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 post, theme "Liquid"

I don't know about you, but coffee is the most precious "liquid" in my life!!! I've created an entire line of these funny ladies all drinking coffee!

Drawn with pen and colored pencil. See all of my lady cards here on one of my other blogs: http://revelle-taillon.blogspot.com/

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.

Pinecone trick

I've attempted to draw pine cones many, many times, and they always looked fuggly.

So while on vacation I decided to draw one again. First I did a blind contour drawing which you see on the left. Picture it without the color. It was pretty strange looking and off to the left. I did the drawings in pen. Blind contour drawing is when you look at what you are drawing, but you do not look AT the drawing. You keep your eyes on the object. That allows your brain and your eyes and your hand a chance to get comfortable with each other!

The second drawing I did while looking back and forth at the pine cone to the paper, and I'm very happy with it. It actually looks like the pinecone I was holding in my hand!

I then went in with a bit of watercolor on both drawings.

 I highly suggest if you're having a problem "seeing" what you're trying to draw, try a few blind contour drawings of it first.