Pug Cross

Hi all,
This is my new work in progress and I think is a Pug Cross. I took the photo at a dog show a few years ago, and have been meaning to draw him for ages, as he is an older dog and quite cute to look at. I am using for the first time a Goldline Paper,heavy weight fine grain, and although different from my other papers I quite like it. The pencils are mixture of Prismacolour and Polychromos and the most used colours so far PC...Jasmine,yellow ochre,burnt sienna,burnt umber....FC...Raw Umber,a few shades of grey, and black. As time goes on a few more will be added into the palette,including a background. For most of you who follow this blog, you will know that I am not so good with backgrounds and will tend to opt for using some pastel smudged in rather than something with any sort of detail, but I would like to try and change that a bit. As I live by the sea I have chosen that to do with the dog right in the foreground. I have put in my horizon which I think is ok, bringing the sea forward into a bit of sand perhaps.The mounted size will be 12 x 16 inches,so a bit bigger than my normal size, but this is very experimental and sort of scary....the dog is not the rest is lol.

Rottie done and done.

Hi all,
I am going to call this one done now, as if I tweak and adjust any more it will be ruined. I am pleased with it and really like the hint of colour, but as I also scanned it in grey scale I like this one just as much.
I am also going to do this dog again, same size and pose in Cps, but will try and post more of the WIP as I go, so watch out for that in the next few weeks.

A touch of Colour !

Hi all,
So this is where I am at the moment, and this current stage was scanned in under colour rather than grey scale to show the eyes and collar off a bit more. I am fascinated with combining the two mediums, and quite like the effect of predominately Graphite to a hint of CPs and will most certainly do more in this style. I did think about using Graphitint pencils, but as they are also water soluble was a bit concerned about a bit of moisture getting in there, and running the colours in a mainly dry media drawing, which would more than likely ruin it. I still need to adjust the tones a bit, and that would of been today, but life got in the way and so wont be done for a few days yet.

Lovin Graphite !

Hi all,
Got to say that I am really pleased with the way this drawing is coming. I don't use Graphite as much as CPs, but I do find it to be a faster medium and capable of so much, and at times I think it is easy to forget that. I am not so sure that I have fully mastered it even now.....does and an artist ever really, but when I look at the work of artists like Clive Meredith, Nolon Stacy and Mike Sibley I realise there is still alot of learning to be had.

Graphite Rottie

Hi all,
I have started a new piece of work in Graphite, actually I have four on the go, but am sharing this one here. Some of you may remember the picture that I did of a Rottweiler some time ago, but was never really happy with the finished drawing, so have decided to try again with a different pose and medium. I have about four really good photos of this dog, and have to say she is a star in the making, very laid back and well behaved. This one is graphite and will be 10x8 in size on medium surface drawing paper (reverse side).

More Lab Updates

Hi all,
Here is my latest update on the Golden Lab, which is almost finished now. I am not entirely happy with it...something I always seem to say coming to the end of a piece lol, however this gives me time to put it to one side for a day or so and review it then. I think the perfectionist kicks in and I see things that may need tweaking and then in turn this causes me to "fiddle" which is a big no.....knowing when to stop is all important, and if ain't right then so be it.
The snow has started to melt thank god and we are seeing bits of green now, plus it is also milder. I am so looking forward to the longer warmer days, and spending time outside.

Lab Update

Hi all,
Ok this is where I am at with my Golden drawing,which is coming along nicely methinks.....more so since I nearly put it on the bin pile the other day ! If I am honest though, I have made her slightly darker in places, and if I were to do a dog again with this colouring I would use a coloured support,probably pastel paper or mount board.

Go with the Flow 2010

Hi all,

I hope you all had a good Xmas and New Year,despite the very cold temperature's. Who would of believed it that 2010 has started with Britain in the grip of a deep freeze! It has been very cold down here in the South and I woke up this morning with another heavy snowfall, and although it looks very pretty, it does make for hard walking. PooPoo and Bluebell think it is heaven, but got to say with her being on the small side she did disappear once or twice in a couple of drifts lol. Where ever you are I hope you keep warm and safe.

This year I have decided not to make any new year resolutions,plans,schedules, etc.....for me this this is the year of go with the flow.I don't want to be committing myself to anyone thing in particular. There are some very legitimate reasons for this, alot health related along with some other things as well. I will be concentrating on my animal art though, and would like to do some more ACEOs, and to kick start this off I am posting a start of a new portrait of a young Golden Labrador. This is being in CPs on Stonehenge,size 10 x 8 inches and I am using Derwent Artist pencils and Polychromos.