Thursday, March 30, 2017

Turtle in Colored Pencil



TURTLE

Many days,
Many hours,
and many layers later . . .

My turtle is almost done.
 I've built the colors with layers and layers of colors.
The colors have been blended with a burnisher. 
I have used nearly every pencil I own
except BLACK. 
I save the black pencil only for the finishing touches,
 never in the build up.

I love the texture and the colors of this little reptile.
But I have to say, after more two months of turtle drawing, 
I am done with these guys.


Monday, March 27, 2017

Turtle in Colored Pencil

ANOTHER TURTLE
~ this is my last ~ I promise!!


Colored Pencil on Bristol Board.
I've started with the underpainting, working in layer after layer of colors.

This reptile painting if for the 
"Reptile & Amphibian Art Exhibit"
at the Nixon Park Nature Center, York PA.

This will be the second year I've entered this exhibit. 
All the paintings in the exhibit are surrounded 
by the real live versions of themselves.


Thursday, March 23, 2017

WAITING FOR OUR WINGS

          WAITING FOR OUR WINGS


I thought I was finished with this painting, but that little nagging voice in my head kept saying - it's not right - still not right. The composition was good - the golden ratio - but you couldn't see the focus. Everything was too bold. So I toned it down with white tissue paper and glaze, forcing the flow around to the focal point. Now I am done.

                                   Before the tissue paper . . .

Monday, March 20, 2017

I am a 2016 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist!

I am a FINALIST in the 

2016 Foreword INDIES 

Book of the Year Awards!


Finalists were chosen by Foreword’s top three editors and are now off for final judging by our panel of librarians and booksellers, each experts in their field. 
Winners will be announced live from the 2017 American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago on June 24.


Thursday, March 16, 2017

Drawing Dancing Turtle in Black and White


Turtle Doodling

Ball Point Pen. Just drawing without a plan or idea. 
All I was doing was drawing a turtle shell.
Just the back, the turtle back.
And this is what happens when you just let the drawing happen.
I don't plan it or sketch it first. I just draw what comes to mind.
The turtle shell first, then something needs to be wearing
the shell. Does it have to be a turtle.
No, why not a person. 
And if it's not the turtle - then where is the turtle?
Well he's dancing. Of course.
With a disco ball in the back ground.

Monday, March 13, 2017

Reflecting Turtle - Pen and Ink


REFLECTING TURTLE

Turtles and more turtles. I'm still drawing turtles . They have so much texture and patterns. So fun to draw. Add the reflecting element, and this drawing is busy bust busy. So my style!

Thursday, March 9, 2017

WAITING FOR OUR WINGS

           WAITING FOR OUR WINGS

Back to the winged critters and the challenging composition. I was given excellent advice - my composition lends itself to the "Golden Ratio." I added a few elements to lead the eye from the bottom right, across and up and over to the top right - which is my focus.  Finished again - for now.

                       GOLDEN RATIO composition

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Pen and Ink Turtle Drawing - Steampunk

STEAMPUNK TURTLE

Pen and Ink on Bristol Board, 10" x 11"
Very labor intensive. This took a week, about 2+ hours a day.
I drew passionately, passing up all opportunities to vacuum, do my laundry, even make the bed in the morning. 
I did make it to work on time, barely. 

Friday, March 3, 2017

Pen and Ink Turtle Drawing - Steampunk

Half-way done. 
Many hours later, the inking is well on its way. Hopefully only another six or eight hours to go and my Steampunk Turtle will be complete.

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Pen and Ink Turtle Drawing - Steampunk


The Preliminary Sketch

I know this is difficult to see. But I've been asked how I start a pen and ink drawing. I begin with a pencil sketch - faint pencil because I do not want to damage the paper. Then, using the pen, I stipple fine lines around the shapes. Just enough for me to see the sketch. At this point the pencil lines are erased.

The detail pen work comes next . . .

2022

   Merry Christmas