Borzoi - Part 2

In between getting ready for Patchings Art Festival, working on the pastel tiger and printing I've been making slow progress on the Borzoi.

I've added some acrylic washes to add depth and then worked over the top with coloured pencil.

Painting A Borzoi

I've been given permission to paint this stunning Borzoi.
I met him at a dog show over a year ago and took some photographs. His owner then sent me some better ones that show his beautiful coat blowing about. The photograph I'm working from shows much more character than the ones I took at the show.
I'm working in coloured pencil and watercolour on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper and the size is about 14 x 10 inches.

Border Terrier

The Border Terrier is more or less finished, I just need to add a hint of shadow to ground him.

Coloured pencil with a hint of graphite, approx 12 x 8 inches.

More Birds

A big thank you to all the people who have purchased my step-by-step of Poppy.

I decided to have a break from printing last night and went to see if the hares were about. The crops in the fields are now quite high and all I saw were a couple of pairs of ears in the distance.

However the place I go to see them is the haunt of several pairs of Red Kite.

Last night there were at least seven gliding over the trees and swooping down low.

I also got some nice photographs of a Yellowhammer, a bird I haven't seen for years.

Step by Step Guide to Drawing a Tabby Cat Available Now

Sample Page

My step-by-step guide is now available, I will be adding a buy it now button on the sidebar and it will be available from my website.
The booklet consists of 16 A5 pages (approx 5.75 x 8.25 inches) printed on a heavy bright white printer paper.
For the colours used I have included a pencil comparison chart for Polychromos and Prismacolor pencils. I have not always found an exact colour match but have suggested a similar colour.
Anyone who purchases the guide can email me for help if they get stuck.
I will also be offering prints of Poppy at a reduced price for anyone buying the guide.
The cost of the booklet will be £5.00 plus £1.50 post and packing.

I'm ready to start drawing my next subject. I'm thinking it will be a tri colour Rough Collie dog. That will include canine features and black, tan and white long hair so will be quite different to the tabby cat.

Step by Step Guide to Drawing a Tabby Cat Completed

The draft version of my guide to drawing Poppy is complete and I am proof reading before printing starts.
Hopefully the first copies will be ready by Tuesday.

More Garden Birds

I'm trying out various custom settings with my camera in the hope that I get more successful shots than disasters.
This male house sparrow has been very obliging in posing for me more or less constantly. He and his mate have a nest in the beech hedge just outside my window and he acts as guard for minutes at a time.
I have everything crossed that the local cats don't destroy the nest.

Regular readers will also notice I've given my blog a make over. The current trend seems to be for white backgrounds with no borders so I decided to give it a go.

Poppy the Cat Continued

This is where I'm up to with Poppy the cat, just about to start on the ears.

Step-by-Step Continued

Here's a sneak peak of a page from my forthcoming step-by-step.
I'm drawing Poppy the cat using Polychromos pencils but I will supply a list of Prismacolor pencil colours that can be used instead for people who prefer to use that brand.

Updated Cover for my Step-by-Step Guide

After some excellent advice from two of my artist friends I have completely revised the front cover for my step-by-step. Of course it might change again but I'm much happier with it now.

Step by Step Guides to Coloured Pencil Techniques

I've just realised that the Patchings Art Festival is fast approaching and I haven't made much progress on my step-by-step guides.

So for the past couple of days I have been spending time working in Microsoft Publisher on the first one, a guide to drawing a tabby and white cat.

The guide will include detailed instructions on drawing tabby and white fur, ears, nose, eyes and whiskers.

The cat I'm using as my model is 'Poppy' who lives nearby and takes great pleasure in tormenting my dogs while doing a spot of bird watching from under the hedge.

I'm trying to have a similar guide on drawing a dog and one on more general coloured pencil techniques ready for the festival. Guess I'd better get back to work.

I did have time to complete this ginger cat, 'Do Not Disturb' in between working on Poppy.