cat's eye in graphite

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

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.

beginnings

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

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!

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