All Media Photo Challenge15, January, 2012

I did this one tonight not sure how long about 50 minutes maybe. I needed to get darker but didn't want to sharpen the pencil again!!! Some glare on the page too but it was fun. I will go to colour just wanting t do sketches at the moment. In my sketchbook 8" x 10" with 2b and 5 b pencils.

Did some more to this one too.

 

Fiddled a bit with this too

Jen, you are really good with those pencils.  You have more contrast here than in the reference photo.  The big bush at the lower right corner helps to give it good depth.  This is an inviting scene and I'm tempted to walk down that road and see what's around the bend.

Thanks Sammy I fidled some more but not worth reposting. Here is my feeble effort of the Curly One. I think he is too young and girly. I may have another go but too late tonight.

 

 

I fiddled some more with Curly One and lowered his nose, mouth and chin slightly. Not sure it helped much

Marsha - this is great.  I especially like the flowers in the foreground - nice detail.

Marsha: I was referring to the colored pencil sketch of the laundry.  Your sketches of "Curley" are great.  Your second one is spot on.

Jen:  LOVE the ducks.  Very nice.  The photo you posted of staying out of those snappy beaks made me giggle.  My aunt had a goose that caught me in a similar situation when I was a kid.

I haven't been called in to sub yet today, so hope to be able to get some extended time in the studio.

Sheila - thank you so much for the nice compliment.  I admire your art in your web page...  I'm a newbie so I have some catching up to do.   But I am finding myself in my art, we will see where my niche will be.  This is such an encouraging site.  Everyone is so in tuned to one another. 

Jen -   I am learning about the pencils (graphite).  the softer pencils cause the most smudges in shading.  

I like your little english back yard with the laundry...  I could even smell it,  fresh air, fresh grass, fresh clean laundry and the scent of flowers....    Great picture...

Sam - here is my latest with the yellow flower in the challenge I saw where we could use just a portion of any picture so that is what I attempted here with just a smidge sticking out from the black background,   I don't have all the layers of the background on it yet.  

Marsha : great job on the Daliah. Did you use your WC pencils on black? You've got good values on the petals, and I like how you cropped it and did the centre petals. Nice 3D look. You a really good artist. Yes you can prety much do what ever you like with the reference photos. That too is part of the fun and challenge. My biggest problem with the pencils is smudging too.I just keep cleaning up after myself with a kneeded eracer. The softer the pencils the darker the values you can make. So soft ones are useful I tend to use 2b, 4b and 6b. Depending what you are doing sometimes a hard one like F. Or 2f can be useful for find lines or light shading.

Marsha:  WOW!!!!  Beautiful contrast and light reflection.

thank you Sheila and Jen...

I don't use anything over a 2B due to the softness of the lead.  I start out with an H or a  HB.   the H pencil is hard and doesn't smudge.  I also lay down a piece of paper over what I have done so my hand doesnt' touch it again,  sometimes I forget and wa la   smudge... 

I only tap my kneaded erasure I try not to rub. 

here is one I just did today with your rocks....  I only did a portion of it so if you want to see which part, its now a game....  find "Waldo" or the stone with the hole in it.   I started out with the H pencil, then did all the darks around the stones with the B, like negative painting,  for the shading on the stones I used the the HB, the lighter shading with the H,  then ended with the 2B for the darkest  darks... the photo isn't as crisp as the actual drawing looks...  hmmm

regarding the Dalia,  I did use the black colored pencil doing little circles as Sammy said, then went over it again, then added OMS,  then indigo, then dark red then oms...   I have two more layers to do on the back ground.  I didn't try to keep a clean definition between the flower and the bg.  I wanted it softer due to the fact I didn't keep it clean within the flower itself. 

My colored pencils are breaking terribly and have contacted DB.  Prismatic Premier.  both of the last two pieces have been on Stonehenge I just divided the paper in half.  to 9x6 vellum finish 250gsm

Forgive me for neglecting you folks today.  I'll tell you what I've been up to on the Chatter thread.

Jen, I think that you did a nice job on the Curly One drawing.  His curly hair looks great.  He has a great smile.  I think that his features on his lower face may be too close together.  Maybe a little more space between his upper lip and his nose and a little longer nose.  I'm glad that you weren't tempted to give him a bridge on his nose.

I like the darks you have under his chin and behind his neck and inside his neckline.  As you know, those darks make the lights look lighter.

Keep practicing with those pencils.  You just keep getting better and better. 

Sheila, I'm so glad that you have joined us.  You input is so welcome and helpful. 

Marsha, your colored pencil painting of the Dahlia is super.  Like Sheila, I like the the highlights on the petals.  I also like the lines on the petals.  The flower center is beautiful.  The bg looks fantastic.  I'm impressed.  The dark bg makes the flower pop.  One little tip that I'd like to pass along to you.  Everywhere that the petals cross each other and form a V, darken in the point of that V.  It will give the illusion of more depth.  Also, where you have those beautiful oranges in the center of the flower, darken some areas in there.  That also will create more depth.  You have used my favorite colors and I love it.

What size is the dahlia and do you plan to frame it? 

Somebody must have dropped your whole box of pencils.  Blick is really good about replacing things.  Bug them until they do.

Nice drawing of the stones.  Many people makes stones and rocks look like soft pillow but not you.  These look like rocks.  I was thinking of doing some of those stones with a dandelion growing among them but will probably never get around to it.

I have cropped the dahlia in a different way than you and will start a little painting tomorrow.  Also, I'm going to try to do dancing laundry with wc batik.  No guarantee on that one.  I'm still experimenting with batik.

Keep up the good work.  You are developing into a fine artist.

Marsha: good for you trying the rocks. That one with the hole was just asking to be drawn wasn't ? You have got good values and as Sammy said they look like rocks. So I have to say this . You rock girl!!! Maybe I will have a go now. I have taken loads of these rock picture because they look so interesting but so far have chickened out. Now may be the time! I am so glad you ate enjoying these references.

Sammy I think you are right about CO ' s mouth. I knew something was off. I may have a go at him tonight or do the rocks.

Jen, I'm glad that I looked back to see if I missed anything and found that you updated two of your drawings.  You darkened some on the Greet, Gloucester scene,   I could see the shadow of the tree on the path so I knew that the sun was coming from the left but the reference photo doesn't show much light and shadow on the shrubbery.   I'm glad that you darkened the shrubs on the left.  A little bit of highlight on the right sides might add more dimension.  I like the darker version.

You also made adjustments on the Curly One's features.  I like the changes.  Try lifting a little of the dark where his eyes should be white.  I think that would soften it a bit.  You did capture his cute sweetness.  I get the feeling that he might be one of your favorite people.

Sheila, Kudos to you for trying a new medium.  WC is tough and, like you, I tend to overwork my attempts at using it.  We are so used to being able to go over things to make changes.  Are you willing to show us what you have done?  I understand if you're not. 

  

Sammy thanks for your sage advice. I think I had a fliming problem with his eyes i took the photo twice but it still looks odd on here. I think I am getting a shine from the pencil as it looks okay here.

Here is tonights effort. I lost track of which rock was what so it ended up being more an imppression of rocks! I don't know how you managed it Marsha!! The seaweed looks like some alien lifeform!