Transferring sketch to proper support

Working on a secret commission.
I've been sketching and refining erasing and re-refining this drawing for the last two days and now I think I'm finally ready to start the transfer to the proper support.  Wish me luck!

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Red Panda - Final

I finally got the last whiskers painted on this.  So, for better or worse, this one is now finished :)

I  had a lot of fun and learned a lot while painting this one.
Hope you like it!

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Free Spirit - Final

I've decided to put this one to bed. 
9 x 12 on Strathmore Bristol Smooth
This drawing is based on the wonderful photo taken by Mo_Robin Monsoon also known as wind dhaka on Flikr.
I would have loved to have gotten this darker but because I started with harder lead 4H and 2H pencils, the softer lead just didn't want to take on the paper.  For darker drawings I will have to use a different technique than what I used on this one.
Hope you like it!

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Free Spirit Update 15

Phew, this one has been a challenge to get darker and I think it's as far as it will go.  I need to try a different technique next time.  I think I used the hard pencils to soon. Hahaa I just noticed I forgot to sign this so I guess it will be tweaked some more LOL.
Hope you like it!

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Red Panda WIP Update 6

Had another first today.  I decided to do a combination with the whiskers and use both colored pencil and then finish them with acrylic paint.  I was using a really small 18/0 liner brush.  Maybe to small? I don't know.  I've never used one this small before even with my watercolor painting.  I've also never used acrylic before and so I set about yesterday practicing and practicing and practicing.  When I was consistent and fairly happy with the results I was getting on my practice paper, it was time to tackle the original.  So, I started doing the whiskers today.  They aren't done yet but I needed to take a break and feed my horse and dog.  I will probably finish this painting tomorrow and then it will be entered in the contest :)  First contest I've ever entered.
Hope you like it so far!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Red Panda WIP Update 5

I am all done except for some tweaking and figuring out how to put in the whiskers!  Any ideas?
Hope you like it!

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Red Panda WIP Update 4

I had another first today!  How many of you choose to draw and paint the animal without his tongue showing LOL!  Up until now, I've never painted a tongue that I can remember. Definitely NOT with Colored Pencils.  This tongue was a challenge to get the tone, color and shape right.  I'm a little unconventional in my approach with the colored pencils as well.  I don't do color swatches, I do all my testing and mixing on the painting.  I get some interesting results that way and so far, lucky accidents LOL!
I also darkened the dark side of the face and added more definition.
Hope you are enjoying this process with the colored pencil painting as much as I am painting it!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Red Panda WIP Update 3

Well, I got some new experience today trying to remove colored pencil without damaging the paper.  I somehow messed up lastnight on the viewers right side.  After much sweat and tears LOL.... I think it's OK now! I hope you think so too!

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Red Panda WIP Update 2

I got a little more accomplished with the Red Panda today.  I still have a ways to go but it's moving right along :)
I hope you like this little guy or is it a girl :)

starting to tone the nose

Added the tree and continuing with the nose and starting to work more on the viewer right side.

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Horse Closeup - Update 14

Added more tone and definition.  Will this ever stop?  I know now I approached the starting of this drawing wrong and I'm not sure I will get to the tone I would like to achieve.  Maybe next time.
Still trying to push those darks :)
Hope you continue to enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Red Panda _ WIP

I'm going to be entering a contest offered by Sandra Angelo.  Here is a link to explain it, http://www.discoverartwithsandra.com/pages.php?pageid=140
From the offered photos, I've chosen a really cute Red Panda photo and cropped it to fit my needs.
The reason I chose this photo was because of the awesome reflections in his eyes.  I wanted to challenge myself to not only get something like that in a set of eyes but also to get the look of long fur.  This is only my seventh Colored Pencil painting and the first animal that's not a cat. Out of the six I've painted so far, three are cats LOL! Yes, I'm an animal lover and proud of it :)
So here is the WIP up to where I'm at right now.
I've spent approx. five hours on this so far. This is being done on Stonehenge paper using Prismacolor Colored Pencils.  The image is 9 x 12
Hope you like it!

Attempting the first eye!

On to the second eye!

Start defining facial structure and nose

Working on the fur

More fur, tone etc...

More tone, color and structure

 Thanks for stopping by :)

Horse Closeup Update 13

Still adding more color (tone) and muscles, etc....
Hope you are enjoying the process and I'm not to slow for you LOL!

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Horse Closeup Update 12

Not sure you can see the progress but I did spend probably close to two hours.  Sometimes I feel like I'm going backwards LOL!
Hope you like it!

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Horse Closeup Update 11

Still adding more definition and tone. Getting closer :)
Hope you are liking it!

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Horse Closeup Update 10

Still adding more and more tone and shape.  This is going to take a lot of time!
Hope you like it so far!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Horse Closeup Update 9

With the Cougar now done, it's time to again worked more on this beautiful closeup horse.  Today I  added more and more tone and form to the body but still have a ways to go.
So for naming this one I've come up with Thundering Hooves, Free Spirit are a few I've thought of besides Majestic.

Any other ones?

Cougar Finished

Ok, I promise this is the last update for my Cougar painting.  I've added his whiskers and changed a few other things LOL! I can't help it, if I'm doing one thing more to it, I find numerous other things that can be done.  Am I the only one that has that problem?
I've come up with two names for this painting.  It's either going to be "Sentry Duty" or "On Watch".
Which do you prefer?  Do you have another suggestion for me?

Thanks for stopping by :)

Horse Closeup Update 8

Now that the cougar is done LOL well almost done (forgot his whiskers LOL! ), I've started working on my closeup of this beautiful majestic running free horse.  See, I trying to still come up with a name for this one too LOL!
I worked a couple hours on it and started getting more range to the tones.  Still have a long ways to go.
Hope you like where it's headed!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Cougar Update 8

I left this out of my sight for a week and now I've adjusted a few things, signed it and I'm calling it done. Now I just need to come up with a name for him.
Hope you like it!

5.75" x 9" Pastel on Mi-Teintes Pastel Paper

                                               

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