A DELICATE BALANCE

‘A Delicate Balance’ is a series of intricate hand-drawn pen illustrations (0.5mm Sakura micron pens). All the drawings are scanned (some are as tall as 1 meter and others no bigger than 8 inches tall) and afterwords cleaned up, added to or altered digitally.

Soaring labyrinths of towers and ancient structures, curling columns and bridges that weave together with ornate gardens. Evoking the grandeur of human ambition, a connection to nature and the delicate tension in between nature, civilization and history.

A digital ink drawing of an air balloon evacuation of the population of the Tower of Malgosia
A Delicate Balance.The Island Kingdom T-shirt design. This is the original Ink drawing which took over 100 hours

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TREES of the INK FOREST. INTO the INK FOREST

‘The Ink Forest’ is a series of ink illustrations (using 0.5mm Sakura Micron pens) that began in a small sketchbook (3×5 inch Stillman & Birn Zeta sketchbooks) as a way to keep drawing while working as a labourer in various industries while living in Sydney, Australia. These sketchbooks are small enough to fit into my pocket, enabling me to draw on the train, during my breaks, at cafes and whenever else I have free time.

This project started unassumingly with no grand plan but 5 years later and with over 70 completed trees there seems to be no slowing down the inspiration in creating new trees and trying out different inking techniques.

These ink drawings are about experimenting with form and technique, creating realistic or highly stylized trees. One as unique as the next. 

With complimentary or opposing textures, the bark of the trunk and the leaves or foliage of the tree tops complement each other to create unending possibilities. Always trying something new, none of these trees look alike. The trees of the Ink Forest are born of imagination, inspiration and observation. 

My artwork has always been inspired by nature and this project is the culmination of my fascination with the natural world, its splendour and sublime beauty, and the unlimited possibilities. A lifetime of observation and a continual practice of drawing and making art.

The thought was that trees would provide plenty of inspiration and that it was a concept that I would be able to come up with innumerous illustrations without running the well dry. There was also the pairing of trunk and leaves, pillar and canopy, bole and laminae and the juxtaposition of the two and the endless possibilities to experiment with texture and tone with the limited arsenal of one very fine pen.

An ink drawing of a black and white ink tree that bubbles and churns like waves washing ashore, from my sketchbook. This is part of an ongoing project of tiny hand drawn ink drawings in 3 x 5 inch sketchbooks. These will eventually be collected and published as an adult colouring book.
An ink drawing of a black and white shade providing with its large umbrella-like canopy textured tree from my sketchbook. This is part of an ongoing project of tiny hand drawn ink drawings in 3 x 5 inch sketchbooks. These will eventually be collected and published as an adult colouring book.
An ink drawing of a black and white spherical and manicured tree from my sketchbook. This is part of an ongoing project of tiny hand drawn ink drawings in 3 x 5 inch sketchbooks. These will eventually be collected and published as an adult colouring book.
An ink drawing of a black and white angular and icy tree from my sketchbook. This is part of an ongoing project of tiny hand drawn ink drawings in 3 x 5 inch sketchbooks. These will eventually be collected and published as an adult colouring book.
An ink drawing of a black and white bushy giant covered in moss tree from my sketchbook. This is part of an ongoing project of tiny hand drawn ink drawings in 3 x 5 inch sketchbooks. These will eventually be collected and published as an adult colouring book.
An ink drawing of a black and white Australian gum tree from my sketchbook. This is part of an ongoing project of tiny hand drawn ink drawings in 3 x 5 inch sketchbooks. These will eventually be collected and published as an adult colouring book.
An ink drawing of a black and white heart-like tree from my sketchbook. This is part of an ongoing project of tiny hand drawn ink drawings in 3 x 5 inch sketchbooks. These will eventually be collected and published as an adult colouring book.
An ink drawing of a black and white twisted and wrapped, gnarly tree from my sketchbook. This is part of an ongoing project of tiny hand drawn ink drawings in 3 x 5 inch sketchbooks. These will eventually be collected and published as an adult colouring book.
An ink drawing of a black and white Dr. Seuss-like round and miss-shaped tree from my sketchbook. This is part of an ongoing project of tiny hand drawn ink drawings in 3 x 5 inch sketchbooks. These will eventually be collected and published as an adult colouring book.
An ink drawing of a black and white tall and shelter providing tree community from my sketchbook. This is part of an ongoing project of tiny hand drawn ink drawings in 3 x 5 inch sketchbooks. These will eventually be collected and published as an adult colouring book.
An ink drawing of a black and white fire-like flowing and twisting tree from my sketchbook. This is part of an ongoing project of tiny hand drawn ink drawings in 3 x 5 inch sketchbooks. These will eventually be collected and published as an adult colouring book.
An ink drawing of a black and white blocky, pixel tree from my sketchbook. This is part of an ongoing project of tiny hand drawn ink drawings in 3 x 5 inch sketchbooks. These will eventually be collected and published as an adult colouring book.