The challenge set for this week is Everything in Focus! For photographers this is an excercise in depth of field. If you create a drawn image you already select how much of your image is in focus. I was not sure how to tackle this, then my friend suggested something completely different. Perhaps a bird of prey with brilliant eye sight, or something to do with a microscope. I really liked this idea. My dad had an old microscope, and I decided this should feature. I looked around for some images of the microscopic appearance of retinal cells and found a great image in the Wellcome Collection (https://wellcomecollection.org/works/m9bkqts4). It is a Lithograph created by F. Foedisch in 1875.

This forms the background, and I toyed with the idea of fading them out, but everything is in focus so decided not to. I superimposed the microscope and tried to use a similar technique for the image to that used for its instruction leaflet.

Paperwork for microscope

As those who are technical drawers will see my angles and perspective need a bit more work, especially the circular surfaces. I like the technique for the penwork on the microscope though and think its nearly there. I like it as a response to the challenge and thanks to my friend for the idea!

Pen and watercolour of old microscope and retinal cells