Anything goes!
MP
This is a charming portrait of MP's grandson. I have worked with her previously on an earlier version, and with this work here she has started again, revised and refined to creaate a more accurate likeness physically and of the character. Drawn on Art Spectrum 300 gsm HP, Monika has used a 2H in the early stages to establish the shapes of the features and then has built up the colours in layers with Prismacolor Premeir Pencils.
The features are very well drawn, the shape of the eyes in particular. Remembering your earlier work it is good to see you have paid attention to the angle and set of the eyes in this work. A big improvement. Very good layering of coloured pencil, building up of colours and working well with the hue and temperature. The hair is also much improved as you have started to use more negative drawing to create the shadows of the hair rather than trying to use each pencil stroke to become a hair. The only issue I have with this work is that I feel that using black in the mouth was not the correct choice - the eye is drawn to this strong area. I realise the photo may be quite dark here, but it is overpowering in a c/p drawing. I would suggest you take it back a bit around the lower lip (try to blue tack off by gently dabbing at it) and use a dark umber instead of the black. Leave some of the black in the corner of the mouth if you feel it needs it.
Overall you should be proud of this work - what does Nicholas think?
Jean
Jean has fallen in love with her niece's Border Collie pup and has drawn this pencil work of him at 6 months old. This sweet pup is drawn on Fabriano HP 300gsm using 2B, HB and 2H pencils. She has worked from personal photos but has also sourced some online images of BC's in order to see the ear detail better.
He is a very fluffy pup, with an engaging face and endearing eyes. You have caught that pose very well, Jean. Your handling of the fur is greatly improved from the last work of this pup I saw. A few hints - when drawing fur/hair, try to avoid it looking 'combed'. By that I mean all the hair strokes lining up in the same direction. Hair generally flows one way, yes, but it is also more random and will cross over each other and change directions. Try and be a bit more naturalistic with your line strokes, change them about and not always work in the same directional sweep. Avoid abrupt directional changes. Be careful how you add the shadow strokes in the white fur, slow down a little and consider, don't rush.
About the grass and your question if you should add tone or leave outline only - either would work well although I tend to lean toward adding tone. That is up to you. If just leaving white with line, you need to keep it sharp and crisp where it meets the fur. If you add tone instead work from midtones first, then add the deep shadows. The grass should be lighter in tone than the dog so don't get too heavy too soon.
Again, congratulations on capturing the pose and personality of this guy so well. All the other stuff is just technical detail, youv'e done the hardest job of creating a charater.
Monika
I think we are all spending a little too much time in the kitchen these days and Monika's Garlic drawing reflects this. This is lovely little study drawn with graphite pencils 2H to 5B and Faber Castel colour pencils in her visual diary. The shapes and forms are well drawn. The colour enhances the drawing and helps to show the structure of the bulb.
I am not sure if the dark lines are a black pencil or the 5B graphite, but once again I caution about using the black pencil too often. As in MP's portrait, the black lines really stand out and dominate the subtle colors you have used elsewhere. Perhaps you could have used a deep violet or indigo blue to create these shadow lines and cast shadows, then add black/5B selectively if needed. When you use pure black or heavy B pencil like 5B to create a contrast you miss out on the more powerful effects of changes in hue and use of complimentary colours. This isn't to say you should never use black, just be aware of how dominate it can be and use it cautiously.
Still, this is a great study work and is enjoyable to look at. Well done.
K - a WIP
It's been another tough week a the hospital for K and we all hope this starts to ease off soon here in Melbourne - everyone of us is very grateful for the sacrific and hard work of the nursing staff and all the support workers out there. But as K has found, what better way to relax, unwind and take your mind to a better place than to sit down and create a drawing!
Here is a wonderful work K has been working on for a few weeks when she can. It is still a work in progress and K says she has a few tweeks she wants to make yet this weekend. Done in colour pencil with graphite support on Fabriano HP 300gsm.
The feather work on these two chuckleheads is quite good. The bird on the left is .a tad overweight and needs to cut down a bit on the lizards he is eating - but Kookaburras also tend to look fat when they hunch down like this. Could the tails be a bit broader K, you think? And I would be tempted to add a bit of indigo shading as needed in their white vests. A nice composition, good interaction between the two subjects. Good tonal and colour rendering. Nice work K!
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