My excellent students' work!

Here is another crop of my students work. We are studying how to draw the human head. I think they are coming long great! You can click on each of them to enlarge. Enjoy!

Please come to my new art show

Clcik on the image to make it legible!

Pastel students

Here are two student pieces that I think I posted when they were half done. These are gorgeous. My students were looking at the same image to draw from, but the results are so individual and expressive of their personal style. I love them both!

My new students

Here is some great work from my students work on "How to Draw the Human Head", we obviously started with the skull. I'll have more next week. These are copied from other drawings of the skull. Next week I'll try to get the ones they did copying from a skull replica. Much more fun!! I think they are all doing great. A human skull is very complex and not something we generally stare at long enough to appreciate the complexities of shape, and shadow and highlight. Next week we will work on eyes.

My new class

My next new class "Learn to Draw the Human Head" begins tomorrow. I purchased a replica of an actual human head, for the students to draw. I've been getting to know him and have named him "Sherlock" since he will help my students to uncover the secrets to drawing the human head. I'm really looking forward to this class. So many of my students have difficulty when I say, "okay now we will draw a face". Eyes don't line up, or they are too small or too high on the face. I can't begin to explain what I have seen represented as a "nose"! Lips usually aren't too bad but hair is always a problem. As for ears, they are hidden under the hair LOL!!! I'm hoping after this class, that all those problems will be corrected, at least for these students.

Image by Leonardo DaVinci.

New Art Classes in November 2014

You can also read the details of my classes on the SAA website under "events": http://www.seacoastartist.org/events_classes_art.cfm

ANOTHER NEW ART CLASS FOR NOVEMBER 2014. LEARN TO DRAW

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT.

NEW art classes for November! LEARN TO DRAW THE HUMAN HEAD

Click on the image to enlarge it.

Evening Drawing Classes at Timberlane High School in Paistow, and Whittier Vo Tech in Haverhill MA

I will be teaching my "Learn to Draw" class at these two schools in the evening: Timberlane High School starts September 10th, 2014 from 6-8pm, and Whittier Vo Tech starts at September 15th, 2014 from 6-8 pm. In case you were wonder what supplies to bring here is the list:


What to bring: Small (5”x 8”) sketch book for daily practice, black fine tip markers such as Staedtler pigment liners, 3 colored markers or colored pencils (any colors), Strathmore 400 Series Drawing Pad, kneaded eraser, white plastic eraser, drawing pencils. A great quality paper for drawing is Arches Hot Pressed watercolor paper. Minimum class size is 6. Class size limited to 8.

Hope to see you there! I have also begun to hold private art lessons. Contact me for details.

Some great artwork at bargain prices for the Holidays!

I've been cleaning out my studio and realized I had a stash of matted artwork that I had brought to several art fairs, but had forgotten about. Now I want to clean them out and fill the space with new pieces. So I'm having a big sale on my Etsy site for early christmas shoppers! I'll be adding more pieces through next week. These are all quality archival giclees, that are matted in nice double thick or double piece mats, and wrapped in clear cello bags. Check them out and get your shopping done early! Click on the Etsy store items on the right hand column of my blog!

New Learn to Draw Class begins September 2, 2014, Colored Pencil Class starts September 4, 2014

Illustration Friday theme is "Journey"

I drew this in pencil. An odd journey, don't you think? I'm a bit odd, being an artist an all ;)

MeetUp Plein Aire drawing

I met some new artists last weekend at a MeetUp at Smolak Farms, in Boxfod, MA. I chose this cool rock wall and tree, mostly because it was in the shade! I worked on it for about three hours using Stadler pens, and some Copic gray markers in warm and cool greys. Wish I had even more gra
ys as those rocks were all types of colors, green grays and cool grays. One of these days I will purchase a whole set of grays!

I am also accepting people for private art lessons at Seacoast Artist Association, when I can fit them in. I will be offering 4 regular classes including Learn to Draw I, Intermediate Drawing II, Colored Pencil, and Pastel Painting for Beginners: Flowers, in September and October. Let me know if you are interested! Each class is 3 hours with a shot break, and they run for 5 weeks.

Illustration Friday's theme is "universe"

This little's bird universe if his mom. don't you agree?

Created in Illustrator.

Painting with pastels

I've been teaching a pastel class and loving every minute of it. We are working on Colorfix sanded paper which I also use with colored pencils. It's a beautiful rough surface and both mediums go down easily on it. Below is a mountain image I got from Paintmyphoto.com that we are working on. I had the students draw in the main shapes and dark areas in soft vine charcoal. They are amazed the pastel goes right over it without becoming muddy. It is kind of magical! Then they add the basic background shapes in color. We are use both soft and hard pastels. Last step is adding in small details and touchup around the sky and mountain edges.

We'll I'm on my Ipad and blogger won't allow me to add photos from my photos or iPhoto so I'll add them when I get home. 

Illustration Friday's theme is "revenge". this is my submission

This was drawn in pen and ink and colored pencil. Enjoy!

NEW DRAWING II CLASS BEGINS MAY 20!

New May Drawing Class!
Intermediate Drawing 2 Class

If you have learned all the basics in a beginners drawing class, perhaps you are ready to move up to an intermediate class. Here you will work more on adding finesse to your drawings and paying closer attention to detail, perspective, proportions, shading, blending, composition, contrast. You will work in pencil, charcoal, and pen and ink and explore more fully the different papers that are available for drawing, and what a difference they can make to your final artwork. You will work from still lives and photos.

What to bring: A small sketchbook for daily practice (5”x 8” is fine). Fine tip black markers, a set of drawing pencils, kneaded eraser, hard white eraser, black and white charcoal, sharpener, and paper stumps for blending. Bring a selection of drawing papers in your choice of colors to class, at least 9" x 12". Some great papers are: plate or vellum bristol board, Canson Mi-Teintes, Stonehenge, Strathmore, Arches Hot Pressed watercolor paper. Large sheets can be folded and torn into smaller sheets. Check these out online if you are not sure where to find them, at dickblick.com.

Class starts: Tuesday, May 20th, 2014, and runs 5 weeks, 10:30 to 1:30 pm. Cost is $135.00.
To hold your spot please mail a check directly to: Revelle Taillon, 26 West Pine Street, Plaistow, NH 03865.
Phone: 603-382-3397
Email: rtaillon@comcast.net
Blog: www.revelleimagemaker.blogspot.com

Class will be taught by Revelle Taillon, member of the Seacoast Artist Association. She holds a BFA in graphic design and illustration, runs her own design/illustration studio, and has been teaching art for 4 years.

Illustration Friday's theme is "vanity"

Here's my cocky submission! Painted in oils

Illustration Friday theme is "natural"

Here is my submission, a single whirley bird leaf from a maple tree. Enjoy!

Illustration Friday theme is "zodiac" so here is "Leo"!

I drew this in graphite. The original is for sale. If you are interested, contact me directly!

Illustration Friday theme is "survival" Here is my submission!

Painted in oils for my granddaughter. Enjoy!

First attempts to use charcoal

I am giving a young student some private lessons and these are the first assignments he turned in, using charcoal. He is so talented! Awesome is not even the best word. This young man is blowing my mind with his natural talent. Can you tell on the skull, which is the photo and which is the drawing?

Three sets of pears, colored pencil

My new colored pencil class is doing awesome. Here are some samples of their first homework assignment. Pretty good, huh?

I am offering a Pastel Painting for Beginners Class, starts April 17th 2014

This is a soft pastel painting class for those of you who have never tried this wonderful medium, and those of you who tired it years ago and would like a refresher course on the basics. This class will introduce you to pastels and you will see how quickly they go down on the surface, and how brilliant the effects are of these pure colors. Each class will start with some information on pastel painting including: how to make different marks: linear or side strokes; several ways to blend colors on the paper; how to fix your painting before framing. Pastels are very versatile and it is easy to create simple or complex paintings. We will concentrate on landscapes such as fields, mountains, and salt marshes for this class.

What to bring: Sennilier Half-Stick Soft Pastels set of 20
assorted half-sticks, Prismacolor NuPastel set of 12, Colourfix Pastel Paper (warm tone pack 9” X 12”), vine charcoal (soft), painting board (to tape drawing paper to), roll of paper towels or rags, paper stumps and an old artist paintbrush (1" wide) for blending, Artist tape 3/4” wide or masking tape. I have set up a Wish List on www.DickBlick.com with the recommended supplies, but you may substitute these with soft pastels of your choice. Once you sign up for the class I will email you the link to this Wishlist. Do NOT buy “Oil” pastels by mistake. We will not be using them in class. You may want to wear clothing you do not mind getting dirty.

Class starts: Thursday, April 17, 2014, and runs for 5 weeks, 10:30am to 1:30pm with a short break. Cost is $135.00. 10% of each tuition is donated to the SAA Art Scholarship Fund.

To hold your spot please mail a check directly to: Revelle Taillon, 26 West Pine Street, Plaistow, NH 03865. For more information: 603-382-3397 or email Revelle at rtaillon@comcast.net.

Class will be taught by Revelle Taillon, member of the Seacoast Artist Association. She holds a BFA in graphic design and illustration and has been teaching for over 3 years. She has worked in just about all mediums. Revelle’s Blog has samples of her work and technique: www.revelleimagemaker.blogspot.com

Class will be held at:
Seacoast Artists Association
225 Water Street, Exeter, NH 03833
(603) 778-8856  •  www.seacoastartist.org

Cape Buffalo continues!

Here are a few more steps. I thought I was done, but realized after looking at the horns for a couple days, that they were just too light. I also went back and added more darks in the face, ears, nose, well just about everywhere got more layers! It's always a good idea to take a break after working on a drawing, so you can see it with new eyes when you come back to in. I was adding detail up to the point I had put a mat around it and was about to sign it. When I was sure I was done, I signed it and finished framing it! Hope you enjoy it. It is for sale if you are interested. Contact me directly.

Cape Buffalo Drawing

Here are a few steps in my new drawing of a Cape Buffalo and an Oxpecker bird. The first drawing shows how I get the entire basic shape of the animals down first and then I work on the eyes. If the eyes aren't right, the drawing will fail even is everything else is correct. I put together several photos in Photoshop to use for reference: adding the top of the horns which weren't on the original photo by dragging them from other photos, then adjusting the shape and angle so they looked right. Then I found several photos of oxpeckers and added the bird on his head.In the next shot you can see I have added much more detail to the center of his massive head!

This shot shows a closeup of the little Oxpecker.

Art Classes in Exeter, NH starting March 18th, 2014

NEW ART CLASSES. I'm starting new classes on Tuesday, March 18, 2014, at Seacoast Artist Association, 225 Water Street, Exeter, NH. Cost for each class is $135.00.

"Learn to Draw" class runs 8 weeks; class is held from 10:00 am–12:00PM. 

"Colored Pencil Class" class also runs for 8 weeks and iis held 12:30pm–2:30pm. 

For full information see website http://www.seacoastartist.org/events_classes_art.cfm

Limit 7 students per class, minimum class: 3 students. Hope to see you there!

Amazing student work

I am giving private lessons to a new high school student and he gave me permission to post this piece. I love the way the student was able to capture the various tonal ranges with just pen and ink, on the lilies and the lily pads, even the way the shadowing appears on the water under the plants. Truly an exceptional student!

I am excited to continue with these lessons and can hardly wait to see what he will produce once he gets a real handle on tonal ranges available with pencil and charcoal. Stay tuned!

One of my student's Zentangle work

One of my students allowed me to use this photo she took of her latest Zentangle. We were looking at some other zentangle houses and she made up her own. I love the whimsy, the bright colors and the smoke rings coming out of the chimney! Thanks, Ann!

Illustration Friday submission, theme: Exotic

Here is my exotic submission, a loving pair of Lovebirds! I drew these for my husband for our anniversary, which just happens to be Valentines Day! Drawn in colored pencils.