Britt - WIP Graphite

While I'm doing the cute little otter, I'm also working on a Graphite portrait of a gorgeous Brittany Spaniel Dog.
I start with laying in the lighter shading then slowly layer more graphite unless it's the darkest area, then I just go in with the darks.
Currently, 2B, 3B, 4B, and Prismacolor Ebony are on this portrait.

Hope you like it so far!

I also have Youtube Videos of this drawing in progress mostly in real-time but some time-lapse footage as well.
Where I'm sharing tricks and tips for creating realistic drawings in graphite.
Go check out my Youtube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/NoweesMom


Thanks for stopping by :)

Casino - PastelMat - FINISHED

Hello Everybody!
Here is Casino's portrait completed.
I learned so much working on this portrait.
Really looking forward to my next piece on PastelMat.
Hope you like it!
Thanks for stopping by :)

Casino WIP PastelMat 4

Hello Everybody!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Here is the rest of Casino's WIP progress, I actually finished this before 2019 started.

Hope you find this helpful!
Worked on his chest and shoulder quite a bit. Can you see the difference between these two images?
Hope you like it so far!
Thanks for stopping by :)

Casino WIP PastelMat 3

Wow, I am way behind on posting here.
Here is where I'm at with this portrait.
Really enjoying the process of learning how to use pastelmat and polychromos together.
I've also been experimenting with Zest-it.
For those of you that don't know, Zest-it is a liquid that dissolves the binder in the colored pencils when applied.
You need to have a few layers before using it to get the benefit of using it but I really like what it does and it also speeds up getting the pigment into the paper.

It's also great because after it's been applied, the Pastelmat tooth is now able to take more layers of colored pencils with ease.
Anways, enough babble.
Here is the WIP shots since the last post.
Hope you like it!

This is what I have done so far
See the steps below that led up to this point.

Step 3
Step 1 and Step 2 are on a different Blog Post

Step 4 - Blended with Zest-it

Step 5 adding in the forelock and still working on more layers

Step 6 Blended with Zest-it again

Step 7 Working on the mane

Thanks for stopping by :)

Casino - WIP on PastelMat 2

Hello Everybody!
Have you ever started something and just weren't sure where to go from there?
I've sorta done that with this piece.
Normally when I work in my colored pencils, I have a tin that I place the current colors I'm using in and then keep them out until I'm finished. 
Well, we recently rescued a feral kitty that was born in our hay barn, weaned after 6 weeks and left on her own until we found her.  We've actually had her now for almost 6 months so she's not so feral anymore and is quite the love.
Anyways, she's quite a handful and loves taking pencils, pens and anything else that size.  So, after I worked on my piece last time, I put all my pencils away without even noticing the colors I'd pulled! I didn't even think to write down the colors I'd used so far.

So, now I have a slight dilemma.  Where do I go from here??
Here's what I've gotten done so far.
5x7 PastelMat with Polychromos

Hope you like it so far!

Casino - WIP on PastelMat

This is my own gelding Casino.
It's so hard to paint or own animals, at least I think it is.
5x7
Colored Pencils on Pastel Mat
First time using Pastel Mat and first time blending ColoredPencil.
Currently using Gamsol but just got some Zest-it in my newest order so now will be experimenting with it as well.

Hope you like it so far.

Thanks for stopping by!

Watercolor Black Poodle

Hello Everybody!
I hope you are doing well on this sunny Wednesday.
What better thing to do when you are sick and coughing up a lung.
I finished my black dog challenge to myself piece.
I used some artistic license for the eyes (they are too dark in the photograph) and also the fur. 

As many of you know by now, I love animals, all kinds, probably since birth.
I remember bringing home kittens after school. "Look Mom, look what followed me home from the bus stop?"
Of course, I would pet, love and encourage them so that they would follow me home. We always had to take them back to the owners. Which broke my heart as a young child.

It wasn't until we discovered Poodles that we were able to have any pets.
Poodles have a different type of dander and my Grandma wasn't allergic to them.
The first pet I grew up with was a beautiful miniature black poodle that we named Tracy.

Painting this picture really brought back the memories of growing up with Tracy.
Here's my poodle piece on watercolor paper 5x7.
I may have to do this full picture. Image is from pixabay.

Horses Eye - My Reflection

Did this little eye study. This is my mare's eye and my reflection in her eye.
I was doing this study and using gamsol orderless blending spirits.
Can you see me?

Poodle Tutorial

Following loosely a speeded up youtube video tutorial by Rebecca Rhodes for this dog study.

Watercolor on watercolor paper.

Thanks for stopping by!

Casino - PastelMat

Using my new PolyChromo's and have started a new little piece.
This is a 5x7 on Pastelmat and it's of my horse Casino.
I've barely started it at this point but here's what I have so far.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cat Eye Tutorial

If you've followed me for any length of time you know that I draw and paint in a mostly realistic way with a slight painterly feel.
I strive to create realistic art that captures the unique character of the animal or person I am painting. I have never been considered a loose artist.

Well tonight, I tried something a little different and it was so liberating?
Hope you enjoy my little 2"x5" watercolor CatEyes
Loosely based on a cateyes tutorial from Rebecca Rhodes.
What do you think? Would you like to see more art in this style?

Thanks for stopping by!

Dog Eye Tutorial Finished

Completed as far as I'm going to take it.
I was following a Dog Eye tutorial from Rebecca Rhodes but I've taken it past the eye and filled in the face that fits the 5x6 image.
There is a lot wrong but a lot right as well.
What a great lesson and what fun to practice more techniques and learn new ways of doing things.
Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Horse Tutorial Cont. - Adding the Bridle and Blue Accents of Color

Still working along on this Horse Head tutorial offered by Carrie L. Lewis.
Today I added the Blue Accents, increased the contrast and started on the bridle.
Wow does that Blue make this piece POP!

What do you think?
Thanks for stopping by!

Dog Eye Tutorial

Following a Dog Eye tutorial from Rebecca Rhodes but I've taken it past the eye and filled in the face that fits the 5x6 image.
Here's what I've done so far

Thanks for Stopping by!

Adding the Cast Shadows and Form Shadows

WIP Still ongoing with this fabulous tutorial provided by Carrie L. Lewis 
Now I'm starting to add the layer of Indigo Blue to darken the darks and cast shadows. This is where I ended last night.

Thanks for stopping by!
Starting to layer the Dark Brown to establish base values

Now adding in some Indigo Blue to increase the contrast

First Time with CP on Toned Paper

First time with Colored Pencils (CP) on Toned paper!
Here is the start of my next project. It is actually an emailed tutorial I got just before Dad passed away last June.
It is/was offered by Carrie L. Lewis and for those that don't know her, she is an Equestrian Artist and Teacher. This piece is on Canson Mi Teintes Grey Pastel Paper. My First challenge was how to get the image transferred. I've never drawn on toned paper with CP before. You can't erase on this paper very well without damaging it so the first thing I tried was to coat the back of my line drawing with a light colored Pan Pastel layer. Then transfer the image. While I've had great success with that technique for other drawings, it didn't work so well on this paper. I happened to have Saral waxfree transfer paper. So, I tried that next. That worked fairly well but I find I have to remove it before I can apply the CP because the CP doesn't cover it up.
So here is the image all transferred.
Thanks for stopping by!

Paint on Paper - 3rd layer

Put a little more paint on my "paint on paper" watercolor painting
Reference photo by Artist Reference Photos by Karen
Hope you like it so far.
It still has a ways to go.

Thanks for stopping by!

Practice piece 2 - Final

Peggy Covic

Just now

Practice piece for working on color matching etc... This is Jo....again

Photo used with permission by Artist Reference Photos by Karen  :)
PolyChromo CP on Canson Multimedia 7x10

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Practice Piece 2

Remember Jo?
This is on different paper - Canson Multi-Media
He's not finished yet
Still working on color matching and learning my set of 24 Polychromos

Thanks for stopping by!

Paint on Paper - Second Layer

Paint on Paper has a little more paint.
Not sure how many hours I worked off and on with this beautiful boy today. At one point I was NOT Happy with it! Now? I'm really happy with how it's turning out!
Feel Free to Like and Share and Leave a comment and let me know what you think!!
9"x12" Watercolor on watercolor paper
Reference by Artist Reference Photos by Karen

Thanks for stopping by!