St Paul Cathedral
September 8, 2014 § Leave a comment
I am posting the contour and final drawing of the St Paul Cathedral in St Paul, MN. I was looking above the rectory at the dome and wanted to lead the viewer to that upper area. This was accomplished by allowing the focal point to contain all of the values including extreme lights and darks. The gradation scale became more restricted and encompassed only middle range lights and darks in the lower areas. 
Bling!
September 7, 2014 § Leave a comment
This pastel drawing highlights complementary colors revealed in the contrast of the icy blue colors of a necklace against the fiery hot yellow oranges of the background. The shapes of the jewelry wind in and out of the picture plane.
Tree Root Tendrils
August 18, 2014 § 1 Comment
I am posting a simple pen and ink of a tree root. Notice how the tendrils of the root reach out and make contact with the border of the composition creating a drawing with a lot of movement.
Pen & Ink Gradation Technique with Scribble
July 30, 2014 § Leave a comment
This is the last in a series of pen & ink gradation techniques based on a scribble derived from your handwriting. My students complete lines of their own signatures and then transform this handwriting to a scribble. What I find so remarkable about this technique is the personal and intimate nature of this process. Each drawing is attached to the personality of the artist. By now you have probably
figured out that stippling is not my favorite. Both hatching and scribble give me greater freedom. I am committed, however to working with looser approaches to stippling.
Textural Pen & Ink using Hatching
July 23, 2014 § Leave a comment
This is the second drawing in a series of pen & ink florals using textural gradation techniques. This one uses hatching which is comprised of hatch marks or parallel and counter parallel lines to create gradations. First is the contour: then the finished drawing using hatching to reveal the underlying form of the subject. 
Floral Gradations in Stippling
July 20, 2014 § Leave a comment
I recently posted three floral contours to be completed with the textural gradations of stippling, hatching , and scribble. Here is the first comprised of clusters of stipple marks that create dot like effects to support the contour. It is a time consuming, detail oriented endeavor, yet can also be completed in a looser more painterly manner. 
Quick Color Ink Contours
July 7, 2014 § Leave a comment
I’ve completed three quick ink contours for an upcoming color drawing class I’m teaching. Each will be supported with textural gradations using stippling, hatching, and scribble. And I’ll post when they are completed.
Finished Stage of The Pileated Woodpecker
June 8, 2014 § 4 Comments
I haven’t posted for awhile, but finally am finishing the drawing of a Pileated Woodpecker feasting on bugs from a dead tree stump. The last stage involved watercolor washes to support the line drawing or the contour. This stage shows gradations of colored pencil to provide a more subtle clarity to the picture and some pen & ink to allow for more drama. It is a riot of color now as the orange leaves swirl about the bird. I am working with this type of mixed media to spur me towards a more free approach. I still have a ways to go!! Any advise or input would be welcomed!
Sunflower
May 18, 2014 § Leave a comment
This is one of my first attempts at pairing watercolor with colored pencil of a tall sunflower past it’s prime.
Rough Stage with Watercolor for The Pileated Woodpecker
April 23, 2014 § Leave a comment
This is the next stage completing the washes of watercolor for the pileated woodpecker. This leg in the journey accomplishes a roughing in of the colors and composition. I currently am using watercolor to allow greater freedom with my drawing and provide more intensity. Do many of you work with mixed media and if so, what are your techniques?
Dr. Mary McNaughton and Drawing 