As a young upstart, I sought illustration work in the book trade. I sent out samples of my work, including my version of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.. As well as a gentle scene from the natural world. Here are three book illustrations from an early commission, describing: The good guys revealing themselves to … More Illustrating Books
They say two heads are better than one, so this week we are featuring two portrait drawings I made of the daughter of some friends. The first is fairly naturalistic. I like the open innocence of the gaze. Head of K. II by Barry Trower (1986). The second is more composed and stylized, but I … More Portraits of K.
I made hundreds of charcoal drawings in the 1980’s. This is a favourite theme, allowing me to explore contrasts of various kinds. I am proud to have drawn expressive form from such minimal means. ‘Til next week, Barry
There’s been some scary stuff happening around here lately! We just got through Hallowe’en, with the streets full of little ghosts and goblins, and now we hear that in the United States of America millions of mindless zombies have been seen stumbling from their trailer parks in the backwoods to choose an evil clown as … More The Bogeyman
As winter approaches, we feel the Sun’s gaze turning away from us. This week we will again publish a drawing and the painting it inspired. Planetary bodies take root as vegetation. Sunflower Girl and Cactus Man? The painted version with more refined, abstract forms. To peaceful days and nights, Barry
One of the most difficult things I have experienced as an artist is to attempt to make a portrait of someone knowing that eventually they will walk around to your side of the easel and see what you have made of them. Here are some honest efforts from days gone by… A picture of someone … More Drawing People
![Nada by Barry Trower (1989) [Cover for a magazine].](https://barrytrower.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1989-nada-cover-for-a-magazine.jpg?w=365&h=365&crop=1)
Nada, which means “Nothing ” in Spanish, was the name of a student paper someone I knew long ago was editing. Here are two drawings I provided as cover illustrations. The first is an abstract collection of thlngs on a stage, the money-stuffed suit of the arms-salesman, the xyz dressmakers dummy, surmounted by the deaths-head … More Nada
Thanks to the quick and friendly work of the guy at Fast Photo who digitized the pictures from recently uncovered photographic slides, we can today publish these forgotten images from the ancient past, which shall hereafter be known as,”Some Of Barry Trowers Early Charcoal Drawings “. I began drawing with charcoal during life class at … More Ancient Charcoal
After a week at the cottage (where blogging is verboten) we are back in business with this weeks offering, Macbeth and the witches. It is a theme we’ve covered here before, but as we just returned from seeing the play at the Stratford Festival Theatre, I feel it’s time to revisit. We have dug into … More Macbeth and the Witches
Call me a fool but this week we are featuring images of jesters. The first is a drawing in charcoal on a children’s theme. The second is a painting that includes a fortune-teller. I like the mood and all of the diagonals in this composition. Lastly a painting of a jester and his king. … More Jesters
Barry Trower 