iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 30/08/2026

Hares are incredible, which I discovered whilst reading 'Raising Hare: A Memoir' by Chloe Dalton, an absolutely wonderful memoir about a woman raising an abandoned hare. One of my favourite books of last year.

The cover of the book 'Raising Hare' The heart-warming true story of an unlikely friendship by Chloe Dalton

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 25/08/2026

I think our pop culture venn diagrams intersect substantially 👍😊

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 18/07/2026

A recently completed painting I did for a friend, of Captain Picard during his time as Locutus of Borg.I tried to convey some of the pain and awareness in the eyes that Patrick Stewart's performance delivered so well. #Treksky #Art #StarTrek #TNG

An acrylic painting of Captain Picard during his time as Locutus of Borg, done on an 8"x8" cradled birch panel. It has a dark palette with heavy greens and reds.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 27/06/2026

Outside Panti Bar at Pride today in Dublin, my home town 🏳️‍🌈😍 www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1...

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 26/06/2026

An oldie, not mine, but a goodie 😄🏳️‍🌈

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 21/06/2026

I sat down to do this arm study with a reference I really liked only to realise - after I began sketching - that it had been generated by AI 🙄 What to do? Well, it was the perfect opportunity to refer back to my early notes, draw in the muscle groups and relearn some of the things I had forgotten.

A detailed pencil sketch/study of a very muscular, hairy male arm which shows the deltoids, biceps, triceps and forearm extensor and flexor muscles.

The initial pencil sketch in a spiral bound sketchbook, alongside a page of relevant anatomy notes/sketches done in an older hardback sketchbook.

The initial pencil sketch has been updated with the muscle groups cleary delineated and labelled, alongside another page of relevant anatomy notes/sketches done in an older hardback sketchbook.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 18/06/2026

Defending digital, I do think it freed us from the drudge of counting alphabet lengths and the limited number of fonts in the Letraset catalogue, to experiment wildly with type and fonts in ways never before possible and led to a wave of typographic creativity e.g. Vaughan Oliver and Neville Brody.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 18/06/2026

And sticking the body copy down with this stuff after you were done rubbing down your headings? After it came back from the typesetters that is, and you hoped you'd done the casting off correctly. I imagine if I opened a can of this today I'd be transported back to a tiny design studio in 1989 😊

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 08/06/2026

I have finally returned to this digital painting of a shirtless skinhead. Quite happy with how its going, although I think I need to check my arm anatomy, there's something amiss with the triceps. Not too sure about the background either 🙄 #digitalart #gayart #queerart #male #nude #figure #physique

A more refined pass for a painting of a topless skinhead youth, wearing blue jeans, looking over his shoulder at the viewer. The jeans, face and anatomy have all been worked on since the previously shared update.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 02/06/2026

Finished! ‘Renewal’, Charcoal on Newsprint, done to represent those who deal with mental health issues in their family. Wolfes look after old and/or injured pack mates, whilst snowdrops represent a transition from the darkness of winter to the promise of spring.

The completed charcoal drawing shows a wolf with its head held protectively over that of another member of its pack, as they both lie on grass surrounded by snowdrops.

The completed piece in a frame ready to be displayed

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 28/05/2026

I have refined the wolves now and sketched in the snowdrops.

A more refined stage of the charcoal drawing of two wolves. Loose flower shapes and soft shaded foliage have been added around them.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 23/05/2026

Work going nicely now that I am back on smooth (acid free) newsprint, which has allowed the erasure of the highlights from the overall mid tone I laid down over the sketch with a kneaded eraser.

Work in progress image of the charcoal drawing of wolves and snowdrops, showing the erasure of the highlights from the overall mid tone

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 21/05/2026

Well that didn't go as planned! 🙄 The original sketch was on toned paper, but when added an overall tone of grey charcoal the sketch disappeared completely and the paper fought the erasing I normally do. Fortunately I could print the original sketch and begin again on newsprint. Lesson learned 👍

Image showing a printout of my original sketch alongside the new piece now being done on newsprint.

The original charcoal pencil sketch on toned paper

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 17/05/2026

I have been asked to do a piece of art about mental health and since I have recently learnt that wolves look after their unwell pack members, I have done this sketch of a wolf with its head held in a protective manner over that of another wolf. The plan is to finish it in charcoal.

A charcoal pencil sketch of a wolf with its head held in a protective manner over that of another wolf which is lying down.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 28/02/2026

Hare's in March might make me "as mad as" one, so this is the last hare sketch for a bit 😊 (based on a photo by Debbie Anne Photography.) Working on series of things is a useful way not to have to worry about what to draw each day, and concentrate instead on mark making - but time to move on!

A graphite pencil sketch of the head a hare in full flight, seen coming towards us in three quarter view, forelegs having just pushed off and back under its body and back legs lifted right to the front, paws alongside the shoulders ready for the next bound. The spirals of the sketch book are visible down the side of the image, which is signed by Paul O'Connor and dated '26.

The original A5 pencil sketch done free hand from the reference.

The more detailed A4 pencil sketch done to begin the final piece.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 20/02/2026

Yet another hare sketch done today. I have been using hares as an easy way to get familiar with pencil work again. No worrying about 'what' to draw, because its always 'another hare' :-) I might finish up with a more polished piece next and then move on. But they are lovely, intelligent creatures.

A graphite pencil sketch of a hare seen from the side in full flight, forelegs having just pushed off and back under its body and back legs lifted right to the front, paws alongside the shoulders ready for the next bound. Signed by Paul O'Connor and dated '26.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 15/02/2026

Another hare sketch done today. I had to redo the main eye because I was enjoying myself and didn't step back from it until I was well into the drawing. Even though it was only a sketch I couldn't resist my accursed inner perfectionist and just leave it the way it was 😊

A quick graphite pencil sketch of a hare looking righ tat the viewer. The spiral binding of the A4 sketch book is visible down the side of the image, which is signed by Paul O'Connor.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 08/02/2026

Another hare sketch done today. I have a newfound respect for hares and the unseen natural world on our doorstep since reading 'Raising Hare' by Chloe Dalton, which I enjoyed immensely.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 07/02/2026

A little sketch I did today, finding my way around the Irish hare for a possible future piece I have in mind. They have proportionally bigger feet and smaller heads than you might expect if you are more familiar with rabbits.

A quick graphite pencil sketch of a seated Irish hare.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 03/02/2026

Finally getting back to the art, after a long interruption which had to take priority, with this little sketch, inspired by Aaron Blaise's sketchbook tour on YouTube. I felt pretty rusty doing this, but hopefully the low pressure of sketching will get me back up to speed soon enough🤞

A sketch of a bird of prey, done with black, grey and white marker in a the pages of a brown kraft paper, spiral bound sketchbook/scrapbook.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 24/01/2026

I recently decided to reintroduce art into my life, to once again enjoy the freedom I felt drawing as a child. I keep a small email list on my website where I share occasional updates, and new subscribers receive this complimentary charcoal sketch as a thank-you

Image showing the charcoal sketch, of a bust of Michelangelo's David, which I am giving away as a free download for subscribers, displayed in a white wooden frame, on a red, polished wooden surface, next to a plant with sage green leaves in a ceramic pot.

Image showing a close up of the brow, eyes and nose of the charcoal sketch, of a bust of Michelangelo's David, which I am giving away as a free download for subscribers, showing the mark making that is not visible at smaller sizes.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 15/06/2025

What a beautiful restoration. It reminds me of Millet's "The Gleaner's" a small print of which used to hang in our hallway growing up as a child, along with another of his "The Angelus"

The Gleaners (Des glaneuses) is an oil painting by Jean-François Millet completed in 1857. It is held in the Musée d'Orsay, in Paris.

The Angelus (French: L'Angélus) is an oil painting by French painter Jean-François Millet, completed between 1857 and 1859.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 11/05/2025

This still looks very 'digital', which is not in itself a bad thing. But I like to apply the lessons learned in traditional media to digital and back again, so I try and keep my approaches similar. I imght tackle that in the next pass. #digitalart #procreate #queerart #male #nude #figure #physique

The first painting pass over the block in for a painting of a topless skinhead youth, wearing blue jeans, looking over his shoulder at the viewer.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 06/05/2025

It is so easy to get out of practise, I really felt it whilst doing this, the colour block in done over yesterday's sketch. But we all know we have to push through the 'ugly' stage so I remain optimistic 🙂

The colour block in for a painting of a topless skinhead youth, wearing blue jeans, looking over his shoulder at the viewer.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 05/05/2025

For one reason or another it has been quite a while since I painted or drew much, so I'm happy to be back on the journey again at last. This is the preliminary sketch for a new piece I've just started working on. #digitalart #DigitalSketching #procreate #queerart #male #nude #figure #physique

The preliminary sketch for a painting of a topless skinhead youth, wearing blue jeans, looking over his shoulder at the viewer.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 01/05/2025

The relic of the hand of Saint Teresa of Avila on the left, the Infinity Gauntlet on the right... try unseeing this. #Avengers #Infinitygauntlet #Stteresofavila #marvel

The relic of the hand of Saint Teresa of Avila on the left, a bejewelled metal glove or gauntlet that the Infinity Gauntlet from The Avengers on the right looks very similar to.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 19/04/2025

I present my "Mind Horse" as proposed by @attorneytrash.bsky.social What a fascinating and fun notion! I'm not sure I have ever drawn a full length horse and certainly not from my imagination! #mindhorse #sketch

A quick pencil sketch on a shorthand pad of my versioj of a "mind horse" which is a horse drawn entirely from memory as proposed by @kitaki cinematic universe @attorneytrash.bsky.social

The original tweet by kitaki cinematic universe @attorneytrash.bsky.social which set the mind horse challenge in motion

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 06/04/2025

Quote with your #portraits! I think these nicely illustrate the art/painting/traditional/digital journey I have been on this last year or two 😊 #art #gayart #gayartist #male #figuredrawing #portrait #drawing #pencil #charcoal #painting #acrylic #pastel #digitalpainting #digitalart #procreate

A vivid painting done in gouache of Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard in the movie Bladerunner aiming his blaster just before shooting the replicant Zhora
A vivid painting done in gouache of Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard in the movie Bladerunner aiming his blaster just before shooting the replicant Zhora

A digital painting done in Procreate of an elderly man with greying hair and a white beard on a canvas textured background.

An acrylic painting of an elderly man, wearing a white vest and looking tired, unhealthy, red faced with grey stubble, done with visible brush marks

Charcoal sketch on newsprint of the great Ian McKellen, looking grizzled and showing the lines and age in his face.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 06/04/2025

I have spent so much time recently working with traditional materials, I thought I should play around in Procreate to avoid getting too rusty, and this little sketch was the result. #digitalpainting #digitalart #procreate #art #gayart #gayartist #male #Nude #queerart #homoeroticart #manerobrushes

A saturated, clearly digital painting done in Procreate of a close up of a set of full, male lips on a jaw with a light beard being parted by a man's hand sensually to reveal just separated upper and lower rows of front teeth

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 31/03/2025

Zoiks! Like, man, that's not what I see! ;-)

A picture of Shaggy from Scooby Doo shown next to the area of the artist's palette being discussed in the comment.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 08/03/2025

Well, looking at your wonderful sketch again, the one that most springs to mind for me is a Willys Jeep, which also makes an appearance in 'Land of Black Gold' and 'Destination Moon' :-)

A panel from Tintin in the Land of Black Gold showing the Thompson Twins driving a red Willys Jeep in the desert.

A panel from Tintin Destination Moon showing characters approaching the rocket ship, driving a blue Willys Jeep.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 28/02/2025

And the reference photo, taken by David Clode, which can be found on Unsplash unsplash.com/photos/shall...

The reference photo taken by David Clode, which can be found on Unsplash used as a reference for 'Bird on a Branch' - A digital, coloured pencil drawing, done in the Procreate app on an iPad using a brush set from Ittai Manero #manerobrushes

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 28/02/2025

Not my usual subject but I took some time out to do this digital pencil drawing of a bird purely for fun. No learning lessons or trying to fight my natural inclination towards too much detail. #art #drawing #pencil #digitalart #animalart #digitaldrawing #procreate #ipadart #manerobrushes #wildlife

'Bird on a Branch' - A digital, brightly coloured pencil drawing, done in the Procreate app on an iPad, in a pastel colour palette and using a brush set from Ittai Manero #manerobrushes

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 13/02/2025

Indeed! Oscar and his green carnation were, for many years, the symbol of The international Dublin Gay Theatre Festival here in Ireland, which has since grown to be the largest event of its type in the world. #dgtf #theatre #gaytheatre #ireland #gaydublin

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 10/02/2025

I am prone to getting bogged down in detail so, although they are digital, I still found the rough nature of these pastel brushes very liberating as they forced me to see the larger forms and shapes. #art #pastel #digitalart #manerobrushes #procreate #male #nude #figure #gay #gayart #queerart #gym

A roughly textured digital pastel painting done in procreate with the 'Epic Pastel' brush set from Ittai Manero, of the back of a muscular man which highlights the anatomy, colour and lighting without getting bogged down in detail.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 06/02/2025

I'm currently rediscovering art for my own enjoyment, the way I did as a kid, and trying a bit of everything for now! I'm only finding my feet on Bluesky and finding it very different but so far I like it. It certainly seems that being engaged is what makes it worthwhile, so thanks for this Davis!

A digital gouache painting of a tasty looking beef burger with tomato, salad, dressing and cheese next to a set of fries in paper, stacked on a polished metal container which reflects the burger.

A charcoal sketch on newsprint of the great Ian McKellen, star of stage and screen and gay rights activist, which shows every line and imperfection rather than glamourising him as promotional images so often do.

A roughly textured digital pastel painting of the back of a muscular man which highlights the anatomy, colour and lighting without getting bogged down in detail.

A painting done in acrylics of a weary looking, grey haired and unshaven elderly man in a white vest looking straight at the viewer, done with broad paint marks rather than realism.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 05/02/2025

At least they tried on 'Thor: Ragnarok', which was also heavily influenced by Kirby's art style, and look how much better it looks as a result!

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 05/02/2025

I agree. The whole retro futuristic look of the movie seems to be inspired by the great Jack Kirby's work on the strip and it seems to be a wasted opportunity not to at least echo that style in the poster art.

Vintage Jack Kirby poster for the Fantastic Four

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 03/02/2025

Having studied human anatomy online over the last couple of years I brought the lessons I learned into this figure study. #charcoal #digitalart #procreate #art #drawing #charcoal #digitalart #study #male #nude #figure #figurativeart #physique #eroticart #gayart #lgbtart #musclebear #gym #muscular

A digital charcoal sketch done in Procreate of a muscular young man in leather pants posing topless

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 01/02/2025

Gorgeous work. The colours in this reminded me of this old Epic Illustrated cover from the eighties ❤️

Epic magazine cover with a similar colour palette

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 31/01/2025

Inspired to try gouache again, this time Rick Deckard from Bladerunner. Much larger than the Frankenstein piece this time around at 10" square, this nearly got the better of me and no mistake. #bladerunner #cyberpunk #scifi #harrisonford #art #painting #gouache #TraditionalArt #philipkdick #scifiart

The same vivid gouache painting of Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard in the movie Bladerunner aiming his blaster just before shooting the replicant Zhora framed and sitting on a table top

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 30/01/2025

Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s Monster. My year of painting digitally inspired me to try gouache paint for the first time in a long time. I was surprised by how versatile it is! #art #painting #gouache #TraditionalArt #frankenstein #horror #classicmonsters #universalmonsters #universalstudios

A black and white gouache painting of Boris Karloff as The Monster in the 1931 movie ‘Frankenstein’

The uncropped, black and white gouache painting of Boris Karloff as The Monster in the 1931 movie ‘Frankenstein’ on a desk with a pencil.

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pauloconnorarts.com @pauloconnorarts.com · 29/01/2025

Topless Man with Muscular Back. Continuing my study of human anatomy with this digital figure painting done in Procreate and getting to grips with digital 'paint'. #painting #digitalart #procreate #study #male #nude #figure #figurativeart #gay #gayart #gayartists #lgbtart #musclebear #gym #muscular

A digital figure painting done in Procreate showing a topless man with a muscular back seen from behind.

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