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?
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!!
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.
Using Watercolor to add Intensity to your Drawing
November 25, 2013 § Leave a comment
This is a piece depicting chili peppers used to demonstrate to my drawing students how watercolor can support drawing. I added pen and ink and pastel to refine the details and add intensity. I particularly enjoy the looseness of the wash with the clarity of the pen and pastel.
Old Man in the Eaves
September 26, 2013 § Leave a comment
Here’s a look at two views depicting the architectural sculpture of an old man under the eaves of Pillsbury Hall on the campus of the University of Minnesota. The work was completed in colored pencil, Conte’ crayon, and pastel and on two very different papers; Canson colored and a Fabriano hot press showing two different vantage points and two different effects, The drawings were part of a series looking at the relationship of the buildings we create and the architectural ornamentation that adorns them.
Dr. Mary McNaughton and Drawing 