Description

Ink on Bristol Board paper Leaf Hedgehog by Brett Miley framed Original.

Frame 14″ x 12″ Artwork A4

I keep reading and hearing that Hedgehogs are in decline. However, If trees grew in the shape of giant hedgehogs, humans and predators might think twice about messing with the regular sized one. If I had a garden I would have them flock to me like I was a singing Disney princess. The RSPCA has some advice on helping them survive your garden which I hope to put into practice one-day.

When I scribble in my sketchbook I tend toward turning trees into things and things into trees which led to this piece. I’m not sure what came first the tree or the hedgehog but I remember creating the initial idea. I had a small piece of scrap paper and a black fine-liner pen in low light conditions. Working with limitations sometimes gives better creative results. My weapon of choice is the pencil -because it’s erasable and gradable. I can confidently draw without fear of ruining things beyond repair (mostly). However, my small ink sketches showed me I could comfortably draw the hedgehog in ink and by using only using black I was able to concentrate on drawing detail while avoiding the stress and potential for ruin that comes with adding colour.

Originally this piece was titled Hedge-Hedgehog – arguably a better title but it opened up a floodgate of ideas for the whole Animal and Bird Ink Collection. It represents the very beginning of my art career. It is the first piece I created for my first craft fair. I hope someone gives it a good home.