Tony Westby
Artist, Printmaker
Wildlife and Landscape Art
Digital Work
I began exploring the possibilities of creating works on my computer during the COVID lockdown period. Although I had previously played with the idea of making wildlife imagery, I hadn't really explored it even though I had all of the hardware and software to do it.
I work in layers of colour and density, adding, taking away and adjusting. Starting with a blank, white screen I either import a basic sketch scanned from my sketchbook (as in the case of the Kestrel) or make a sketch on screen (as the Barn Owl). I then work on blocking in, much the same as I would using conventional painting techniques and gradually add detail. Only when I am satisfied with the result do I combine all of the layers into one and make a test print, which I use to decide if any alterations are required before final giclee prints are made on fine art paper using high quality pigmented ink.
Images are made on a Wacom Intuos Pro drawing tablet tethered to a Mac Studio working in Photoshop.
Chilling Out. (Kestrel).
Digital Image. 315mm x 260mm. Printed on Hahnemuhle German Etching Paper.
This was developed from a sketch I made several years ago.
I See You. (Barn Owl).
Digital Image. 270mm x 270mm. Printed on Hahnemuhle German Etching Paper.
Inspired from a dead owl found in a barn. There had just been a very cold few days and had probably suffered in the cold weather.
Woodcock Highway.
Digital Image. 218mm x 290mm. Printed on Hahnemuhle German Etching Paper.
A combination of photography and digital hand painting. A spot on the river Wensum, not far from its source. I edited the background image, taking away some trees. All of the wildlife is hand painted.