Tag Archives: sheep

Inspiration – Henry Moore’s Sheep Drawings

by . Posted on
30 Apr

I was reminded recently of Henry Moore’s beautiful sheep drawings while taking photographs of a ewe with her lamb. Moore is perhaps best known for his large sculptures. There is a very fine example of one of these in Trinity college Dublin, photographed below. This piece is called ‘Reclining Connected Form’

 

Sculpture: Reclining Connected Form, by Henry Moore

Photograph by Andre Winlondon at http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewinlondon/3440955256/

 

 

I read recently that when asked by his niece why the titles for his work are so simple, Moore replied “All art should have a certain mystery and should make demands on the spectator. Giving a drawing too explicit a title takes away part of that mystery so that the spectator moves on to the next object, making no effort to ponder the meaning of what he has just seen. Everyone thinks that he or she looks but they don’t really you know” *

I take the first part of this as something to really strive for myself in my own work. I also appreciate it as an observer of art and nature myself – the skill of looking is so often undervalued.. but I digress!

These are the sheep drawings I have been thinking about. Moore made a wonderful collection of them and several of the ewe with her lamb – mother and child – a subject which he drew from throughout his career.

 

Sketch of sheep and lamb, by Henry Moore

 

 

Sketch of a sheep from in front, by Henry Moore

 

 

Sketch of a sheep from behind, by Henry Moore

Photographs reproduced from the Henry Moore Foundation website

 

 

Moore has such sympathy with his subject. I love the expressions and gestures in these wonderful wiry drawings. These and many more are available as a collection in a book published by Thames and Hudson ( below ) which I would recommend to anyone with an interest in drawing.

 

Cover image of "Henry Moore's Sheep Sketchbook"

Day, Elizabeth. “The Moore legacy”. The Observer, 27 July 2008.

Connemara Sheep

by . Posted on
27 Apr

I took these pictures of Connemara sheep recently. This is a typical sight here – the sheep often feed and rest near the roadside because the tarmac surface is warm. They wander freely and graze on what they can find among the bog grasses. This one ( below) has just noticed me.

 

Photo of a sheep 1

 

 

This ram is giving me the eye because there are lambs around..

 

Photo of a sheep 2

 

 

How rugged and handsome these weather worn creatures seem in relation to their East coast cousins who appear plump and coiffed by comparison. Another ram decides to ignore me ( below).

 

Photo of a sheep 3

 

 

Then I spot a ewe with her lamb. They move quickly when they become aware of my presence so I take as many pictures as I can. It’s breezy and I’m finding it hard to keep the camera still so some of my shots are just out of focus. I keep all the images however as they will be useful as reference pictures.

 

Photo of a Ewe and Lamb

 

 

Photo of a Ewe and Lamb 2

 

The lamb stays close to it’s mother as they retreat across the heath together. These images remind me of Henry Moore’s beautiful sheep drawings which I will share in another post.