Monday 16 May 2011

Step by Step Colour Pencil, Dog. 13cm x 15.5 cm (5in x 6in)

I drew this as a birthday gift for an angel. Many happy returns, you sweetest lovely thing.


 The top photo was taken after it was framed (because I forgot to do it earlier..), so there's a bit of a reflection. The next two images are to show you how many colours I used - pinks, purples, blues, not just white on its own. And blues, purples, turquise, not just black on its own.  Hair is always a delicious variety of colour - you've just got to look hard, and they're all in there. Colour pencil is a time consuming medium, and the most important ingredient, as well as patience and observation, is Love. The most wonderful artworks show the love. 




I used Caran d'Ache Luminance- a beautiful range of light fast pencils, quite soft, and gorgeous colours, especially the greens, as well as Prismacolor and Derwent, on Bristol Board. I mix the brands and use light fast colours only. Which is a challenge in itself. 





The difficult thing with colour pencil is that it is so linear - every mark is a line. But everything we draw needs to be seen as tone and shape, and drawing hair in colour pencil actually DIScourages this. It can make too many lines, and too many lines makes hair look like wire. So, observation is key. Every time. 

Copyright reminder - animals are a favourite subject. Please do not copy this drawing in any way.

BIG NOTE.... I really love teaching. Not everyone can say that. If I can help you in any way it would be an honour to do that. Just ask me a question. But I know that you will not learn anything by copying my work. Not a thing. So please do not do it. Don't print out my images, don't try to draw them, for the copyright is mine and you don't have my permission to do it. Thank you. Rest assured I will never, ever try to copy anything that you have created. 

2 comments:

  1. Oh yessss! My kind of subject, and I love it.The photo is good, but not as good as the real thing.Blues, purples, turquoise with the black, who'd have thought it.
    Is there anything you can't do?

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete