original drawing in sepia ink and clay pencil on handmade Khadi paper : 27" x 20.5" (69 x 52 cm) : Copyright © 2011 by Martin Herbert