Ned Kelly : The Bold and the Beautiful

Now this is much closer to what I was actually going for with this portrait. Simple. Bold. Quick. The only problem is I think the likeness isn't as good as the previous pen portrait. Also, he looks sad. I guess if my bones were being dug up and put on display nationally I'd be a little sad too.

Read the inspirational article HERE.

Ned Kelly : One Sketchy Fellow

The original sketch I did of Australia's premier outlaw with a dull pencil before moving on to pen. It wasn't quite what I wanted it to be.

"Bone to Pick" starring Ned Kelly

I recently read this article by Damon Poeter about Australian outlaw Ned Kelly, who was apparently THE scourge and scoundrel of the Australian frontier. Through the magic of DNA matching scientists believe they have identified the remains of said outlaw in a mass prison grave in Melbourne, originally buried 131 years ago! Kelly's skeleton is intact save for his skull which is still missing and believed to have been taken as a trophy by an Aussie Police Officer when the bones were originally moved to their would-be final resting place.

I saw the picture in the article and thought "Wow! What a dapper looking fellow with a scraggly beard!" and I knew I was going to draw him. True story.

Vacation Finds #2.5 : Awl or Nothing

I've been really into doing multiple drawings of the same subject in different styles lately. After drawing something once it just gets easier and easier.

Vacation Finds #2: Awl of Me

Also found at the Santa Cruz flea market. Awl's can prove surprisingly useful when you least expect it, and I love the durability of old tools that you can now only find second hand.