WILD ABOUT ART

Update

2010-09-27T22:31:00.002+01:00

Sorry I haven't posted for such a long while. I started one piece which ended up in the bin and i'm now working on two more ATCs but haven't done a scan of my progress, I may just do the finished pieces. I've also been working on other things, photography (of course) and some crochet. I need to decide on my next larger piece and get it started before the days get much shorter. I really don't like this time of year for that very reason, although I love crisp autumn days and cold frosty ones too. But indoors, when darkness falls so early............not good for drawing!

Cat ATC

2010-08-25T18:46:00.003+01:00

My cat ATC finished. 'Rigsby' is for a private trade with a fellow artist and Flickr friend who is doing me a barn owl based on Soren, one of the owls in the Ga'hoole fantasy series. I've actually seen my barn owl already - he is beautiful and I will be delighted to have him as my first ATC.
Rigsby is on Clairefontaine Pastelmat in Faber Castell Polychromos and Prismacolors, 2.5"x3.5"

Cat ATC wip

2010-08-17T21:23:00.005+01:00

My first attempt at an ATC (Artists Trading Card) for a swap with an artist friend in America who is doing me a lovely barn owl based on the owl Soren from the Ga'hoole fantasy series. ATCs must be 2.5" x 3.5" and it is really hard for me to get the detail I like in such a small size, even using my optivisor. Quite a lot more work needed on this one to build colour to get some depth - though I'm reasonably happy with her eyes. It is on Clairefontaine Pastelmat and I'm using various coloured pencils, but mainly FC Polychromos and a few Prismacolors.

snow leopard completed

2010-07-27T14:10:00.004+01:00

This is scanned, so hopefully the colours are more accurate. As you can see I have altered the crop, mainly because I couldn't get the paper to take any more pastel and I felt the fur on his body didn't look quite right.

I've added more white and dark grey, some light touches of pinky brown and peach to the fur and a hint of grey to his eyes.

I will definitely use velour again, but must get some soft pastels for the early layers and just use the pencils for detail, then naybe I will get better coverage.

A little progress

2010-07-26T17:22:00.003+01:00

I've not had much time for art in the last few days but did a little on the snow leopard today. I'm finding him harder now, the softer fluffy looking fur is proving tricky.

I've darkened some areas on his head and lightened others and put in his whiskers - they don't show up as well as I'd like. Hopefully the next time I post, he'll be finished.

I'm taking photos of the wips rather than scanning and I notice that the colour is looking different on each one due to the different light and time of day that I've taken the photo. I shall have to decide whether to risk scanning the final one or if I'll just play around with the colour to get it as close as possible. Even scanning doesn't reproduce the picture perfectly.

snow leopard work in progress 3

2010-07-19T16:33:00.002+01:00

I was able to spend some time drawing this morning while waiting in for a delivery, usually such a sunny day would have had me grabbing the camera and departing for the forest - especially as last week the weather was so bad.
Anyway, he is progressing quite nicely I think and even Clive has said it is good!! This one might even be framed and hung on my wall.

Snow Leopard progress

2010-07-17T18:51:00.003+01:00

I'm happy with the way this picture is progressing - at the moment anyway! Today I've added some basic shading for his fur and done more work on his mouth, teeth and muzzle. I would have got more done, but had unexpected visitors. Probably a good thing, making me put it to one side and give some thought to the next stage, instead of rushing it, which is what usually happens.

snow leopard on velour

2010-07-16T14:50:00.003+01:00

I hadn't realised how long it's been since my last post - I've been out and about taking photographs, making the most of the spell of hot weather. Today I made a start on the snow leopard, he is in pastel pencil on velour paper. It is an odd surface to work on and my initial impression is that it won't take many layers, nor will I be able to get much detail. This maybe due to me using pastel pencils - I think that soft pastels would be better for the early layers and only using the pencil for fine detail. I have been think about buying some soft pastels for a while but haven't got around to doing an order. I'm working from a photograph that I took last year at Marwell Zoo - their snow leopard is old but still magnificent - though I have added back his missing top tooth!

Ruby

2010-06-13T20:07:00.003+01:00

Here is Ruby, completed but for the mount and frame, ready to give to my sister. I have found drawing Ruby quite emotional - my sister is in residential care and it is unlikely that she will even recognise Ruby. I will just be glad if the picture can give her even a small amount of pleasure.

In the end I used pastel pencil for the background on the reverse of the drafting film - which nearly ended in disaster. The first layer went on fine, I blended it with a tissue and then attempted to add a lighter colour on top - it wouldn't blend! I eventually rubbed hard with my finger and it blended enough to not look too bad.

I shall have a break for a couple of days before starting my next piece. I think I'm going to do a snow leopard, using a photo I took at Marwell last year. The plan is to use pastels on velour paper which I haven't tried before.

more of ruby

2010-06-13T11:21:00.004+01:00

Several hours yesterday and an hour or so this morning have brought me to this stage and I'm relieved to say that it is going quite well. It actually looks better in reality - even my husband says it's looking good and I don't often get praise from him!

Now onto her neck and chest, then the background, then mounting and framing ready for my sister's birthday.

Ruby wip 3

2010-06-11T21:44:00.003+01:00

I've made reasonably good progress today and I feel that Ruby is now coming along nicely. I'm working on both sides of the film which I hope will add a bit of depth to the fur. As I work I am making small changes here and there to the work I've already done, a bit more colour on the inside of the ears, a slight darkening of the eye rims.

I have given some thought to the background - if I decide to do one I think I shall use Prismacolors as they blend easily and I will add it on the reverse of the film.

ear ear

2010-06-10T20:57:00.004+01:00

Ruby is making very slow progress but at least she now has both her ears! It is a long while since I have worked on drafting film and I don't remember struggling with it like I am with this portrait. Maybe it is because I am using different pencils - polychromos - I don't know but it is frustrating. I can't give up and start over for the second time as my sister's birthday is fast approaching. Fingers crossed I will make better progress tomorrow.

Ruby 1

2010-06-08T15:18:00.004+01:00

After a few busy days I finally got back to the drawing board. I began this new version of my sister's cat a few days ago, I was busy on it this afternoon when I remembered I hadn't done any scans. So you are seeing it a bit further on than my usual first wip - probably about 6 hours work so far, excluding the line drawing.

This is on Polydraw 050 double matt drafting film, using Faber Castell Polychromos. Black paper behind the film as I work and for the scan.

Already I am finding it difficult - with the polychromos I am finding it hard to get more than a three layers which isn't giving the depth of colour I would like. With the eyes I have worked on the reverse of the film to overcome this. Now I'm getting to the part I dread; choosing which colours to use for the fur. The colours in the photograph I had printed look way too bright and garish so I am toning them down quite a bit, referring to the computer for the colours and the photograph for the precise detail. I am using my new Optivisor for the first time, it is very helpful but at present gives me a headache after just a short time. I guess it is similar to having a new pair of glasses!

parrot workshop piece

2010-05-31T15:58:00.004+01:00

This post was meant to be the first stage of Ruby, my sister's cat, but after spending about six hours working and getting increasingly frustrated I have decided to scrap it and begin again on a different support.

Giving myself a break before restarting I have finished off the little parrot from my last workshop.

He is in Derwent Coloursoft pencils, 6.5" x 9" on cream mountboard.

Parrot workshop

2010-05-19T22:30:00.004+01:00

Today was my second workshop with artist Karen Coulson. Our small class worked on this parrot with lots of helpful instruction from Karen. This is as far as I got in the two hours, I do work slowly and rushed this a bit in places to try and keep up. I will try and finish this over the next couple of days. Then I must get some photos taken of my sister's cat, get some prints done and begin work.

This is in Derwent Coloursoft pencils on mountboard.

The Churchyard Cat

2010-05-15T20:38:00.004+01:00

A few more hours work since the last post and here he is, finished.

As usual, the hardest part was rendering the fur. I had thought it might be easier in pastels but no such luck and I'm still not getting the realistic effect I would like. A little later this year one of my favourite artists is bringing out some 'how to draw fur' instruction packs; I'm hoping these will help me overcome my difficulties.

I have another art workshop this week, this time working on a parrot - that will probably me my next blog update - unless I get time to play with my new Derwent Graphitint pencils which arrived in the post today. I found them half price while looking for something else online and couldn't resist such a bargain.

More on the churchyard cat

2010-05-14T20:41:00.003+01:00

Here is the next stage of 'the churchyard cat'. Overall, I'm happy with how it is developing. It isn't going to be perfect - by a long way - but I do feel I'm learning and improving. I did a comparison with the original on the computer after I uploaded this wip and it isn't too far off - I overlay the original photograph over my drawing and then use the transparency brush to reveal the drawing underneath. I find it a good way to see where I have gone wrong. In this case I have somehow got the left ear slightly off but everything else is pretty much as it should be. I probably spent about 4 hours on this today, yesterday I only did about half an hour - and that was to try and improve the nose.

The Churchyard Cat - work in progress

2010-05-12T16:32:00.004+01:00

Well, here's my second posting of the 'churchyard cat'. I know his nose isn't right so I'll need to try and alter it tomorrow. I feel I'm muddling through this piece rather, only having used the pastel pencils once before and then I followed a tutorial. I'm unsure of how many layers to put down and what colours. Why do I always have so much difficulty picking colours! Still, it is all practice and experience.

The Churchyard Cat

2010-05-11T15:56:00.004+01:00

Stopping at the local churyard one day in February to try and get photos of a green woodpecker I saw instead a pretty cat. Obviously 'Mister Yaffle' wasn't going to show himself while puss was around so I settled for some photos of him instead, hence this latest drawing. There is a line drawing on the paper but it's almost impossible to see even for me except in the right light. So very early days on this piece but it will be quicker than usual as I finally decided to try my pastel pencils again. I may have to put this to one side as today I've been asked to draw my sister's cat as a present for her birthday. I've already decided that it will be in coloured pencil so will take some time. I plan to use Faber Castell Polychromos on Langton 300gsm HP white paper. First though, I have to take some reference photos and get them printed so I will continue with my 'churchyard cat' until then.

cat's eye in graphite

2010-05-09T15:20:00.004+01:00

Today I spent a couple of hours on this cat's eye in graphite - from a tutorial by Lisandro Pena Interesting to work on but I don't think I'll do a full size piece in graphite - much as I love graphite work by others, I found it messy and prefer working in colour. My next piece is nearly on the drawing board, I've done the initial sketch and just need to transfer it to my support. I haven't quite decided whether to use coloured pencils or pastel pencils - or maybe a combination.

Tiger's eye workshop

2010-05-01T11:35:00.003+01:00

I've deepened the colours with several more layers. I'm beginning to find it easier to see where I've gone wrong - here the tiger's eye is slightly too small and not quite the right shape. Overall though, for a quick piece I'm happy with it.

My optivisor has arrived so I'm hoping that I will find my next piece easier to work on.

I've also booked a place on Karen Coulson's next workshop, which will be a parrot.

tiger's eye workshop

2010-04-29T17:34:00.005+01:00

Yesterday I attended a two hour workshop at a local library, our tutor was Karen Coulson a successful local artist. The piece the group worked on was this tiger's eye, taken from an amazing original drawing by Karen.

Only having two hours meant it was hard work but I'm pleased with what I achieved in the time. I shall continue with this piece to get more depth. It's small - approx 5" x 3" and is in Derwent Coloursoft pencils on mountboard.

I still haven't decided what larger piece to do next. I shall get some photo refs printed at large size and then see which one attracts me most.

amur leopard with a little more work

2010-04-17T10:00:00.002+01:00

After some constructive criticism from my cp group the leopard went back on the drawing board. I've made a few small adjustments over the last few days and hope there is an improvement.

Now to decide on my next piece - I have two or three in mind.

completed amur leopard

2010-04-12T17:27:00.002+01:00

I've spent a few hours today completing this picture. As I thought, not happy with the final result but there are things I like about it. Her eyes and nose!
I have booked myself a place on a two hour workshop in a couple of weeks time, I am hoping for some useful hints and tips. I would love to know how best to render fur!
I haven't decided on my next piece, but I don't think I'll use the pastelmat.

More on the Amur

2010-04-11T20:54:00.006+01:00

I didn't get any colour suggestions yet so decided to get reckless and wade in anyway. I've added some Derwent Studios and FC Polychromos to the mix, I couldn't get what I wanted from the Prismacolors.

When I began drawing I thought that eyes / noses / mouths were the hardest, now however I think it's fur! This is because when I started my fur looked so unrealistic. It isn't much better now - but at least I know that, lol. Still lots to do on this leopard, I do think she is progressing reasonably well but I already know I'm not going to be satisfied with the finished picture. Working on a piece this small has been really difficult for me - how artists do miniatures and get amazing detail I have no idea! Part of the problem I think is the surface, I'm almost certain that I won't used the pastelmat for coloured pencils again (I prefer a smoother surface) but will try it for pastels at some point. But probably with my vision difficulties I will be better sticking to larger pictures, easier for me to see what I'm doing though of course things will take longer to complete, which I find frustrating. Patience, patience........

Colour choices

2010-04-09T23:09:00.004+01:00

I've having trouble with colour choices - I usually do! I have asked for some advice in my cp group and will wait to see what suggestions they have before I continue. I know that I don't 'see' things as an artist should, but I am trying hard to really study colour and form. I guess that after a full year away from drawing I must expect to be almost back to square one, and actually it's not as bad as it could be, *smile*.

Of the work I did today, most is ok, but the neck fur needs some work! I was trying for a softer looking fur and tomorrow I will try using either a stump or just a scrunched up tissue to blend the colours more so the lines aren't as obvious. At the bottom left of the picture, what I thought was dark fur, is actually part of the background - I have darkened all the background area in that spot to cover up this mistake!

Difficulties........

2010-04-08T21:09:00.008+01:00

..........with the bridge of her nose. This is the fur I find hardest to get right, it's short, slightly bristly and I have no idea how to create that effect with the pencils. Oh for some proper lessons.

As always when I'm having trouble I moved on and began putting down colour for the dark 'spots' in her fur. Yes, I know that yesterday I said it would be the lighter fur but somehow it just seems best to do it this way. At least I think she is now beginning to look like a leopard.

I was reading the site of cp artist Christina Langman at Big Cat Art yesterday, she has some amazing big cat portraits and a superb tutorial -parts of which I am using to get help with this piece but the tutorial uses a smooth paper so it isn't ideal - but for my next piece I think it will be invaluable. One of the big cat portraits took her 400 hours to complete!! Such patience and dedication. I should have a mantra and repeat it night and morning, "I must take my time, I must slow down", lol. And on another blog I read an old post which is also relevant for me. I easily get disheartened and think my work is rubbish and that I will never improve. This blog post said that natural talent, while useful, is NOT the most important thing - hard work, dedication, practise, practise and more practise is what counts. I'm encouraged by the thought that if I do that, I will improve. So no more self pitying, "I can't", I must go back to my Learning to Draw book and work through the exercises from the beginning again. Enough rambling, hopefully back tomorrow.

slow progress

2010-04-07T15:23:00.004+01:00

Instead of racing along I am trying very hard to take this one slowly. My biggest fault when drawing is rushing and wanting to see the piece finished.
Here I have done a lot more layers on the eyes and most of the work on the nose. Unfortunately my initial line drawing has all but disappeared, I don't really know why as it didn't happen with the little cat drawing. In an effort to add back some of the lines I have managed to get a dent in the surface. Whether it will notice on the finished piece I don't know. This is all trial and error!
My next step is to start on the lighter coloured fur. I'm still undecided whether to put all the light in and then add the dark, or do it all as I go and work from top left to bottom right. Watch this space!

amur leopard

2010-04-06T18:40:00.004+01:00

Striking while the iron is hot I have made a start on my next picture. This Amur Leopard is from a photograph I took at Marwell Zoo during 2009. I was lucky enough to be able to zoom in on her face and avoid the wire fencing. This is again on Clairefontaine pastelmat but I'm using my favourite Prismacolor pencils. It is the smallest piece I've done, being just 7" x 5". The eyes already have a few very light layers but still a long way to go. I upped the contrast a little after scanning in the hope that you would be able to see the outline but it is very faint. It is the right way up though, in case you were wondering - the leopard was lying on her side.

Finished, I think!

2010-04-05T10:48:00.004+01:00

I have done quite a lot more work and I think I've finished. I say think because I know what I'm like and over the next few days I may well make some changes/additions. There's a lot wrong with it but for my first attempt after a year I'm reasonably happy. A sense of satisfaction to complete it.

First layer of fur

2010-03-31T16:59:00.002+01:00

I'm plodding on with the tabby cat, still finding the pastelmat an unfamiliar support to work on. I don't actually dislike it but it is very different, particularly as I was getting used to working on drafting film which is so smooth and the pastelmat is like a sanded surface. I have to remember to keep sharpening my pencils! The light has been bad for working, so wet out it makes indoors very gloomy.

Although I'm not happy with this piece it will be worth finishing it. I'm really hoping it will get me back on track. I'll never be able to work for hours at a time again as I find my eyes get sore and start watering after a fairly short time. But short spurts will be better than nothing.

he now has a nose

2010-03-28T22:29:00.004+01:00

A quick post just to show that I haven't given up! I did a little more on the eyes and started his nose - I'm sure when I look at it tomorrow I will decide it need more work.

beginnings

2010-03-25T13:38:00.004Z

I'm finding the pastelmat very different to any other support that I've tried. This piece will be trial and error - I may even try the tutorial again once I'm used to the surface and know a bit more what I'm doing. So far, the eyes are far from being right - more work needed. I have to find out if there is a way to erase / lift colour from the pastelmat. I'm finding it quite hard to make the colours look blended, again something I have to find out about. Even if it turns out to be rubbish, I will try to finish this!

Back with a tabby cat

2010-03-21T19:57:00.003Z

It's been a long time! I really thought that 2009 was going to be good year for my drawing. Instead, I did nothing at all. In March I was diagnosed with a posterior vitreous detachment in my left eye. It has left me with hazy vision and floaters and coupled with my extremely poor vision it makes it difficult to see fine detail. I've also spent a lot of time on photography!Still, I'm going to try again and I'm starting with a tutorial piece of a sweet tabby cat by Pauline Longley. I'm trying a new support - Clairefontaine Pastelmat and mainly Derwent Coloursoft pencils with a few Prismacolors thrown in. As you can see, not a lot done yet - I've just transferred the line drawing to the grey pastelmat. At least my scanner still works!

Puppy in pastels - finished

2008-12-26T15:38:00.008Z

A quiet boxing day has meant time for me to complete my first attempt in pastels, working from an online demonstration by Colin Bradley. I like the softness of the result though it wouldn't suit all subjects - I still prefer the precision of coloured pencils but I can still see that I will use pastels again for some pieces. The colours haven't come out that well in thus scan but good enough to get the idea. The finished picture is approx 11" x 8".

Puppy in pastels

2008-12-25T17:41:00.005Z

More on my first pastel attempt, it is progressing quite fast. I like the blendability of pastels but it does mean I have to be very careful where I put my hand! I would certainly get in a dreadful mess with pastel sticks, though they would be useful for backgrounds - I might get a few just for that. The demonstration I am following (by Colin Bradley) is very useful, I wouldn't have been as successful had I just been starting from scratch without any help. Not that the puppy is going to be perfect, far from it but not bad for my first attempt. Here is the update scan.

Playing with pastels

2008-12-24T20:25:00.007Z

I have taken the plunge and begun a practice piece with my new pastel pencils; this picture is from an online demo by Colin Bradley. I'm liking the pastels so far, very different to coloured pencil and I won't use them all the time but nice for a change. This little dog is in the very early stages but I'm happy with how it's going, also I'm pleased that I did the initial line drawing freehand!

Drakkar - finis!

2008-12-14T15:03:00.008Z

A couple more hours today did it and I'm happy (well reasonably) with the final result. After erasing yet again I remembered the first exercise in my drawing book (yes, the one I'm meant to be working through) and turned both the reference photo and my drawing upside down, vbg. Ok, it isn't perfect but is better than I expected yesterday when I was almost ready to give up. Amazingly it helped quite a bit, at least I think so! Feedback is appreciated as always. It will probably be after Christmas before I get started on my next piece - if I can stay away from drawing that long - after so long not doing anything I'm now wanting to draw all the time! I'm just about to order some pastel pencils so it is just possible that I will be brave and post my first attempt, then again, maybe not. Here is Drakkar, as good as I can get him. Edit, after some feedback in my UKCPS group I have darkened the shadowy area under his chin, I think it is an improvement.

A difficult kitten!

2008-12-13T19:43:00.006Z

Today I erased, redid, erased, redid again - and I've still not got it right! I am really struggling to get the fur just above his nose correct. I'm almost tempted to leave it as it is but I think I will try just once more, then if it is still wrong it will just have to be one to put down to experience.

Here we are again

2008-12-12T19:24:00.005Z

I sneaked in an hour or so this afternoon when I really should have been writing Xmas cards. It was such a dull afternoon that I drew under artificial light - never a good idea. I'm not happy with how this drawing is going, I have a feeling that when I look at it again tomorrow a large part of today's work will be erased and redone. Posting it always helps, I can be more objective when I see the picture on screen. I ask myself what would I think if it was someone elses work? Now I can already see there is a lot wrong but I will leave it for tonight - but expect changes tomorrow!

Drakkar's progress

2008-12-10T17:15:00.007Z

There is not much to show since the last upload but I'm posting anyway! I don't want anyone that checks to think I've given up, lol. This scan is with black paper behind the drafting film instead of the pink, at least now you can see the beginnings of his pale fur and it will also be easier for me, being able to see where I'm drawing is always helpful! It is only the very beginnings - lots more time and work needed. With Christmas looming ever closer I may not get too much done over the next few days, lots of cards to write and present wrapping to be done. Today I did my last ever dog club Christmas party, I am giving up my class after 16 years. It will seem strange to have my Wednesdays free after so long but more time for art and photography, I hope. Time to cook dinner, so here is Drakkar.

birman kitten update

2008-12-07T14:44:00.008Z

A lot more work on my kitten today - his name is Drakkar and I must thank Alice again for letting me use her beautiful photo as a reference. Hopefully it will look like him when finished though as I've said before, I am a long way from being able to achieve photo realism! I have spent a long time on his eyes today and I think they are a vast improvement on yesterday's wip post. I worked on the reverse of the film as well as the front and have smoothed out the colour and deepened it, using both Prismacolors and Derwent Coloursoft pencils and lots of blending with a Lyra Splenda Blender. The initial colour that I used for the fur around his eyes didn't look right so that all had to be erased and redone - with Derwent Studio, Artist & Drawing pencils - so to date he is a real mixture of different pencils. His dear little nose was also done by working on the front and back of the film, it's one way of getting around the lack of layering that I can do on film, though hard to work out what colours to use where! I can see that the scan hasn't picked up the pale fur around his eyes very well but it is there! Maybe when there is a little contrast with adjoining fur it will show up more. Today's work has taken about three hours. Here he is - I think he's coming on quite well, hope you think so too!

eye eye!

2008-12-06T15:03:00.006Z

It has taken a while but today I found some time to make a proper start on my little birman kitten. He is soooo cute. I decided to work on the eyes first as I expected them to be difficult - as indeed they were - so I'm quite pleased with the result. I also experimented with using a masque pen for the whiskers & eyebrows. Not very successful as every time I brushed away pencil debris it caught on the lines of masking fluid and made a mess and if I brushed harder it took away the masking fluid as well! I will try again though and just be more careful of the direction I brush as I think it should be easier than putting in the whiskers first and having to work around them. The scan isn't brilliant, the eye colour is darker in reality, it may look better with black paper behind rather than the pink but I chose pink as the little kitten is resting on a pink cushion and there is a lot of relected pink in his white fur.

Birman kitten line drawing

2008-11-29T14:57:00.006Z

Not much to show for this week, every day I have been stopped by more pressing things from getting on with a new picture. Today, despite an awful dull day I have just managed to get the line drawing of a birman kitten on to the drafting film. One of my Flickr contacts has kindly given me permission to use her beautiful photos as a reference, thanks Alice.

This picture will be a close up of the kitten's face. I've worked out how to get the line drawing on the reverse of the drafting film so it's the right way when I turn it over. This means it will be much easier to erase the lines as I go along and is one of the good things about drafting film! Looking at it on screen, I can already see that the whiskers need repositioning.

Christmas Robin

2008-11-20T16:57:00.003Z

A success story this is not! I was reasonably happy until I started the background and then things started to go wrong. My plan was to use a Derwent studio pencil and smooth out the colour with a tissue - it is a technique I've use before with good results but this time it wasn't working. I resorted to using a watercolour pencil and blending the colour with damp cotton wool, scary getting the drawing damp! At least it has rescued it from going in the bin.

Back to my robin

2008-11-18T13:01:00.004Z

As some of you will remember, back in January I began a drawing of a robin, which I've dug out, dusted off and restarted work on. I actually got on quite well yesterday afternoon and the robin is complete. However I'm now going to attempt to add a tree stump from a different reference photo and a soft background. I hope it works and that I don't ruin the whole thing, I want this for one of my Christmas cards this year and I also hope to put it in my cp group's Christmas theme. If you want to see the other works in progress for this piece look in January.

Honey - finished take two!

2008-11-14T16:49:00.004Z

After some feedback in the UKCPS group I've made some minor adjustments, I think she looks better now.

Honey ~ finished!

2008-11-13T17:14:00.008Z

Yes, she's finished. The fur on her neck isn't right but it's as good as I can get it. I'm still not sure why I have so much trouble with it and what it is I do wrong. If anyone who reads my blog has any suggestions I'm happy to hear them - I need all the help I can get!

Next I shall try and finish the little robin I started back in January, maybe in time to print off a few Christmas cards. After that, maybe something a little different; I'm thinking of trying pastel pencils. Just a possible at the moment - I will have to buy some - but I've seen some demos recently that are quite inspiring and I'm quite keen to have a go.

Honey's progress

2008-11-11T21:41:00.006Z

I had hoped that I would be posting my completed picture today but as you can see that hasn't happened. Not too much progress in fact which is a shame, the light today was perfect but I had to catch up with paid work - I have to do something to pay for all my art materials! I'm comingto the bit I like least, the soft and fluffy looking fur down her neck. I always have difficulty making it look realistic; more so than anywhere else - at least I think so. I am going to try and do my pencil strokes really carefully, studying the way the fur curls and the darkness of the shadows. Fingers crossed that it will at least be a little better than previous pictures!

Foxy lady

2008-11-09T20:17:00.004Z

Another update on Honey, I did an hour or so on her this morning. Then as you can see I revamped my blog, I hope you like the new colour scheme. I had planned to draw again this afternoon but that idea came to nothing! I had a deadline to meet for getting my response to our National Park Authority's plan for the beautiful New Forest that I live on the edge of. As their plan includes restricting dog walkers, amongst many other undesirable things it was important that I laid my art aside for a few hours! Enough of that and back to Honey. I feel she is really beginning to take shape and even though I can see there are areas I should have done differently I am quite pleased. The colour on the lower half of her face is much more realistic but I can't remember exactly which colours I used - I really must write these things down in a little black book, vbg. So here is Honey - stage four.

More on Honey

2008-11-08T21:47:00.005Z

A beautiful bright November morning gave me a couple of hours to do some more work on Honey. The sun streams through the windows in the morning so it's pleasant to sit and draw. Here's the latest scan, I'm still struggling with her fur!

Slow progress

2008-11-06T19:02:00.008Z

I have spent quite a bit of time on Honey today, without much progress. First I made slight adjustment to the fur to the right of her left ear (as you look at her). I knew from Tuesday's scan that it wasn't right, it's funny how scanning it and looking at the picture on the pc can show up the mistakes that I can't see when it's right in front of me. I really struggled with her eye, I started off with much too pale a colour, then of course because it's drafting film I couldn't get the layers to darken it. But I persevered and used the blending pencil and the result is just about ok. I'm still having problems with the fur colours and the fur direction, when I look closely at my reference pic I can see there are so many different colours and the hairs are changing direction here there and everywhere! - I need to be much more patient and precise to get it right - not something I'm good at, bg. Having said all that, I'm still fairly happy with my little vixen - here is stage two.

Foxy beginnings

2008-11-04T14:24:00.003Z

Today I had a couple of free hours without a hovering husband, lol - that makes it sound as though he wanders around in mid air - but I'm sure you know what I mean. So I have begun my next cp project, one of the delightful foxes from the British Wildlife Centre - I think this one is Honey, the vixen. This piece is another on drafting film and once again I'm finding the colours very difficult to get right but other than that it's going quite well - though there's plenty of time for that to change! Here she is so far.

A polar bear in graphite

2008-11-03T17:03:00.005Z

Another 'upside down' effort - this one copied from a coloured pencil book I have by Lee Hammond. I quite like how he's turned out, bearing in mind it only took about 30 -40 minutes to complete. I really want to get on with my fox in cp but the light has been dreadful the past couple of days so he will just have to wait.

More upside down drawing

2008-11-02T22:16:00.005Z

I have been practicing some more of the 'upside down' technique. These drawings aren't from the book but the author does encourage students to do extra pieces. I'm finding it so fascinating I shall try and do one a day until I feel really ready to move on to the next chapter. Obviously these drawings are again copies of someone elses work and by no means perfect, however I'm still astounded by the results and the difference that is made by doing the drawing upside down.

Learning to draw

2008-10-31T19:18:00.006Z

It may seem a bit odd for an artist but I have just bought a book on learning to draw. I've always said I have no natural talent and when I do a line drawing to do a cp picture I use either a grid method or a lightbox. If I draw freehand it's a disaster, doesn't even look like the animal it's meant to represent. It was with some trepidation that I ordered this book, which came highly recommended, it's called 'The new Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' by Betty Edwards. I've only just started it but the results so far are remarkable and already I would recommend this book to anyone that thinks they can't draw but would like to. I'm going to post one of the drawings I've done from the first proper exercise in the book, which involves copying a line drawing taken from a 16th century drawing by an unknown german artist..........but upside down! Now if I'd tried to do this the right way up it would have looked dreadful. Ok, I know it isn't perfect but as this is the very early stages of the book I'm so impressed with the result.

My next coloured pencil project is nearly under way, I'm going to do one of the delightful foxes from the British Wildlife Centre, I got some great photos of them on the photography day back in May. Maybe one day I'll be drawing them from life!

Scottish Wildcat ~ finished!

2008-10-22T17:25:00.006+01:00

I can't believe how quickly I have finished this drawing. Ok, it's not anywhere near perfect - I really have to be more careful with my pencil strokes as I have tendency to work very fast - but on the whole I'm happy with it as my first piece after a long break. Drafting film is certainly interesting though I think it might work better for me on a subject with a smoother coat. I don't feel I've got the texture of her coat and without being able to layer I don't know how to achieve that. Anyway, enough waffle - here she is.

Taking shape

2008-10-21T19:10:00.006+01:00

After today's work I feel that she is beginning to take shape, though I'll admit it's only an approximation of my reference photo. Today I made a direct comparison on the pc (overlaying the photo onto my drawing and shape wise it's pretty good, with just an error in the depth from under her nose to her mouth however the colours aren't good. Photo realism is something I would love to achieve but I'm a long way from there! Considering that this is my first drawing for about 9 months (and that I never finished the last one), I'm reasonably happy with my progress.

A wildcat evening

2008-10-20T21:45:00.004+01:00

I wasn't very happy with this morning's scan, I knew there were bits that really weren't right. So here's an update with some changes and additions. It's a little better, I think. How I wish I had someone to stand over me and say what it is I do wrong when I am attempting to depict fur! Working on drafting film is certainly very fast, simply because I can't add many layers. I know from the work of other artists that this needn't be a disadvantage if you know what you're doing, trouble is I don't, lol.

Wildcat progress

2008-10-20T10:09:00.003+01:00

As you can tell by two posts in two days, I am spending a lot of time at my drawing board. I wouldn't say I'm entirely pleased with how it's going, I'm already struggling with the fur both rendering and colour choice. I will keep going, this is after all a learning curve and I must expect difficulties after so long without practice. I am happy with her eyes and nose! Here is scan number two. There are bits that I will almost certainly have to change, one good thing, erasing is easy on this surface but it also smudges horribly if I get my hand on what I've already done.

I'm back, with a wildcat!

2008-10-19T11:10:00.004+01:00

Ok, I know it has been many months since I've posted and even longer since I've done any drawing. I finally decided to have another go, this time attempting a scottish wildcat, done from a photograph that I took back in May on a photography day at The British Wildlife Centre. I'm doing this drawing on drafting film, my first time using this surface. There's things i like about it and others I don't. The surface doesn't accept many layers and I'm used to adding loads of layers to give depth and definition. On the other hand the pencils (I'm using prismacolors) glide on effortlessly so it isn't as hard on my hands. Anyway, here is the first scan, I've done it with black paper behind though that may not be how I finally present it.

bird watching

2008-01-29T16:44:00.000Z

I have been doing a fair amount of bird watching recently both in the garden for birdwatch weekend and elsewhere. After the disappointment of putting feeders up in the garden last year and not getting any birds I bought another multi feeder and sited it in a different place and quickly the birds have started coming, with more arriving everyday! I've also been to Keyhaven Marshes, Blashford & Lower Test. Here are some of the many photos. The turnstone was a bird I'd never knowingly seen before, also the snipe at Lower Test was a first. It's exciting for me to have siskins in my garden, six weeks ago I'd never even seen one. Also, although I've seen a nuthatch before, yesterday was the first time I'd managed to photograph one.

A little more drawing

2008-01-18T15:12:00.000Z

The next stage of my robin, just a little more done - deepening some colours in some areas and beginning on others. Again the light is poor today and half an hour was enough to give me both a headache and backache. I can't say I'm happy with him at present but will continue plodding on in the hope that he will improve!

A little work on my robin

2008-01-08T15:54:00.000Z

Just a quick post to say I have begun the robin at long last! Not much, the light has been dreadful today and an hour was enough to give me a bad headache - I really must get the lighting situation sorted or I can see me giving up again. I'd also like to know if anyone reading this has any experience of optivisors (magnifiers which you can wear over your eyes). I have been thinking of one for a while but good ones are quite pricey & I don't know if one will help me. I do know that many crafters and artists use them but that's about it. Meanwhile here is the little robin after todays effort, obviously still a long way to go.

So here we are.............

2008-01-06T15:55:00.000Z

.......in 2008, Christmas has been and gone and I am feeling very flat after all the festivities. I'm really hoping to get back into my art - I got some new pencils for Xmas - Derwent Coloursoft, so I'm eager to try them out. I've also ordered some drafting film, I've been keen to try this for a while. Just have to decide on a subject!
Had a couple of nice walks recently and also popped up to Hatchet Pond where we were surprised to see three swans (two adults & a juvenile), two cormorants and a pair of grebe. Only the swans were in photographing distance though. Also will post a couple of pics from our last visit to Blashford, where I saw my first siskin & was lucky enough to get a pic of that and also of a great spotted woodpecker. Although I took the woodpecker through glass, it has come out well.

Christmas MeMe

2007-12-13T16:55:00.000Z

I read Mary's blog (Forest Walks) and got tagged. Anyone who reads this can also consider themselves tagged!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? - I like my presents wrapped but gift bags are lovely too
2. Real tree or artificial? - Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? - Usually a week or so before Christmas
4. When do you take the tree down? - twelfth Night (Jan 6th)
5. Do you like eggnog? - No
6. Favorite gift received as a child? - I always loved getting a new book.
7. Do you have a Nativity scene? - No
8. Hardest person to buy for? - My father-in-law
9. Easiest person to buy for? - Mum
10. Worst Christmas Gift you ever received? - hankies when I was a kid
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? - Both
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? - Can't choose one - I'm a real softie with Xmas movies - so I've a few - Miracle on 34th Street (both versions), A Christmas Carol (with Alistair Sim or Patrick Stewart), The Bishop's Wife, A Wonderful Life
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? - As early as I can to take the pressure off as we buy for a lot of relatives and friends. I have been known to buy a Christmas present in July! This year though, I didn't start until mid November.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? - No
15. Favorite thing to eat/drink at Christmas? - Chocolate Ginger
16. Clear lights or coloured on the tree? - Clear
17. Favorite Christmas song? - Silent Night
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? - Both, but i would rather stay at home
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? - Yes! Don't want to give them away for everyone else but here are a few clues. 1. Good at a disco, 2. Mister Fox's wife, 3. In a hurry, 4. In the night sky, 5. An arrow from his bow will make you fall in love, 6. Rhymes with the answer to number1, 7. A type of kebab (or german for thunder), 8. German for lightning
20. Angel on the tree top or a Star?- Angel
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? - Christmas morning always!

I tag everyone who reads this!

TYSON FOUND - SAFE & WELL

2007-12-10T12:53:00.000Z

A happy ending for Tyson, he has been found and has been reunited with his owner.

STOLEN BORDER COLLIE

2007-12-09T13:53:00.000Z

Urgent, please, please help if you can. Friday evening, returning home from the Championship Show at the NEC, Ross Green stopped at a service station, just off the M1 at J13. Whist paying, he saw a white youth jump into his car, a DARK BLUE VAUXHALL VECTRA ESTATE, Reg. No. KJ55 XFZ. Ross ran out, tried to smash driver window and then managed to open rear passenger door but as he did so the youth started the car and sped away towards the M1. In the back of the car was his and Judith Gregory's Black & White Border Collie, Tyson, (ShCh Tonkory Guinness)
Police are searching but the service station was just a mile from the M1 and the driver could have gone in either direction. There was approx 150 miles worth of fuel in car. Please keep an eye out incase you see either the car or Tyson. If so, please contact Ross Green, tel no: 01234 838380 and/or the police. And pray for Tyson's safe return. This is a tragedy for both Ross and Judith.Urgent, please, please help if you can. Yesterday evening, returning home from the Championship Show at the NEC, Ross Green stopped at a service station, just off the M1 at J13. Whist paying, he saw a white youth jump into his car, a DARK BLUE VAUXHALL VECTRA ESTATE, Reg. No. KJ55 XFZ. Ross ran out, tried to smash driver window and then managed to open rear passenger door but as he did so the youth started the car and sped away towards the M1. In the back of the car was his and Judith Gregory's Black & White Border Collie, Tyson, (ShCh Tonkory Guinness)
Police are searching but the service station was just a mile from the M1 and the driver could have gone in either direction. There was approx 150 miles worth of fuel in car. Please keep an eye out incase you see either the car or Tyson. If so, please contact Ross Green, tel no: 07703 503242 and/or the police. And pray for Tyson's safe return. This is a tragedy for both Ross and Judith.

FURTHER INFORMATION IS THAT THE CAR WAS PROBABLY DRIVEN SOUTH AND COULD HAVE BEEN DUMPED IN THE RICKMANSWORTH.

One month later

2007-11-29T22:33:00.000Z

Looking back at November, I realise I have spent quite a lot of time at Blashford Lakes nature reserve. This place is a real gem, it's so easy to while away an afternoon there. Five hides in various habitats, pleasant walks through trees, around lakes etc. It has so much to offer I can see us returning many times more. I have seen my first great spotted woodpecker and my first jay. Getting really close to some of the woodland birds is a real treat. Some pics for you later.

On the art front, I am still no closer to doing any work on my little robin, he lies folorn, no doubt gathering dust, on my drawing board. He was going to be this years Christmas card but too late now - maybe next year. Of late I find I am torn between photography and drawing, although I can't draw at present because I need a daylight lamp, I also haven't the inclination. Maybe I'm just choosing the wrong subjects and should stick to drawing dogs.

more photos

2007-10-27T21:40:00.001+01:00

The next five photos are all of the beautiful Sika deer at Arne.

otter at Longleat

kingfisher at lower test nature reserve - I was delighted that after an hour or so of flitting about, he finally landed - just for a few seconds, right in front of the hide AND I had the tele converter len on the camera!
long tailed tit at lower test
one of two comical and friendly donkeys at cadmans pond - they kept mugging Mary for dog biscuits
chaffinch at cadmans pond

one of many piglets let out for pannage in the New Forest
Mum with her babies (I am always petrified seeing them wandering across the roads.

Tiger at Longleat Wolf at Longleat
Longleat lion

Catching up ~ again

2007-10-27T20:20:00.000+01:00

It's been a long time again, I know and this will just be a quick update with a few pics. The robin is at a standstill for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I have been out and about so much, making the most of any decent weather. Second, the light in the room I draw in is so bad and I still haven't got myself a daylight lamp. My eyes are bad anyway so trying to draw without decent light is a big no no. I have had a few very special trips and will let the photos speak for themselves, except for saying that the few hours spent at Arne were truly magical. To be that close to the Sika deer was amazing, such a thrill.

The London Eye from Westminster Bridge

A cormorant on the Thames, right in the centre of London Tower Bridge
A red squirrel on Brownsea Island
Clouded Yellow butterfly on Brownsea Island

I got tagged

2007-10-12T22:58:00.000+01:00

Mary of Forest Walks tagged me with this series of birding questions.

1. What is the coolest bird you have seen from your home?
I once had a peahen walk up my driveway, peer in at the dogs then turn around and walk away again. Just this morning I saw a heron circling in the air before it came into land out of sight across the road.
2.If you compose lists of bird species seen, what is your favourite list and why?
I've just started making lists of the birds I see at various places. I was thrilled when I saw my first egret and even more so when a kingfisher landed in front of the hide I was in.
3.What sparked your interest in birds?
I've always loved wildlife but more animals than birds. My interest in birds has come to me rather late in life from my mother, fuelled recently by my passion for photography and art.
4. If you could only bird in one place for the rest of your life where would it be and why?
Living in the New Forest there is a huge diversity of birds and I am happy to be here watching birds and other wildlife.
5. Do you have a jinx bird? What is it and why is it jinxed?
No, I don't.
6 Who is your favourite birder? and why?
I don't know many but I enjoy watching Chris Packham, he is very enthusiastic about everything he sees.
7. Do you tell non-birders you are a birder?
I'm not really a birder, certainly not a twitcher. I just enjoy all kinds of nature and I do tell all my friends what I've seen. If they think I'm crazy then that's nothing new. LOL

I'm going to tag Jan of Down Yonder Green Valley.

Catching up

2007-09-29T17:48:00.000+01:00

I think you will be giving up and not visiting any more, it's been so long since my last post. I just re read it and saw what I said about finishing the memory book that weekend. LOL, that was a joke - I spent 3 to 4 hours a day for the following 10 days before it was finished. It was worth it though - my parents are so thrilled with it. Today my sister visited and brought it with her so I could see the finished result (I'd had the book sent direct to Mum and Dad). It is lovely, good quality & beautifully finished.
I've had a few excursions now that Mary is back from Canada so at least I have some photos to post but have done very little to the robin. Now I have no reading glasses for a few days so cannot draw anyway. Our excursions include the usual walks, the local nature reserve, another nature reserve near Lymington and our big trip to London. I will save London for another post and just show you a few nature pics today. It was a thrill to see deer so close at Fritham, a Black tailed Godwit (and the Kingfisher again) at the reserve. We saw the heron at Eling and the little bird, which I am assure is a Wheatear, at Lymington.

At long last.......

2007-09-08T15:49:00.000+01:00

........I have started my new drawing - I've only done the line drawing but at least it's a beginning, getting me out of the rut. I hope now that I can get on with it quite quickly though as I still haven't finished the memory book I won't get much done this weekend. I'd like the memory book to be finished and ordered by tomorrow night and that's going to take all my time - fortunately Clive is away this weekend (in Pontsticill) motorbiking with some friends, so I am free to spend all day on it and forget about cooking etc.

Anyway, here is the line drawing - I have enhanced the lines for your benefit, they are actually very faint. My thanks to Jan for allowing me to use her lovely photo.

Memory book and macro pics

2007-09-03T13:22:00.000+01:00

Another week plus has gone past since my last post, I can't keep up with things recently - the time is going so quickly.

I have been busy the last couple of days, working on a "memory book" as a gift from me and my two sisters to my parents on their diamond wedding anniversary. Sixty years of photos to look at, decide which ones to use, either photograph them or scan them, edit any which need it etc. We then had to fathom out how to actually design and make up the memory book - I'm using the company that prints my photos so we were able to upload the photos direct from my computer but that in itself took close to a couple of hours. My sister travelled down from London on Saturday and was here for eight hours! We were working solidly for virtually all of that time - and we are only half way through! So I have the rest of it to do, placing the photos and adding captions. I'm very tempted to order a book for myself - it was great looking through all the pics, brought back so many memories. But don't expect much in the way of posts this week either!

I'm still getting to take a few photos while Mary of Forest Walks fame is away on holiday, just local ones but there's plenty to take. Here are some of my recent favourites. The hoverfly was minute - barely longer than my little finger nail.

egret, heron and swans

2007-08-24T14:33:00.000+01:00

I've got myself in a muddle - the swan photos were taken before my Wales trip, the heron and egret after. The afternoon we went to the pond the Cob was having a session of preening, splashing and flapping his wings - a fantastic sight. Watching the swans and their seven cygnets throughout the summer has been such a privilege - I know I'm going to feel really sad the day we go to the pond and they're no longer swimming about.

I shan't have much to post over the next three weeks, my dog walking friend and fellow photographer and wildlife enthusiast is off on a fantastic holiday to Canada!

When I view my blog, sometimes it's not showing the photos - can others see them?

Wales weekend

2007-08-22T13:21:00.000+01:00

Apologies that I haven't updated my blog for a while, a combination of several day trips, and then the last five days in Wales have kept me busy. I went to Wales with three friends, one of whom has a motor home. We went primarily for a big dog show and stayed on site at the Royal Welsh showground near the village of Builth Wells. There is an interesting looking quarry on the hillside above the campsite - when we returned home I looked it up on the internet - it is Llanelwedd quarry. It has provided the stone for many of the buildings in Builth Wells and had the first occurrence of laumontite in Wales. Most of the weekend was spent lazing about or walking the dogs on the hillside though I showed Taivas on the Saturday which typically produced the worst of the weather. My friend kindly ran Taivas for me as I'm struggling to get around the ring at present. This combination of me showing and her running worked well, Taivas qualifying for Crufts for the second week in a row. We had eight dogs with us, all of them more or less behaved themselves!

A magical afternoon

2007-08-07T21:06:00.000+01:00

I don't think I've stopped smiling since yesterday afternoon - a quick trip to the local nature reserve and we saw a kingfisher. Not only saw one, but it perched in front of us long enough to get some photos. A simple pleasure maybe but for me it was very special. Then a heron flew in too! I expect you have guessed that I'm still not drawing but I hope you like these photos. The Beautiful Demoiselle visited my garden this morning and Tom the alpaca was at the gardens I visited last week, oh and what I think is a meadow pipit was on my walk this morning at Kings Hat. It obligingly stayed still just long enough for me to get a shot, though from a long way off.

Egrets and a butterfly

2007-07-30T21:31:00.000+01:00

Same excuses, no ink and too busy! This weekend I had my nephew's wedding to attend, the reception was at a lovely golf club, the grounds looked out to Southampton Water in the distance. During the afternoon and evening I watched three cruise liners depart, including the Queen Mary 2.
Here are a few pics from this afternoons trip to the local nature reserve. We saw beautiful egrets, a cormorant, lapwings, pretty butterflies and dragonflies too. We explored a little further than we have before - big mistake as neither of us has a great sense of direction (actually mine is non - existent) - we ended up walking for at least an hour and a half, totally lost at one point!

No ink and no art but more trips!

2007-07-20T19:19:00.000+01:00

All my good intentions to start my robin this week have come to nothing, firstly because I have once again been out a lot and secondly my printer has run out of ink so I can't even print out a reference photo. I can't do anything without that! However I have had some interesting trips this week (NOT including the one to Southampton to buy an outfit for my nephew's wedding - how I detest clothes shopping), so I do have a few photos to show. This will get back to being an art blog soon, I promise! My trips this week were Braxton Gardens, Hurst Castle, The New Forest Reptile Centre and Minstead Church. Braxton Gardens are pretty little gardens just outside Keyhave so we were well placed when we had time to spare to catch the little ferry out to the castle. Hurst Castle saw us braving the steep steps and spiral staircase up to the roof, what fantastic views there are. Yesterday we went to the reptile centre as the RSPB had a large screen monitoring the web cam that's on the hobby nest(lots of interesting info from the expert there), but we also went around the reptile pits, peering in hopefully searching for the various inhabitants. We saw everyting except the smooth snake and the sand lizard. Again with a little time to spare we popped along to Minstead church, saw the grave of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the author of Sherlock Holmes) also the lovely stained glass. The pics from top to bottom are - bee macro, view from the roof of Hurst Castle, common frog, adder close up, Gatekeeper butterfly and the Robert Eberhard stained glass window in Minstead Church. I must add that the adder was taken from behind netting and a safe distance!

Taivas, a toy and a trip

2007-07-15T10:50:00.000+01:00

This week has been busy as I thought but I think I've decided on a robin for my next art project. It's from the photo by Jan (Down Yonder Green Valley).
I took some pics of Taivas with her new toy from our Secret Summer parcel, also have posted a few from my trip this week to Furzey Gardens. Mary and I spent a pleasant afternoon there on Wednesday, we loved watching the little moorhen chicks running over the lily pads.Furzey House is a christian retreat in a secluded part of the gardens.
I had a fright yesterday when walking Ashley and Disney - poor Disney was pottering about, minding her own business when suddenly a pony went into reverse and kicked her. It was hard enough to knock Disney off her feet and I was worried that she was badly hurt - when she got up she couldn't put any weight on her back leg. Fortunately it wore off quickly and she is fine, helped by regular doses of arnica during the afternoon and evening.

Flatcoats in the forest

2007-07-09T20:48:00.000+01:00

I didn't feel much like art last week and this week will be busy but I will try and decide what my next project will be and make a start. At least my girls got a decent run at the weekend, they were both delighted to find their favourite mud hole nearly full to the brim. They had a good wallow! I'm also pleased to say that Disney's drugs seem to be working well, I'm just waiting for the results of Friday's blood test to confirm that the dose is correct.

A sad day

2007-07-02T22:38:00.000+01:00

Today is a sad day, this afternoon we had to have our sweet Semele put to sleep. A sweeter natured dog you could not find, she was my husband's devoted companion from the day we got her, aged nearly three years.

Semele 10.7.95 - 2.7.07

Wet, wet, wet and windy!

2007-06-28T21:45:00.000+01:00

What a weekend - first of all the journey took eight and a half hours when it should have been about five and a half. That was due to appalling weather plus appalling traffic - oh, and a car catching fire and burning out about twenty cars in front of us! We had one reasonable day but after that the heavens opened and stayed open. I had to virtually paddle round the ring when I showed Taivas, it wasn't a good idea to wear linen trousers LOL. On the Monday morning my friends had to battle with the wind and rain to get the awning down while I had the cushy job of dog watching in the motor home. Then we had to be towed off the campsite as the van had sunk into the mud! But for all the problems we had fun and there was lots of giggling!
I will try and get on with some art soon, meanwhile a few photos - the first evening's sunset, a lovely water feature on display at the show and Taivas, Bracken and Eli being very well behaved in the motor home! (We actually had seven dogs with us!)

African Journey has ended

2007-06-17T19:33:00.000+01:00

I finished it today! I have to say, I'm glad it's over and done with - I wasn't really enjoying it. The final result isn't bad but certainly not as good as I'd like. When I started on all that awful grass I knew instantly that I wasn't going to get a really realistic result so have settled for just an impressionistic one - and I seem to remember I said that at the start!

I doubt that I'll have much time for art or blogging over the next week or so - first we have visitors from Belgium (my hubby's relatives), then on Friday I am off to sunny (I hope) Blackpool for three days with Taivas. I shall be thinking what my next project should be so I can get started when I return. Anyway, here are the elephants - comments, good and bad, will be appreciated!

Amazing birds!

2007-06-14T18:35:00.002+01:00

Once again I've not done any drawing since my last post so I have no art for you. However, earlier in the week I had a lovely trip to a local raptor and reptile centre. What a fabulous photo opportunity - in two hours I took nearly 180 photos, thank goodness for digital! Here are two of my favourites from the visit - I hope you like them too. The top photo is a Bald Headed Eagle and the bottom one I've been told is a saker falcon.

The elephants make progress at last!

2007-06-11T08:18:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I had masses of bookkeeping to do but I promised myself that I would make time for some art late afternoon so I could update my blog in the evening. So I spent some time drawing and took some photos - only to find our server was down and I couldn't get online. My husband was worried that I would get withdrawal symptoms LOL! Better late than never though, here is an update of African Journey. I think it's just ok, no more than that - I'm really only continuing with it because I do learn something from every piece. And I don't like giving up on things! There's still a lot to do - I am not looking forward to all that grass - but it is slowly taking shape.

Photos from the New Forest

2007-06-07T17:01:00.000+01:00

I know this is meant to be my art blog, but I haven't done anything for a couple of days (again), but this week I've had two very lovely expeditions to walk the dogs and take some photographs - trying out the new camera - so here are some of the photos. The cygnet is one of seven swimming at Hatchett pond along with the cob and pen. The dogs are my Taivas and Missy and Raffles who belong to Mary of Forest Walks fame - the photo is at Pig Bush. We were lucky enough to spot the deer at Fritham this morning and that's where I also took the Heath Spotted Orchid.

An elephant update

2007-06-05T20:59:00.000+01:00

At last! I have finally done a little more to my elephant drawing. I'm not so happy with it as I was, it's becoming a bit too much like hard work. Doing these elephants has made me realise that I much prefer drawing head studies - they are more difficult to do but I prefer the amount of detail I can get, particularly in the eyes, which show so much emotion and the character of the animal. Anyway, here are two pics of it - the full drawing and a closer crop.

Still no elephants

2007-06-04T22:04:00.000+01:00

Apologies that there still isn't an update wip of my elephants, I've just been very busy plus there's the slight (!) distraction of my new camera. Went out this afternoon for a couple of hours and took 120 photos - almost all were of a pair of swans and their seven darling cygnets. There are a few of the better photos on my Flickr pages, not many as I think I took most of them with the camera on the wrong setting! Just to keep you amused here's one of my quick sketches of Taivas.

Cat from a tutorial

2007-06-01T08:31:00.000+01:00

Still no elephants! I hope I'll have time for some drawing today, I'm getting withdrawal symptoms. (LOL) Meanwhile here's my first ever cat drawing, done from a brilliant internet tutorial by Gayle Mason (it's on Wet Canvas). This tutorial taught me so much about drawing eyes, so many very light layers to get that glow - still had difficulty with the fur, it's what always lets my drawings down, I think. Mine isn't anywhere near the brilliance of hers - not bad for a start but it also shows me I've a huge amount to learn. See her original here (bottom right of the page) http://www.gaylemasonfineart.com/up_close_and_personal_-_macro_cats.html

Elephants at a standstill

2007-05-29T16:48:00.000+01:00

It doesn't look as though I'll have much time for art this week. I didn't get to draw at all yesterday, (time again to do some wages paying bookkeeping work) and it doesn't look as if there'll be time today. Of course I could be drawing instead of writing this! My recent book sale has just ended so I have books to pack up and get sent off, need to do that asap to get some much needed funds to cover my recent spending spree!LOL I'm off to a dog show tomorrow, so have to groom Taivas this evening, then a committee meeting tomorrow evening, dog walking and shopping for a camera case on Thursday and somehow I've got to fit in a haircut. Phew! So if this space is a blank until Friday you'll know why!

I'll leave you today with a drawing I did about three years ago, my first and only horse. I guess it's not very good but I was pleased with it at the time. Btw it was done from a book of tutorials by Lee Hammond.

Elephants update

2007-05-27T19:16:00.000+01:00

My elephants are making slow progress - This 'African journey' is turning out to be a long one LOL! Today I redid the background tree - though you can't actually see it on this crop - and did quite a lot of work on the first elephant and a tiny bit on the second one. I'm reasonably pleased with how it's coming on, though didn't appreciate the comment from my husband who came in just as I put the finishing touches to elephant number two's tusk and said "why is he eating a banana?" I hope it doesn't really look as though he is!

My new toy

2007-05-27T07:23:00.000+01:00

No update on the elephants this morning for the simple reason that yesterday I didn't pick up a pencil! That was because my new camera arrived and I spent each spare moment having a little play and getting to know it's basic functions. I think I'm going to be very pleased with it. Today it's raining so I won't get a chance to go out and experiment, so maybe by this evening the elephants will have made some progress! Meanwhile here's an earlier picture for you. This is Rosie a dear little dog that lives near me.

Background problems

2007-05-25T13:15:00.000+01:00

I have discovered the reason that I do not do backgrounds - I am hopeless at them! I shall try and improve on what I've done before the drawing is finished, at the moment it looks terrible. The sky isn't too awful but my feeble attempt at grass and trees, well you take a look! I'm sure you'll agree. Sadly, there's a lot of foreground grass to do. I think it will be back to head studies for me after this. Well, I can't put off the moment any longer - here it is!

African journey wip two

2007-05-23T20:07:00.000+01:00

I've done very little on my elephants today but I'm going to post an update anyway, mainly because I realised after posting yesterday that you couldn't really see him clearly at that size. So today I've cropped it down just to the part I'm working on and will upload it at large size - you should be able to see it - including the imperfections! I'm thinking I should take a leaf out of another artist's book (yes that's you, Wendy) and get working on the background before I do much more to the elephants. The thing is, I don't really do backgrounds! Or at least only ones that are one colour. Grass and sky will be rather a challenge for me LOL.

I'm really liking working on mountboard, I can see I will use up the small supply I bought quite quickly. It's a lovely smooth surface and takes the colour easily.

I have so many future projects planned that I think I have enough for the rest of this year - and into next! In no particular order - a robin (thanks Jan), a New Forest foal, a meerkat, a kookaburra, a zebra (can't you tell I've been to the zoo recently) and my Ashley! Plus I have a possible commission or two which I take on purely as more practice, I don't charge anything for them. (Or not yet anyway, she thinks hopefully!)

African journey - wip one

2007-05-22T20:13:00.000+01:00

Hooray! Today I've finally started on my elephants which I think will be titled 'African journey', though that may change. I'm only at the very beginning, but I'm enjoying and liking it so far. It probably won't have the detail that my dog drawings do, I think it's going to be a bit more 'impressionist' - if that's the right word, mainly because it's difficult to see the fine details in the photo reference. Btw the photo has been supplied Sue, my friend who has just been to South Africa to compete in an Iron Man competition. Anyway, here's the first work in progress shot.

I spent yesterday afternoonon on a shopping expedition to check out some cameras and I'm pretty sure I've decided which one to buy and I'm quite excited at the thought of having a camera that has full manual controls - even though I'll probably take a lot of terrible shots to begin with!
I had a beautiful walk this morning (with Mary from Forest walks blog) at Shatterford, I could have done with that new camera as we saw a small group of deer. Luckily the dogs were on leads so we got to take a good number of pics before they moved on but they were just too far away to get anything really good. I posted the best one on Flickr plus several lovely foal photos and a great capture of a pony having a good roll.

Very little sleep and a very quick sketch

2007-05-20T19:25:00.000+01:00

Those of you that have been reading my blog since the start will know that I like my sleep! Last night I only got four hours - and today I had to be up and away very early to get to a dog show where I was helping rather than showing. I've felt dreadful all day and just got back a short while ago - that will tell you that once again no time for art. I did get some nice photos at the show which will hopefully be good enough for some future projects, a lovely young rottweiler male and a delightful young whippet.

So for today I'm just uploading a sketch. I started doing these quick sketches a couple of weeks ago, in an effort to improve my freehand drawing skills. I set myself a time limit, try to draw without erasing (or very little) and then look to see what is wrong with it. This one of Taivas (which took seven minutes), has I think captured her personality but unfortunately she looks as though she's reflected from one of those fairground distortion mirrors LOL. She's rather long and thin!

Chocolate cake & presents

2007-05-19T17:37:00.000+01:00

I know this is meant to be my art blog but I have to share my chocolate cake with you - it's just a shame you can't taste it LOL More presents, I'm so lucky - a beautiful book about the New Forest, a dvd boxed set of Charmed, plus some other books. I should be kept out of mischief for a while with all those to read and watch and not forgetting my next art project - which I should have started today but haven't! Guess what - I've been reading and eating chocolate cake! There's a reason for the paw prints - Raffles (from Mary's Forest Walks blog) is very keen on having some of my cake - the paw prints are his! LOL

Finished Ducky and feeling old.

2007-05-19T07:10:00.000+01:00

Ducky is finished! I am surprised how much quicker it was working on black paper - even though I didn't really know what I was doing LOL. I did him much faster than usual so perhaps I will use a black surface again sometime.

Yesterday while walking we saw a heron, he flew in to land quite near us (sadly not close enough for a photo) and a group of about twenty deer moving across the forest in the distance.

Today is my birthday and after a hectic week I am feeling old, but not as old as I will next year when it is the big five zero! I opened some presents yesterday as I was out to lunch with friends - what a lucky girl I am. Three pretty tee shirts, a 'Radley' purse, David Gray cd, Winnie the Pooh socks (no, I will never grow out of Pooh), a book (about a dog of course), a beautiful orchid and a book token. Then I have more to open today, a luscious chocolate cake and a celebration this evening!

Next week I am planning a trip to look for a new camera, perfect timing for a birthday present to myself!

Now here is my completed little duck, quite nice I think. I now have to get down to planning my next piece, I am going to attempt elephants! This will be on mountboard - you remember I bought some this week - and will be larger than usual so I will have take photographs rather than scan it for the w.i.ps.