Dorian Everard

A picture of dorian's sketchbook open on a table, with a pen drawing depicting a lil mouse wearing armour, a lil old fashioned hat, puffy sleeves and a whole lot of bling. He looks like he's about to dance.

Did anyone say #Bard #Mouse with opposable thumbs? I didn't actually get much #drawing / painting done while I was on holiday in Melbourne a few weeks ago for my birthday (30!), but I did draw on the plane ride. Shiny stuff is haaaard to paint but maybe I'll do a little painting of him? #dndcritters

A top view of a work in progress painting by Dorian Everard. It features a branch of kowhai flowers and leaves and is half finished with some areas more rendered than others in watercolour. His main brush is lying on the page to show scale (the piece is A4 size)

Another angle of the painting, still featuring the brush that allows the viewer to more easily see the difference between the pencil drawing and a single layer of yellow ocre underpainting vs an almost finished kowhai flower next to it.

I'm working on this example painting for my #queer #botanical #watercolour workshop in July, and I'm going over the techniques I'm using, the layering of colours, and reminding myself I actually know my shit and feeling genuinely excited to share my knowledge now ❤️ #wellington

Fruit of armour is the best concept I've come across in a long time haha, this is beautiful and very impressive!

A photo of a sketch by Dorian in rough strokes of a branch of kowhai flowers - beautiful trumpet style flowers that are native to Aotearoa NZ. The under sketch is in red pencil and a more refined lineart is drawn in blue on top. There are lines on the page indicating text boxes and title placement so he can bear the composition in mind when using the final painting of this design to make a poster to advertise his workshop.

It's been 2 months and I've finally defeated my art block - working on a sketch for a botanical watercolour painting! I'll use the painting on a poster for weekend watercolour workshops for beginners, first session is in July in Lower Hutt ❤️

#watercolour #botanicalillustration #sketch #wellington

To add my two cents, I've had long COVID for 3 years now and my cognitive issues are still ongoing. For months after my first infection I couldn't reliably remember my name or what month it was, and definitely compared my experience to those in my family with dementia. I'm 29.

My drawing skills are perfectly consistent, as long as the room’s the right temperature, I slept just enough, ate well, have zero plans later, my chair feels right, my internet’s stable, I’m wearing my cozy hoodie, no one texts me, and I don’t remember that one embarrassing thing from 10 years ago.

Interesting side effects of AI generated images being sold as art in conventions: It feels really awkward when you're unsure at a stall whether someone actually painted the image and I don't want to ask bc I'm aware that it would be SUPER depressing for them if they did paint it themselves ya know.

The cleanness of these lines scratches my brain in a very satisfying way, so precise! Also love the way you photographed your piece. It looks amazing!

The way the gold is rendered here is nothing short of masterful. Literally obsessed!

I didn't realise you were manually adding everyone, I don't think I've been added but hope to be considered! Watercolour painter here, appreciate your dedication to keeping the collection free from AI 💕

Reminder to my neurodivergent brain that working remotely means you bill for your whole working time not just the parts you were hyperfocused for! Being idle, thinking and talking through things with others, or staring at a blank page/document for a little bit is all part of the work process.

This is impressive! I also draw hay or dried grass to relax so I understand the appeal haha, this is next level though my goodness

Thank you, likewise!

I just cackled in a coffee shop at this, I love it so much

Picture of a table showing an assortment of watercolour art prints and greeting cards by Dorian, and packaging materials.

An image showing the difference between two versions of the same artwork in print. A framed original is above, one on the right is the new version and one on the left is the old version, which has colours that are noticeably not as similar to the original as the new version.

Prepping my cards and prints for my first market of the year - Medieval Market on Saturday in Levin, NZ!

I used new files from a professional art photographer and the difference compared to doing it myself is insane. Made a few adjustments to products based on customer feedback too ❤️

i prefer “performance art” rather than “crying in the grocery store”

My theory is mutually hating their spouses is how they bond with their friends, usually of the same gender as them. It's such a weird social ritual where starting married for 70 years is more of a measure of success than enjoying the relationship, but, control, I guess 🙃

Language is so cool, like at what point did the word 'mate' become synonymous for both 'a sexual partner / companion' in the animal kingdom and 'a good very platonic friend' in our society. It has such a wildly different brain feeling depending on context.

The start of a painting of large wooden bookshelf in a kids bedroom, unfinished and in watercolour. It's filled with books, boxes, toys and random jars of knick knacks. The style is painterly but detailed.

Today I looked at this bookshelf I painted for my first book illustration contract and it finally sunk in that I'm doing the thing small me was dreaming about while writing book reports on Beatrix Potter stories 🥹 ngl, its a nice feeling.

#watercolour
#bookillustrarion
#queerartist

An image of two large sheets of paper on a desk, both featuring identical sketches of a children's bedroom with a bookshelf, desk, and other nicks and nacks. Dorian's hand is laying on top of the sketch and holding a pencil, with a 30cm metal ruler for scale. The size of the paper makes the ruler look small.

Finished sketching pages 2&3 of 'Exquisite' today, a gorgeous children's book centered around #conservation that I'm illustrating for a local author in #watercolour and pen. Tis my first book so it's daunting but I'm loving seeing it come together ❤️

#childrensbook
#illustrarion

I managed the 30min walk from my art studio to my house tonight (was grumpy, needed a cool down) and considering I was using a cane full time 6 months ago it felt like such a novelty. I'd given up on hoping to get back to this level of mobility, even if it's likely not a new standard for me

A mistake is just a technique you haven’t incorporated yet, art is about finding new and interesting ways of making mistakes

I think I found you on someone's starter pack for people looking to fill their feed with pen and ink artists, it popped up on my discovery!

These are the most luscious greens, your color harmony is gorgeous ❤️

Agreed. I love doing markets but the quality difference out there is staggering depending on where you go. Glad I'm not imagining it, been feeling like a salty pretentious artist for thinking many local markets are flooded with low quality product and reluctant overstimulated visitors 😅

I'm fairly new to the market scene but I'm seeing it too, scores of timu drop shippers and people framing AI generated images to sell gives me the ick. I'm sure customers can see the decline. I'm not seeing many market coordinators having the guts to properly curate their markets to stop it either.

An image of an A4 sized watercolour scientific Illustration of 6 insects from Aotearoa (New Zealand) on a white background. The painting is on a beige wall with a plant to the right of it. The insects are labeled as: (1) black house ant, (2) Tunga Rere or Huhu Beetle, (3) Bumble bee, (4) pepetuna or pūriri moth, (5) Wētāpunga (6) Tunga haere or Huhu grub. All are rendered in lots of detail and in full color. The title at the top says 'Insects of Aotearoa No I'.

I'm Loving the amount of science and scientific/botanical Illustration on this app! Here's my offering: #Insects of #Aotearoa No.I, in #watercolour, which is a print on my website. I'm currently researching fresh water fish to paint next in the series!

#scientificillustration #sciart

This kettle has so much personality, friggin love it

That's very kind of you to say, thank you! ❤️

A close up photo of a drawing done in black pen, unfinished. In the drawing, a cracked egg is to the left and the focus is on a cluster of detailed dried grass which is fully rendered. Dorians included the pen he's been using into the picture which has a very fine tip.

One of the most meditative things I can think of is drawing dried grass. A subtle little #trans #pride #illustration is on the way 🏳️‍⚧️
If I do prints of this one I'm seriously considering donating some proceeds Outline Aotearoa, since they really need the support right now. #queerart #transartist