Wild sheep from Bømlo

This Wild Drawing setting wasn’t too far from home, did the actual drawing in my studio at Bryggen. But the idea sparked in Bømlo, an island outside of Bergen where I spent a few days in summer.

Sometimes inspiration blocks your way – not like an art block, but an actual hairy hurdle. A ram stood on the path we were heading up in the heather looking down at us. Guarding its flock, the island, or the entrance to the underworld. It was a massive animal, and it did leave an impact. I have no pictures from the walk, as sideways rain isn’t too good for camera equipment, and I was too terrified to do anything but sidle a long detour around him. So I had to rely on my memory, and thorough research (helped by the few sheep farmer instagram people I know) of its supposed legs since they were firmly rooted in the heather.

It was also a good excuse to do some colour tests in my sketchbook. I use my own photographs alot when I do colour studies, but this time I had to work from memory and some google searches of west coast flora.

We stayed at Bømlo in July (yes, windy and sideways rain; go Norwegian summer!) but I couldn’t forget it, and started drawing the ram in late November when the alley outside my studio window was covered in snow. That changed the colour scheme to a cooler palette.

Painting in cute little pink and lilac alsike clovers just didn’t fit in that day, so I hinted at a more barren setting instead.

Here is the final result! I made 50 prints of it, and have a few left guarding the counter in my shop at Bryggen. If you want one, come by at Bryggen Mon-Sat 11-17 or head over to my web shop.