Original artwork description:

'Companionship' tries to capture the comfort and easy familiarity of a long, close relationship. Two mice are curled up to sleep together, in the safety of the long grass. It would make a perfect gift for a wedding anniversary.

Cross-hatching, following the forms, has been used to gently suggest volume, while still allowing beauty of line, in the reach of the blades of grass and the curves of the tails of the mice, to take pride of place.

My cat, Lolly, often curls up on a cushion in my studio to sleep while I work, exuding calm and well-being. In this picture, I aim to bring the same sense of peace and contentment to the viewer.

Extreme meticulousness is needed when drawing in pen and ink - mistakes cannot be corrected and smudges or dirt can instantly spoil a picture. I find that I need complete concentration while working, as each stroke of cross hatching has to be carefully considered before it is committed to the page - its direction, length and strength can have drastic effects on the success of the composition.

The drawing is in black ink on a 20cm x 20cm sheet of Hahnemule natural white, acid free, 300g/m2, hot pressed, watercolour paper. It is initialled in the lower right.

Materials used:

watercolour paper, ink

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