Venice San Giorgio WIP # 2

I worked a bit more on this drawing. I'm amazed at how quickly the piece is moving along.

Venice San Giorgio WIP

I finally decided on my next big piece to work on. When I was in Venice back in May I took a picture of this view...San Giorgio.

This is a WIP piece. I usually start by drawing my sketch on tracing paper, that way I can work out all the details before I transfer the drawing to good paper. Once I'm satisfied with the sketch, I pick out the paper I want to use. In this case, I'm using Mi-Tientes Indio Blue... 9.5 x 12.5 . Then I trace my sketch onto the Mi-Tientes paper using white Saral transfer paper so I can see my line drawing on the Indio Blue paper. After I've transfered the sketch I use swatches of the Mi-Tients Indio Blue to work out the colors I want to use. I'm using Prisma Color Colored pencils for this piece. Usually I work all over the drawing, but with this drawing I'm working from right to left. This first installment was done in 3 hours.

Bearded Collie

When I lived in Calfornia I had a friend who had a bearded collie named "George." 8 x 8 using Faber-Castell polychromos and Prisma color colored pencils.

Afghan Hound

Today I finally finished working on this guy...an adult Afghan Hound. 8 x 8 using Faber-Castell polychromos and Primsma color colored pencils.

Hydranga

This is my last flower in the blue's...a Hydranga. I have a couple growing in my backyard. Some are the blues and a few are the violet looking color. I love bringing them in and making flower arrangements. They especially look good grouped with yarrow and roses.

A pug puppy

Here is my interpretation of a Pug puppy. 8 x 8 sketchbook using Faber-Castell polychromos.

Airedale Terrier Puppy

I can really get into working small 8 x 8 inches. This Airedale puppy was created with Faber-Castell polychromas. I completed him in less than 2 hours.

A Petit Basset

I finished this guy on Sunday, but was recharging my digital battery,so just got around to taking his picture. This guy is a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (a French dog) puppy. I did this with Faber-Castell polychromas.

A Basenji Puppy

Don't you just love thoses big ears??? He's a Basenji puppy in my whimsical series.

I've been wanting to do something fun for a change, so I'm starting my dog whimsical collection. Each day I'll render a dog portrait in a whimsical style. The dog may not be true to color or even likeness...I'm just drawing them as the spirit moves me. The goal is to get through all the classes of dogs.

Fushsia from my garden. This drawing was done with Faber-castell polychromas and then prisma cp for added detail,finished with sepia artist pen.

Foxgloves

These are foxgloves growing in my garden. This drawing was done with Faber-Castell polychromas and Faber-castell sepia pen.

Telling Secrets Finished!!!

Telling Secrets is finally finished!!! For some reason this photo isn't photographing as crisp...probably the time of day I shot the WIP yesterday. Anyway...Telling Secrets is done. All I have to do is mat and frame.

Telling Secrets

Telling secrets WIP. Bella and Maggie were soul sister. When I first brought Maggie home, Bella couldn't stand being in the same room as Maggie. But Maggie being a loving puppy, wormed her way into Bella's heart. These two were inseparable. This was a typical scene...Maggie telling Bella all sorts of interestings secrets about the walk that they'd go on, a trip to the pet store, or a long ride in the car.

This colored pencil was created on Mi-Tientes sage drawing paper. I'm still working on a few spots that I need to fine-tune and give more detail. Once I finish with this drawing...I will finally be caught up and then can start on something new. YEAH!!!!

Sophie

Last year I lost my beloved Maggie who was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Tri-color. Maggie died unexpectantly and I thought my heart would break. She was only 3 years old.

I didn't think the void in my life would be filled, but it was. On June 25,2005 I brought home my baby Sophie. She'll never replace my beautiful Maggie. Sophie has found a special place in my heart. She is loving,sweet,and playful. From the time she wakes up in the morning she fills my life with joy and kisses.

This colored pencil drawing was created on powder blue Mi-Tientes paper.

Bernie the St. Bernard

Growing up I had several St. Bernards...and this guy reminds me of one of my Saints. This colored pencil drawing was done on Art Spectrum Colorfix white paper and I used prismacolor pencils.

Finished colored pencil drawing of my house

I think I'm done with my house drawing. I'll take this to my colored pencil class for a critique next week. I'm just glad I'm done.

It was such a beautiful day, I spent my afternoon in my backyard sketching. I did this in Faber-Castell colored pencil 8 x 8 inch paper.




Hostas

I've been going through all my unfinished drawings (WIP) and the drawing of my house was on the list. I still have work on the middle part of the drawing and once that's complete I think I'll be done. The biggest challenge of this colored pencil drawing was trying to get the various lights and darks. After experimenting I think I've gotten a good variation.

What I learned at colored pencil workshop

At the colored pencil workshop with Kristy Kutch, I got an overview of the different colored pencils on the market. Kristy demonstrated all the colored pencils
and tricks of applying to various paper surfaces. So on Saturday I drew a Calla Lily from memory with Faber-Castell polychromos.

On Sunday Kristy demonstrated water soluable pencils. Again applying water soluable pencils to various paper surfaces. I loved the quick and easy application of the water soluable pencils; again I'm with my favorite Faber-Castell 60 piece pak. I was amazed at the control I was able to achieve and how quickly I was able to develop my Showy Lady's slipper.

The one insight I got this weekend about myself was how confident I felt about drawing and using my material. I finally felt like I was in the "zone." Also because I've been doing art for a while, I'm now able to quickly work on a drawing or painting and finish in a short time, as apposed to taking weeks to complete a project.

I came away from this workshop happy and ready to get down to business and create more pieces.

Colored pencil workshop

This weekend I went to a 2 day color pencil workshop in Gearhart, Oregon with Kristy Kutch. Kristy wrote "Drawing and Painting with Colored Pencil." This workshop was fabulous. I liked Kristy style of teaching. Very generous with tips and "how to's," and loved all the goodies of various colored pencil samples. www.artshow.com/kutch

Another batch of flowers

Just when I think I'm done with my blue series of flowers I discover that I still have more to paint. These were all done with a Faber-Castell artist pen in Sepia and then I added color with watercolor paints.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July! And "Happy Birthday Marti"

To celebrate...I decided to draw peonies from my garden. I used my new Faber-Castell watercolour coloured pencils. The pencil lays the color down rather nicely and with just a tip of a wet brush the color just explodes and fuses together. I'm gonna like these pencils.

My new watercolour coloured pencils

Today I went to Daniel Smith Art Store in downtown Seattle. I always seem to get into trouble when I go to this store...I tend to go overboard and buy lots of art supplies...and you know I need them all!

This coming weekend I'm going to a two-day colored pencil workshop in Astoria, Oregon with Kristy Kutch. After looking over the material list I realized that I needed some water soluble colored pencils...a complete set which I do not have. I bought a 60 piece set of Faber-Castell watercolour pencils. They are a little bit thicker than the regular size colored pencils. They seem to be just as creamy and easy to use as my polychromos by Faber-Castell.

I also bought a small Fredrix Archival watercolor canvas board. I've been wanting to try since I first noticed them over a year ago. I got a 8" x 10" piece. I figure it's small enough to try out and if I mess it up, I won't be upset.

So it was a good day of art supply shopping.

Flowers from my garden

Yesterday was such a beautiful,warm,sunny day, that I sat in my backyard sketching flowers from my garden.

I used various colors of cardstock paper and a gelly roll white pen. I loved the affect of the pen that I went out and bought more colors.




















I had already cut all the roses from my rose bush,so all I had left were leaves. Using a pen really makes me think about placement of each stroke and forces me to see how the next stroke may interupt the flow of the drawing.

I have 60 rose bushes in my backyard and each is in various stages of blooming. I have this yellow-orange rose...really need to get tags to identify what rose I'm drawing.

I also have lots of Yellow and Red Yarrow plants. I've been cutting them too and adding them to my fresh floral arrangements that I've been displaying all over the house.

I guess the good part about having so many flowers in the backyard is that I don't have to go to the flower shop and buy flowers all summer long.