Graphite Zebra

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This is another ACEO from one of my photographs, watercolour and graphite on Mellotex paper.
I put an indigo watercolour wash down first then worked over it in graphite. Mellotex paper is totally smooth and very white and was a pleasure to work on.
I'm thinking of doing a bigger pece featuring one or more zebras.

Graphite Lion

Every now and then I get a longing to use graphite, today was one of those days. I'm spending time printing various items in preparation for Patchings Art Festival in June and it's easier to start and stop with graphite while I change paper, refil inks, laminate etc.
I'm using one of my own photographs as a reference, the image size is about 12 x 10 on Fabriano Artistico Extra white.

Lemur continued

I'm making progress with the lemur although the right side of the face isn't quite right yet.

Lemur on Black Paper

Over the years I've taken many photographs of Lemurs. This is one of my favourites, the lemur was above me in a tree watching what I was doing and chewing a stick.
Coloured pencil and acrylic on Black Stonehenge paper, 10 x 8.
His face reminds me of a little gremlin.

Shades of Black

'Shades of Black'

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You might remember I created an ACEO using this image a few months ago. I always had the intention of doing it larger.
This is coloured pencil on black Stonehenge paper, 10 x 8.
I enjoyed working an black as I work much faster, less layering and a much looser finish. The scan doesn't really show it but I used several blues, pinks and purple to create the black.

Burmese Finished and graphite tiger.

After working hard to meet the deadline for the kitten I wanted to do a small piece before starting on the next cat.

This is an ACEO done in graphite.

Instead of using my usual technique I worked from 2H to HB, or 2B in the darkest areas, using tiny circles and only adding fur definition at the end.

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Brown Burmese Kitten

This is a larger than life piece, 20 x 16 on Fabriano Artistico Extra White. The photograph isn't good colour wise as the paper is white.
I'm using coloured pencil and watercolour and there won't be any background as I don't want to distract from the kitten itself.

Do Not Disturb

Coloured pencil on Arches Watercolour paper, approx 12 x 10 inches.
The colour is a little more subtle in real life, the scan has made everything too dark. I'll do a more accurate image when I post the finished version.

Dalmatian Dog in graphite

'Spotted'

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This is my latest ACEO, graphite on mellotex paper, 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

The garden pond has been claimed by a pair of Mallard ducks. Unfortunately they tend to return from their roost about 5.00am in the morning, flying in right past the Conservatory windows. The dogs who sleep in the conservatory always spot them and make sure they bark to tell me that they've come back. If I pretend not to hear them they simply get louder until I give in and go downstairs, then they decide that as I'm up I might as well let them out to do what dogs need to do.

Shopping for a Conservatory blind might be on the 'to do' list for this weekend.

New Surface - UART Premium Sanded Pastel Paper

I've been taking a 'computer holiday' for the last few days. Once I finished work last week I felt that I needed a little space before moving forward with my art.
Anyway I'm back now with a new cat, this time on UART Premium sanded pastel paper. The one I'm using is the 800 grade which is the finest.
I got the paper from the SAA, it is available in 4 grades, 400, 500, 600 and 800. The 400 is the roughest surface, the 800 the smoothest.
This is the link:-
Society for all Artists art materials shop.
The colour is beige, not as yellow as it appears on my monitor.
It is quite expensive but I'm really enjoying using it, it suits my style better than either Pastelmat or Fisher paper.
The cat is approximately 7 x 5, all coloured pencil, mainly polychromos and I've tried both blending and drawing fine detail. I'm finding that the paper takes several layers and it's still possible to draw a fine line on top of the layers.