About my Learn to Draw class in Exeter NH, Oct. 29, 2013

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Illustration Friday's theme : ocean

My entry is a Ross's Gull. The Ross's Gull was first spotted in the United States in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1975 and was such a big deal to local bird watchers, that the camera crews from the Boston news stations were called out. Previously it was thought to only live in the Arctic.

I drew him in colored pencil. It was very challenging to create all the grays' in his feathers, but it was fun!

Illustration Friday entry for "Imagination"

Step 8

I go over the darker areas with small strokes of lighter colors to create a nice curve where her many folds of skin are. The body gets some attention and I define the belly folds. There are so many! LOL!! I think I can see a tooth in the photo (it's good to check with the owner because it ended up just being her gums, so I took it out later). More detail on the tongue.

Step 7

I think the shadows need to be deepened on her forehead so I also add some browns and sienna. I've added a bit more to her fur areas for shadows that will also be built up over layers. Her tongue has some blue brown added to deepen the shadow.

Step 5

I get leery of all that brown in the background and wonder if I will ever be able to fill it with grass, so I squeezed out some yellow, black and several greens and blues and go to town. Some people don't realize that a nice lemon yellow and black makes a beautiful set of greens. Mix yellows and blues and you get many many more. I also include some blues and blacks in the grass to indicate shadows behind the grass. It's far from being done, but that brown is not a solid block any more. All of her wrinkles on her forehead and nose are also blown out to white in my reference photo because it was taken in the bright sunshine. So I have to try and create what they really look like. Lots of back and forth on these! Then I realized she had a spot of brown on the top of her head from another photo. Might as well indicate that too! Added some more dark blue pink grays inside her mouth.

Boston Terrier Dog finished

Finally finished my first Boston Terrier. I'm very happy with the way he came out. I think I may be brave enough now to try my German Shepherd, Cleopatra. She has tons of black in her coat. This was a good learning experience.

Boston Terrier 4

Moving right along! I'm adding more purples, blues, dark reds and finally some black. I've also added more color on his nose, muzzle and chin. I'm kinda liking him! I need to tone down the highlights on the right side of the face and add more darks and mid tones around the muzzle and the right side. I find it very helpful to put the work away for a day or two and come back to it with fresh eyes. And seeing it on the computer monitor, next to the previous layers, always helps me "see" what changes I want to make.

Boston Terrier 2

Now I have fixed the crooked eye, don't know if you can tell, and I might go back into it later. I started to add more color. I've used a soft blue gray and several other grays. Also added two different pinks to certain areas. Now I'm adding indigo blue where all the black are. I like to build up my blacks with dark blues and browns and dark reds if I can. The colors all shine through when you look at it closely and it makes a rich black.. I've also started to define all the edges of the face and neck. This is so much fun!

Boston Terrier colored pencil drawing

I've been wanting to draw some Boston Terriers for a long time and finally sat down to start one. This is the beginning. It's about 12 x 14 on Canson Drawing paper. Started with a pencil sketch and then added some white after I erased the pencil under those parts. Then I started the eyes and then went to the nose. I added some white, light grey and a light powder gray blue to the nose (can't think of the name of the color!). I think the left eye is off a bit, so I'll probably have to erase it a tiny bit and re-work it. You all know how I hate to erase!!! Where is that durn eraser! The paper is a bit less orange than the scan. Maybe work more on it this weekend. It is Mother's Day so I should be able to do whatever I want, right? 

Chimpanzee

I painted a cute Chimpanzee for my granddaughter for her third birthday. It's in acrylics, 12 x 16. It's to go with several others that I have painted for her through the past couple years, and the border designs all match her wallpaper. Enjoy!

My Colored Pencil Tips blog

Hi, just want to remind everyone that I have another blog called "Colored Pencil Tips" where I am posting answers to some of the questions people ask me about drawing with colored pencils specifically. I try to post there at least once a week. Check it out here: http://coloredpenciltips.blogspot.com/

New show

I'll be dropping off art for a new show at Exeter Hospital in Exeter, NH in a couple weeks. It will run through the end of May, 2012. Check it out if you live in the area. I'll have mostly colored pencil art, and some oil paintings.

Finally finished my trees.

I am finally finished with this colored pencil painting of trees. I had so much fun that I a definitely going to do more. Wish me luck! I can picture all kinds of trees and roots in my imagination! If you are interested, you can purchase a print of it in my Etsy shop.

Trees in colored pencil

For a change of pace, I decided to draw some trees in colored pencil. I started out with a sketch on Canson Mi-Tienes drawing paper. Wonderful surface to draw on. The slowly I have been adding color. Threw my back out yesterday so I may not finish this for a few more days. I like the way it's coming along!

Artist Drawing Materials Workshop

Artist Drawing Media Workshops
at Seacoast Artists Association
225 Water Street, Exeter, NH 03833
(603) 778-8856  •  www.seacoastartist.org

Have you wanted to try out different drawing media before you decide to purchase them? Have you hesitated because you weren’t sure you would like it? Here is the perfect opportunity to get your hands on some of the finest artists materials and supports (drawing surfaces) and get your hands dirty before you commit to what you’d like to try out next.

We’ll explore these mediums: Drawing pencils: 8H to 8B, Coptic markers, Staedtler Pigment liner pens, Crowquill pen, Noodlers fountain pen, conte crayons, charcoal: hard, vine & white compressed, oil pastels, hard & soft pastels, colored pencil, Aquaflow brushes for coloring waterproof ink sketches

And these supports: Strathmore Bristol Board (vellum & plate), Canson Mi-Teintes Drawing Papers in various colors, Rising Museum Board (100% cotton), Strathmore Charcoal paper in various colors (100% cotton fiber), Stonehenge Paper (100% cotton fiber). Golden Acrylic Pumice Gel & Golden Acrylic Molding Paste, both used to create a textured surface for pastels, charcoal and conte crayon.

WORKSHOP DATES: Workshop will be held on two different dates: Tuesday, March 6th and April 3rd, 2012, 12:30 to 3:30 pm. Cost is $50.00 plus a $10.00 materials fee for each workshop.
10% of the tuition goes to the Seacoast Artist Association Scholarship Fund.

For more information and to hold a spot: email Revelle at rtaillon@comcast.net.

Bassett Hound puppy finished

Well I took another few hours and finished up my Bassett Hound. I'm very happy with how he turned out! Giclee's and Valentine's Day cards of him available on my Etsy site!

Art Classes

I will be holding new art classes starting in January. The first one is at Whittier Vo-Tech in Haverhill, MA, starts Monday, January 23rd, from 6-8:30 pm, and is "Learn to Draw" for 8 weeks.

The second one is at Timberlane High School in Plaistow, NH and starts Tuesday, February 7th from 6-8pm, and is "Learn to Draw."

The third one is at Newburyport High School in Newburyport, MA, and starts Wednesday, February 24th, from 6-8 for 5 weeks and is "Colored Pencil Drawing."

I will also be teaching a "Learn to Draw" class at the Seacoast Artists Association in Exeter, NH, starting March 1, for 8 weeks, from 11:30 to 1:15. Also a "Colored Pencil Class", same place, starting March 1 for eight weeks, from 1:30 to 3:15. Hope you can make it to one of these classes. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in more details.

I love to teach! Who knew?