Cat ATC

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

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.

Ruby

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

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

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.

Ruby 1

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!

The Churchyard Cat

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.

The Churchyard Cat

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.

First layer of fur

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.

Cat from a tutorial

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