Watercolor Washes for the Pileated Woodpecker
April 13, 2014 § 2 Comments
This is the next stage as I finally get to laying in the watercolor washes for the pileated woodpecker. It was seen in my daughter and son in law’s yard feeding on insects from a dead tree stump. I will add colored pencil 
as the final step to give greater depth, nuances, and hue to the contour with washes. I’m hoping that this combination will allow my drawing to become more free. I see it is still a work in process!!
Pileated Woodpecker
March 17, 2014 § 2 Comments
I’m posting sequentially the stages of a drawing of a pileated woodpecker scavenging for bugs in a tree stump. This first posting is the contour. It provides the framework for the drawing. It reveals the light source, a sense of form or depth, and allows my personality to flow out onto the page. Next will come the watercolor washes and finally the colored pencil to give greater clarity to the composition. This bird is majestic especially in flight and is quite reclusive in nature. My daughter and son in law were lucky to spot it in their yard.
Final Version of Edie; Colored Pencil over Watercolor Washes
March 4, 2014 § Leave a comment
This is the final version of Edie; a drawing for Deviant Art. I previously posted the contour or line drawing and the contour supported by watercolor washes. This last stage entails layering colored pencil over the watercolor to give the drawing added impact. I am struck by how sweet this puppy is!! What kind eyes she has!!
Watercolor Washes for the Drawing of Edie
February 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
This is the next stage in a drawing of Edie for Deviant Art; a show designed to bring attention to the wonderful nature of Pit Bulls and Rotties. Here, I’ve created under layers of watercolor washes to the colored pencil that will come next. You learn so much about the nature of the dog after drawing her. I now see so clearly her loving personality through her eyes and the power of the dog by the shape of the skull under that fur. Edie’s yin and yang face provides that balance we seek as we see the lights in the dark half and lights in the dark. Still plugging away. Next comes the colored pencil!!
Edie
February 16, 2014 § Leave a comment
I’m posting a contour drawing of a wonderful little girl formerly named Sorissa and now called Edie by her adoptive parents. She has such a smiling face and I was attracted to her black and white characteristics which will contrast with the light source. I am hopefully working to submit this piece to Deviant Art which is show meant to dispel the myth of the dangerous nature of the Pit Bull and Rottweiler. A wonderful example of the warm nature of these animals is Edie. The contour provides the framework for the watercolor and colored pencil drawing. It provides me with so much information about the light source, the form and color of the body under the fur that if I never saw Edie’s picture again, I could complete the work. I’ll show this in stages.
Changing Palette; Flowers for Valentines Day
February 11, 2014 § Leave a comment
By keeping the compositions the same and altering the palette, we are better able to see how changes in color affect our work. In this exercise, we see the contour drawings which provides the framework for the gradations. Making the drawings constant in similarity allows the differences in the color scheme to become more apparent.
Color Transition
January 30, 2014 § Leave a comment
This is a colored pencil drawing divided into three portions. The hues move from the warmth of oranges and yellows on the left to cooler pigments of blues and purples on the right. The middle section allows us to see the gradual tint shifts. A piece such as this illustrates how color can be changed to accentuate the storyline.
Textural Ink Drawings
January 15, 2014 § Leave a comment
I’m posting a pair of ink drawings using stippling, hatching, and a scribble based on my handwriting. These techniques really help my students tackle the complexities of gradations. Perhaps stippling is the one that allows the most insight. Using dots or stipple marks to convey lightness or darkness by how close together or how far apart the marks are, lets us see in great clarity the complexities of value or the blacks, grays, and whites. It can become addictive, however; so beware. I had a student who came to my class to break free and become more spontaneous in his outlook. The he discovered stippling and then the next thing I knew, he had two pens going simultaneously!! He was an accountant. Don’t know if this had anything to do with it.
Persephone in Spring
January 6, 2014 § Leave a comment
Here is a colored pencil of a sculpture of Persephone, the goddess of seasons. This drawing is part of a larger series based on the subject of sculpture in architecture. I personally would like to see the season of spring return as winter is becoming brutal. Times like these when one can be thankful for warmth, shelter, and the company of friends and family. Much to be thankful for in the New Year. Happy 2014 everyone!
Falling Peonies in the Shadows
December 27, 2013 § Leave a comment
Thought I’d give us a reminder of summer with this colored pencil/ pastel of peonies. It’s dark, wintry, and cold where we are. While the snow is beautiful, it’s nice to see some color.
Dr. Mary McNaughton and Drawing 