New Summer Art Class: Learn to Draw. June 2017. Click on image to enlarge.

New Intermediate Drawing Class Spring 2017, Exeter NH

Classes are held at:

Seacoast Artists Association

130 Water Street, Exeter, NH 03833

(603) 778-8856  •  www.seacoastartist.org 

If you have learned all the basics in a beginners drawing class, you are ready to move up to an intermediate drawing 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 drawings. You will work from still lifes and photos.

What to bring: Set of drawing pencils (hard and soft), kneaded eraser, hard white eraser, black and white charcoal, pencil sharpener, paper stumps for blending. Bring a selection of drawing papers of your choice. Some great papers are: vellum Bristol Board, Canson Mi-Teintes, Stonehenge, Strathmore, Arches Hot Pressed Watercolor paper. Check these out online if you are not sure where to find them at www.dickblick.com. Minimum class size is 3. Class size limited to 7.

Class starts: Tuesday, February 28th, 2017, and runs 8 weeks, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Cost is $150.00.
To hold your spot please mail a check directly to: Revelle Taillon, 26 West Pine Street, Plaistow, NH 03865.

For more information you may call 603-382-3397 or email Revelle at rtaillon@comcast.net. 10% of each tuition is donated to the Art Scholarship Fund.
Class will be taught by Revelle Taillon, a member of the Seacoast Artist Association. She holds a BFA in graphic design and illustration from ULowell and has won regional and national awards.
Revelle’s Blog has samples of her work and techniques: www.revelleimagemaker.blogspot.com

Colored Pencil class in Exeter NH starts February 3rd, 2015

Click on the image to enlarge it. This class starts February 3rd, 2015. Better let me know soon if you are interested in coming!

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.

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!

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

Click on the image and it will open in a new window larger so you can read it!

I am offering 3 art classes at Seacoast Artist Association, Exeter, NH September 2013

Drawing With Colored Pencils

This class is for students who would like to learn to use colored pencils, or if you have used them before, come get a refresher class and learn some new techniques and supports for your work. Explore various techniques in colored pencil: shading and highlights to create volume, building layers of color, burnishing for deep rich color. You will work from photos and still lifes, to enhance your own personal technique and style. You will learn the five basic techniques that form the basis of any colored pencil work and explore new supports for your work. This great medium allows you to stop and start easily, without any set-up time, and to draw on location without worrying about solvents.

What to bring: A quality set of colored pencils such as Prismacolors, a battery operated pencil sharpener, kneaded eraser, hard white eraser, 2B pencil, colorless blender pencil or marker. Bring a selection of great drawing papers in colors of your choice, such as Canson Mi-Teintes, Stonehenge, Strathmore, Art Spectrum Colourfix Coated Pastel Paper. Paper should say “acid free, 100% cotton, lignin free” for the best results. Other great surfaces for colored pencil are hot press watercolor paper and Vellum Bristol Board. Minimum class size is 3. Class size limited to 7. Class starts: Thursday, September 5th, 2013, and runs 8 weeks, 10:30 to 12:30 pm. Cost is $135.00. To hold your spot please mail a check directly to: Revelle Taillon, 26 West Pine Street, Plaistow, NH 03865. For more information you may call 603-382-3397 or email Revelle at rtaillon@comcast.net. 10% of each tuition is donated to the Seacoast Artist Association Scholarship Fund.  

Drawing I

This class is for budding artists or those with only a small amount of practice who want to learn drawing skills; or perhaps you have painted but never really learned to draw. Learn to break down objects into their basic elements and shapes so you can truly see how an artist sees. Learn about edges, shape, positive & negative space, and working with spatial relationships within and between objects. Learn how blind contour drawing can enhance your understanding of how to render what you are looking at in a realistic manner quickly. Learn how to use shading to create volume and start to understand perspective. Learn proper dimensions of the human face and work on a self portrait. This is a great class for all beginners and those of you who want to go back and relearn the basics to enhance your drawing practice.

What to bring: A small sketchbook for daily practice (5”x 8” is fine). Moleskine makes a great sketchbook with blank pages, 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. Large sheets can be folded and torn into smaller sheets. Minimum class size is 3. Class size limited to 7. Class starts: Thursday, September 5th, 2013, and runs 8 weeks, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Cost is $135.00. To hold your spot please mail a check directly to: Revelle Taillon, 26 West Pine Street, Plaistow, NH 03865. For more information you may call 603-382-3397 or email Revelle at rtaillon@comcast.net. 10% of each tuition is donated to the Seacoast Artist Association Scholarship Fund.  

Intermediate Drawing II

If you have learned all the basics in a beginners drawing class, you are ready to move up to an intermediate drawing class. Here you will work more on adding finesse to your drawings and paying closer attention to detail, perspective, proportions, shading, blending, and composition. 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 drawings. You will work from still lifes and photos. What to bring: A small sketchbook for daily practice (5”x 8” is fine). Moleskine makes a great sketchbook with blank pages. Fine tip black markers, set of drawing pencils, kneaded eraser, hard white eraser, charcoal pencils and/or sticks, conte crayons, sharpener. Bring a selection of drawing papers in your choice of colors. Paper should say “acid free, 100% cotton, lignin free” for the best results and archival quality. 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. Minimum class size is 3. Class size limited to 7.

Class starts: Tuesday, September 10th, 2013, and runs 8 weeks, 10:30 to 12:30 pm. Cost is $135.00. To hold your spot please mail a check directly to: Revelle Taillon, 26 West Pine Street, Plaistow, NH 03865. For more information you may call 603-382-3397 or email Revelle at rtaillon@comcast.net. 10% of each tuition is donated to the Seacoast Artist Association Scholarship Fund. 

Illustration Friday's theme today is wings.

Here's my entry!

Pencil drawing of a Corgi

The breeder I got my German Shepherd from, also breeds Corgis. Since seeing them at her house, I seem to be seeing them everywhere. I decided to draw one. So, that's story!

 It was difficult getting the ears right and even, but I'm happy with this final art. Pencil on Bristol Board

Step 6

As you can see, I've added some more of the dark areas. I also like to add some depth to the white areas so I've added some pinks, yellows and blues to her forehead and muzzle. The nose has gotten darker and more defined and I've added more color to her tongue and gums.

Step 3, lips, tongue nose pink!

Next steps were to mix up some nice pinks with alizarin crimson, some white and blue. Dragging the gray of the pencil around with a bit of turp, helps to put the lines I drew into a bit of gray that I can use for guides and add to the under layer. I also went in with some more whites over the grays and pinks. The owner wanted me to add a collar and a heart shaped tag that wasn't on the original photo either. Happy to comply! More reference needed.

Boston Terrier 3

I've started to define the dark areas more with some indigo blue and magenta. I'll slowly work those areas darker, as I add more lights to show contrast. Not happy with the nose yet. Dog noses are really difficult things to draw in case you didn't know. This one already has four or five layers of color!

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!

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!

Bassett Hound puppy 4 or 5 I forget!

I'm getting there. Added many, many layers of color but I'm still not done. Have to put it away for a few days and then take it back out.

Bassett Hound puppy 3

Step 3 is much like the last step, keep erasing and adding color. I'm drawing on some nice toned coffee with cream orangy kind of color (don't have the name but you get the idea!) Canson paper and it seems to be taking the color well except for the white. Again, I might switch to Prismacolor for the white. I've erased all the pencil from the top of the face and filled it in with the colored pencil. I try to watch which way the fur is falling and make my stokes copy that direction. If you haven't drawn on nice Canson paper because it seems expensive, take into account that you can fold it in half, tear it and then fold those 2 pieces in half and tear it again. Makes 4 good sized sheets for only a dollar or 2 each. It's really worth the investment for any drawings you intend to finish up and frame. It's archival so your drawings will last. Be sure to apply fixative so you don't get haze (called wax bloom) over your colors and they stay bright. And if you are drawing in shifts and have applied lots of layers, consider spraying with workable fixative which will help to lift the texture back up a bit so it has more tooth. Burnishing can press the color deeply into the paper and this helps if you want to go back into it with more color layers. Gives the pencil more bite into the paper. I'm also showing the colors I will be using. Browns, reds, orange, yellow, beigey tan, and of course white. Also a pink in there. May add some blues into the whites later.

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?