Sketch of a Tree, Wanstead Flats

Original drawing, ink pen and gold leaf on paper, A4, 2022

A detailed pen drawing of a tree and surrounding foliage, observed on a summer day at Wanstead Flats, East London.

I made the original drawing outdoors in the park, working directly from the trees, leaves and tangled vegetation around me. The intricate black linework captures the density and movement of the foliage, with layers of fine cross-hatching and delicate botanical details.

Later, back in my studio, I added areas of gold leaf by hand, allowing the landscape to become something more than a straightforward observation. The reflective gold catches and changes with the light, contrasting with the quiet precision of the black ink and bringing warmth and a slightly dreamlike quality to the drawing.

Comes without a frame; will be shipped in a postal tube or a cardboard envelope.