FUR IN THE PAINT

Coloured Pencil Tips - 1 Selecting a Colour

2012-02-02T06:54:00.000-08:00

One of the things I want to do on my blog is develop a series of mini tutorials. These will be expanded in my technique guides and I plan to discuss each topic in detail when I start to write my book.
Tip 1 describes two methods I use for selecting the local colour of an object.

1. Aids to Selecting the Local Colour
a) The Homemade Colour Chart
I have created a series of colour charts for my pencils, the image shows two sheets for Polychromos pencils.
To make the charts I cut a colour chart from one of the art magazines into A5 sheets so that for each colour I have a record of the pencil number, the name and the lightfast rating.
I stuck these onto some white card leaving space at the end for a sample of each colour. I used an actual drawing surface, in this case Arches Smooth Watercolour paper for my strip of colour which was drawn using progressively more pressure.
The next step was to laminate the card for protection and finally punch a hole through the colour.
You can then use the sampes if you are struggling to decide on a local colour by choosing the colour you think is closest from your samples and placing the punched hole over your reference. By isolating the colour it makes it easy to see which pencil to use.

b) The paint chart method.
I described this a few years ago but for ease of reference have included it again.

While visiting a DIY store I picked up a selection of paint shade charts in the colours I was likely to use.
Again I punched a hole in each colour and use in the same way to the homemade chart.
Although these aren't pencil colours once you select the nearest paint colour you can hold your pencil against the shade chart until you find the nearest match.

Horse in Watercolour

2012-02-01T10:17:00.001-08:00

I'm still alive I've just been busy dealing with self assessment returns. I should be back to normal posting later this week.

Self Assessment - Filing Deadline and Penalty Change

2012-01-15T23:35:00.001-08:00

Reed Bunting - Potteric Carr January 2012

As the online filing deadline is fast approaching and there is a change in the penalty regime I thought a reminder might be useful.

If you are a UK taxpayer and need to file a Self Assessment return the deadline is midnight on the 31/01/2012.

This year there is a change in the penalty regime for late filing; even if you have no tax to pay, or have paid the tax you owe there is a £100 penalty for even a day delay in filing. In earlier years the penalty was waived if you had no tax to pay.

The penalties you have to pay increase with the length of delay.

The deadline for paying any tax due is also 31/01/2012 and you must pay any tax you owe by 31 January following the end of the tax year.

For example, for the tax year 2010-11 (ending on 5 April 2011) you must pay any tax you owe by 31 January 2012.

Self Assessment

2012-01-15T23:35:00.000-08:00

Aims for 2012

2012-01-13T01:38:00.000-08:00

I've got to the difficult bit on my hare now, finishing the legs and adding a little foliage so I thought I'd have a break and talk about my aims for the coming year.

I want to improve on the things I felt to be less successful in 2011 by doing the following:-

Entering more competitions.

I've almost finished my entry for the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year and have started my BBC Wildlife entry.

Entering more exhibitions/shows.

Having been accepted to exhibit with Made in Yorkshire I've got an application ready to post applying for several shows with them.
In addition I'm going to attend both Patchings Art Festival and the Supreme Cat Show and I have solo show at the end of the year, six weeks at Sunnyhurst Woods visitor centre.

Continue to develop the tuition side of my business by:-

Adding to my 'Coloured Pencil Technique' guides, the next ones available will be wolf, snow leopard and tiger, although I'm not sure which will be first. If possible I intend to make these available as ebooks for people to view on their computers, iPads etc.
Developing an online course on how to draw an animal in coloured pencil
Working on expanding my technique guides in to a book on drawing animals and birds in coloured pencil. I do not expect to complete this in 2012 just make a start.
Looking into the possibility of giving classroom tuition on coloured pencil techniques

Make my blog more interesting by widening the topics discussed.

I am aware that my blog has become a place for me to share new artwork. That's fine and was one of my aims but as I've mainly drawn cats for the last few years I feel it's got predictable and boring.
I want to add interest by:-

Highlighting competitions and news which might be of interest to animal/wildlife artists.
Creating mini tutorials on different subjects.
Posting more about the dogs and my travels in search of reference material.
Talking more about why I choose to photograph or paint a particular animal or bird.
Having a guest artist spot every month (if possible).
Discussing more marketing topics which might be useful to others.
Not posting if I've nothing useful to say, I see this as important to maintain interest both for me and my readers

And lastly, Create more Artwork!

Review of 2011

2012-01-06T03:25:00.001-08:00

Review of 2011

I count the following as my achievements in 2011:-

Sold work at the 2011 Society of Feline Artists Exhibition and was asked to sit on their selection committee for 2012 onwards.
Created two coloured pencil guides, a tabby cat and a dog
Created a reasonable amount of ACEO's, all of which sold, thanks to my repeat customers
Continued to blog at least once a week, however see below for what I felt wasn't successful.
Built up a large body of reference photographs including animals and birds in their environment
My work was featured in Talking Point the magazine of the UK Coloured Pencil Society
Had a painting accepted for the NEWA exhibition

The following I was less happy with:-

Entered less exhibitions than I'd planned at the beginning of the year due to spending too much time browsing the internet rather than painting new work.
Only had a stand at two shows, Patchings and the Supreme cat show, again this was less than I'd planned to do.
Didn't create enough work especially for my planned UK wildlife series
Didn't feel my blog had a wide interest, it tended to revolve round the painting and drawing of cats. I was also slow posting comments which I apologise for and promise not to do this year.
I didn't manage to write my online course which I'd hoped to do in the Autumn

Looking back over last year although there were some highlights I feel that I lacked focus, tomorrow I'll share what I plan for 2012 to address that.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

2011-12-24T03:16:00.001-08:00

'Run for Fun'

My blog will be six years old early next year and I want to say thank you to all my friends and supporters who leave comments or simply follow along. You all help to motivate me as I continue on my artistic journey.

So I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Wildlife Artist of the Year x 2 - Call for Entries

2011-12-17T22:06:00.000-08:00

I've finally finished my christmas commissions and can get back to the paintings and drawings awaiting completion, one of them being the hare in the above image.

One of my goals for 2012 is to enter more competitions/exhibitions and two of the ones I'm aiming for have closing dates early in the new year.

These are:-

David Shepherd's Wildlife Artist of the year which has a closing date of 20/01/2012, and,

BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year with a closing date of 29/02/2012

'Hot Spot'

My painting Hot Spot was short listed for the David Shepherd award in 2009.

For full details visit Making a Mark the art blog of my artist friend Katherine Tyrrell.
Katherine has written a post covering all the details of the call for entries of both competitions, if you are interested in giving either a try then I recommend you read her post.

Link: Making a Mark - Wildlife Artist of the Year

Back to Black - Black Cat Mixed Media Painting

2011-12-08T02:43:00.000-08:00

'Back to Black'

Image Size 12 x 17 inches, mixed media on board.

SOLD

Following the success of my painting Black on Black which was sold at the Society of Feline Artists exhibition early this year I have painted a matching image.
I used coloured pencil and acrylic on mountboard making the eyes the focal point.

Creating A Still Life - For the Birds

2011-12-06T09:27:00.001-08:00

The above photograph shows my arrangement for taking more natural reference photographs
of the birds that visit my garden.
I don't like working from photographs of birds on feeders unless I'm just looking at colour or a particular detail so I decided to prepare a more natural resting place.

While out walking the dogs I kept a look out for a nice fallen branch, preferably one that had some moss on it. The one pictured above was ideal so my OH carried it back to the car. We had to put it on the back seat because Cody would have chewed on it during the drive home if we'd put it in the back with her. Although we carefully checked that we weren't taking any small creatures with us we spent the short drive home hoping that nothing was leaving the log to take up residence in the car.

To make the log more attractive to the birds my OH drilled several holes in the top of it which I filled with a mixture of fat and seeds.
I then pushed one end in the hedge and fastened the other end to the rail of the decking just under the feeders.
Although the birds were wary at first they now walk up and down my set up quite happily which gives me great photo opportunities.

Thursday Thoughts

2011-11-24T02:26:00.001-08:00

This is another stage in my large acrylic, I can't wait to put the animal in but I'm making myself wait until the background is complete.

I have a few unrelated bits and pieces to share hence the heading 'Thursday Thoughts'

Thank you to all the people who bought my prints and cards at the Supreme cat show. I am happy to report that I sold out of several card designs together with all the prints I'd taken of the Siamese.

I'm working on three new coloured pencil guides, a wolf, a tiger and a snow leopard.

With these new guides I am going to offer the option of including the full size line drawing, reference photograph and paper for an additional charge.

The tiger is a little different in that he has his mouth open which I thought made a change from a more traditional portrait and gives me a chance to demonstrate how I do the tongue and make the gums look wet.

My apologies to all the people who notified me that they were interested in taking my online course. I originally thought I would have time to fit it in this year but unfortunately I haven't been able to and am now aiming to start early next year. I will email you all when it is available.

Blue Point Siamese in Coloured Pencil and Pan Pastel

2011-11-17T11:17:00.000-08:00

The last image is now completed and ready for me to print in the morning so that it will be available at the Supreme.
The image size is 6 x 8 and it will be mounted/matted in white, the mounted/matted size will be 10 x 12.
The prints will be giclee, signed by me in pencil and limited to 350 worldwide.
Anyone interested in a print but not going to the Supreme can email me for details. The print will be available from my website once I have time to add it.

The Supreme Cat Show, Birmingham UK

2011-11-16T05:39:00.000-08:00

A selection of fine art cards available from my trade stand at the Supreme Cat Show.

The Supreme Cat show will be held at the NEC, Birmingham, next Saturday the 19th of November.
It is open to the public from 9.00 to 5.30 and is situated in Halls 17 and 18.

I've been busy this week printing cards and mounting and framing prints and have several new images available.
The Supreme is one of the highlights of my year, it has a wonderful atmosphere, everyone is really friendly but best of all I get to walk round and see some wonderful cats.

Come and say hello if you're at the show.

Link : GCCF Supreme Cat Show

An Acrylic Puzzle

2011-11-11T05:09:00.001-08:00

I'm going to paint all the background on this one before I add the animal so that I don't get a halo effect.
It's 16 x 20 acrylic on board.
I prepared my own board by adding several coats of gesso and sanding between each coat. The finished surface is very smooth which is how I like it.
Once I'd finished with the gesso I painted a mid grey all over which I find better to work on than the white of the gesso.

This will be a small animal on a large background, any guesses what it might be?

Raccoon - Part 2

2011-11-07T11:58:00.001-08:00

I haven't done a great deal more on the raccoon but I didn't want to wait to post any longer.
I'm busy with a couple of Christmas commissions and working on a large acrylic painting. I also don't seem to have had much to say recently but hopefully things will improve soon. I'll post my acrylic soon which is a little different from my usual work.

Rio and the Pheasants

2011-10-30T09:09:00.001-07:00

Rio has decided to take up a new hobby, birdwatching.
He was sitting on the grooming table having just been brushed and tidied up when the white pheasant appeared with a normal brown one following along behind.

Rio was fascinated and the pheasants didn't seem to mind, they wandered about picking up seed from under the feeders.
Cody spoilt things though. She spotted them and decided they were far to big to be wandering about her garden unchallenged so she bounced along the fence barking. The pheasants retreated for about two minutes and then came back and I removed Cody to watch from behind glass.

Raccoon in Graphite

2011-10-25T10:44:00.001-07:00

I started this one a long, long time ago and have picked it up again.
I like to work on graphite in the evenings when there is no natural light so I don't have to worry about the colour changing with the artificial light.
I photographed this raccoon probably three years ago in Stanley Park, Vancouver, it was one of a family group who emerged one by one from the brambles.

Graphite Jaguar - Part 2

2011-10-19T11:58:00.001-07:00

I'm busy with commissions and real life issues so I haven't much to show at the moment. I've done a little bit more on the jaguar but it's very slow progress.

The birds are returning to the feeders, I have a small flock of greenfinch that visit throughout the day and two or three goldfinches together with great, blue and coal tits. The coal tits are much more numerous than the others, sometimes I can see five or six moving from feeder to feeder.

Amur Tiger Print Available

2011-10-12T03:11:00.001-07:00

'Bad Fur Day'

Limited Edition giclee print. (limited to 350 prints worldwide)

Image size approximately 9.75 x 12 inches

Mounted/matted in white to 16 x 20 inches

£25 plus £4.00 post and packing

Available from my website, or contact me direct:-
gayle.mason@gmail.com

I will be back to posting my work in progress and other topics later this week, I've just been occupied with 'real life' for the last week or two.

Wolf Print Now Available

2011-10-10T04:26:00.000-07:00

'Winter Wolf'

Limited Edition giclee print. (limited to 350 prints worldwide)

Image size approximately 8.5 x 13 inches

Mounted/matted in white to 16 x 20 inches

£25 plus £4.00 post and packing

Available from my website, or contact me direct:-

gayle.mason@gmail.com

Siamese Cat - Part 3

2011-10-09T09:33:00.001-07:00

I've added some blue pan pastel to the background but it still needs more work.

As for the cat I'm getting to the end, one more leg and foot then some little touches and hopefully it will be finished.

RIP Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T02:45:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs 1955 - 2011

The Apple co-founder and former chief executive Steve Jobs has died at the age of 56.

A great innovator, risk taker and leader, described as an industry oracle who revolutionised computing.

The world has lost a creative genius.

Poppy the Tabby Cat

2011-10-03T11:46:00.001-07:00

'Poppy'
5 x 7 inches, to bid click here

This is the original drawing of Poppy that I used when creating my guide to drawing a tabby cat in coloured pencil. The drawing is coloured pencil on watercolour paper and is mounted/matted in white and backed.

Siamese Cat Continued

2011-09-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

I've continued to work on the siamese. For the white in the fur I've started with an under layer of neocolor II in white using a damp brush and blending it into the paper. I can then add the coloured pencil on top.

Maine Coon Cat in Mixed Media

2011-09-26T11:30:00.000-07:00

'Black and Gold'
9 x 7 inches, mixed media on black pastel paper
To bid click here.

The birds have slowly been returning to the garden feeders since we arrived back from holiday. There are more coal tits about than usual and they are one of my favourite birds so I'm spending a lot of time looking out of the patio doors.

This little hedgehog has also been a regular visitor over the last few days. I just hope it will have enough fat reserves to hibernate, it is really small for this time of year.

Blue Point Siamese

2011-09-24T11:25:00.001-07:00

This is a blue point siamese. coloured pencil on a buff coloured stonehenge paper.
I need to darken the ear quite a lot yet to contrast with the body fur.

Portrait of a Tabby Cat and Kitten in Coloured Pencil

2011-09-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

'Sleep Over'

Mixed Media on watercolour paper 4.5 x 6 inches
To purchase click here

Publication in a Magazine and a Book

2011-09-21T05:51:00.000-07:00

The first place my work has appeared in print this month is in Talking Point the magazine issued by the UK Coloured Pencil Society.

This is an exerpt from the current issue of Talking Point it was written by the editor Malcolm Cudmore and forms part of an article on Fur and Feathers.
The UKCPS website is well worth a visit if you are interested in using coloured pencil in your artwork.

The second place it will appear is in the soon to be published book ' The Secret Ingredient' which has been compiled by my friend Dot Tadman.
The book has been put together to raise funds for the Friends of Anchor Charity.
Anchor is the Aberdeen and North Centre for Haematology, Oncology and Radiotherapy and supports patients with different forms of cancer.
The book itself itself features favourite recipes beautifully illustrated by Local and International artists.
You can now visit the website for the book to find out more and view sample pages:-
The Secret Ingredient.

Graphite Jaguar

2011-09-16T11:25:00.001-07:00

I'm back home but still jet lagged so have spent time this week on a graphite portrait of a jaguar from my own photograph.
I understand that Black on Black had sold before the private view of the SOFA exhibition which was good news.

Contrasts from the Grand Canyon

2011-09-08T09:20:00.001-07:00

The beauty of the scenery contrasted with one of the ugliest birds I have photographed, the turkey vulture.

I incorrectly identified this bird,k Rodri has pointed out that it is in fact a Californian Condor not a Turkey Buzzard which makes it very special, but still ugly!

However these birds were quite majestic when soaring above the canyon.

Apologies that some of the photographs are the wrong orientation the program is doing it's own thing.
Flying home from Phoenix tomorrow and back to sharing artwork.

Zion and Red Canyons

2011-09-03T17:38:00.001-07:00

Moved on from Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon.
We travelled through Zion and Red Canyons which were quite spectacular, actually started to see animals and birds again.

Death Valley

2011-09-01T20:44:00.001-07:00

Very, very hot driving across Death Valley it was 125 degrees in the afternoon and we had to turn the car air conditioning off to make sure the car didn't overheat.
Great experience but I won't be coming back for a return visit.

Yosemite

2011-08-29T18:45:00.001-07:00

The hotel is very close to a huge fire and we had to make a hundred mile detour as the road was closed but Yosemite itself is beautiful, scenery and residents. Moving on to Death Valley tomorrow.

Alcatraz in the Fog

2011-08-26T08:28:00.001-07:00

Holiday Break

2011-08-23T11:28:00.001-07:00

Canada 2010 (you might be able to see two elk crossing the lake)

I leave tomorrow for three weeks in the US. I'm visiting some of the national parks in the southwest and hoping to get some good reference material.
My friend Katherine Tyrrell posted a photograph a day when she went painting in Provence and I'm hoping to do the same from my travels, at least when I have internet access.

I hope you are all enjoying your summer (or winter) and I'll be back mid September with new artwork to share.
I leave you with a photograph from my holiday last year to start the photographic journey, tomorrow it should be from San Francisco.

A Robin in Watercolour

2011-08-18T10:45:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I painted a robin in watercolour but was never happy with the crop. I got the original out today and tightened it up, it looks better now, to me anyway.

Basic Income Tax and the Artist - Part I -Deadlines

2011-08-15T22:54:00.001-07:00

Having been involved with both Income and Corporation Tax for almost all of my working life I thought it might be useful to share some things you need to consider once you begin earning money from your art.

As I am only familiar with the UK tax system this post will be less useful to my international readers with regard to dates etc, but information regarding record keeping applies to all.

I do plan on going into more depth in future posts.

If you're self-employed then you are responsible for keeping records of your income and expenses and paying your tax and NIC (National Insurance Contributions) You might use the services of a Financial Advisor/Accountant but even then the ultimate responsibility rests with you as the individual to ensure that you provide them with complete business records.

1. Important Deadlines

Once you start making money from your art you need to advise HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) within three months of the start date.

(However if you are only receiving small occasional amounts of money it could be classed as a hobby, in that case you would not need to inform HMRC)

If the intent is there to make a profit or you feel your hobby has turned into a business make sure to get in touch with HMRC.

Once you are registered as self-employed you will receive a tax return each year to complete and submit to HMRC, the deadlines for submitting the return are:-

Midnight on 31/10 each year for paper returns

Midnight on 31/01 each year if submitting on-line (or 3 months from the date of the letter advising you to complete a return if you received it after the 31/10)

31/10 if you want HMRC to calculate the amount of tax you owe

The other important deadlines are the dates for paying your income tax:-

All tax must be paid by the 31/01 following the end of the tax year, for example any tax due for the tax year 2010/11 (ends on 05/04/2011) must be paid by 31/01/2012
Any payment on account that HMRC tells you to pay is due on 31/07 (only applies if your liability to income tax is over £1000)

Example

Year Ended 05/04 2011
Liability £1200
31/01/2012 Due £1200 plus £600 (half of the £1200) on account for 2011/12 = £1800
31/07/2012 2nd payment on account £600 (the other half of the £1200)

HMRC estimate the following year to be the same as the current year until they review your tax return or you tell them otherwise.

If anyone wants me to carry this on with what happens in January 2013 if the liability has increased just ask, otherwise I'll leave it relatively straight forward.

The HMRC website is useful if you want any additional information

My next post will be on record keeping, what you need to keep to ensure you pay the right amount of tax.

Coloured Pencil Techniques - Drawing Animals

2011-08-08T00:03:00.000-07:00

One of Chester Zoo's six week old cheetah cubs.

The subtitle for this post could be 'New Beginnings' and what better image could I use to illustrate that thought than one of the four six week old Cheetah cubs born at Chester Zoo.
I had the chance to photograph the mother and cubs last week. I spent several hours in front of the glass window watching them and filled an 8GB camera card. A lot of the shots aren't very good but can be used for reference of paws, fur, size etc but there are one or two really nice compositions.
Cheetah cubs are rarely seen in the wild because their mothers keep them well hidden. They have an exceedingly high mortality rate and are rarely born in Zoos so I feel very privileged to have been able to watch them interact with one another and their environment.
I'm sure I'll go back to see them later this year.

The other new beginnings are :-

I've been asked about having a solo exhibition next spring
I'm going to start the third in my series of coloured pencil technique guides
I'm going to offer online/postal tuition starting in the autumn.

My intention is to offer two options for tuition, students will be able to choose from a 'full' package or a 'guidance only' package.
If you choose the full package I will send you all the paper and pencils you need to complete the animal.
For people who already have supplies the lessons will be the same and you will still receive the printed lesson plan/booklet but you can use your own materials.
At this stage I'm planning on the drawing being either a Snow Leopard or a Wolf and there being six lessons in the course but I'm still finalising the details.
You will be able to either work online, or if you prefer post your work to me for comments.

As a first step would anyone interested please email me letting me know:-
Which animal you would prefer to draw
If you want the complete package or not
If you prefer to work online or use 'snail mail'

My intention is to restrict this first course to six students which I aim to start at the beginning of October.

My email is gayle.mason@gmail.com

Ready for the Society of Feline Artists 2011 Exhibition

2011-08-01T01:10:00.000-07:00

In the next couple of hours the courier will arrive to pick up my paintings which will be included in the 2011 Society of Feline Artists Exhibition.

The exhibition takes place in September at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery in London, UK and if you like feline art is well worth a visit. I'll be doing another post later this month about the exhibition.

Wolf - Part 4

2011-07-25T12:10:00.001-07:00

The second of our bitches is now in season so the chaos deepens. At least it sets the scene for painting the wolf when Rio and Clinton are both howling in the background.

Wolf - Part 3

2011-07-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

I've done some more on the wolf, the next stage is adding some background with pan pastels. I'd been hoping to do that today but real life got in the way. Roma is coming into season so Rio and Clinton have decided that killing one another is the way to win her heart. This does not create a happy and relaxed atmosphere, quite the opposite.

National Exhibition of Wildlife Art - NEWA

2011-07-11T13:29:00.000-07:00

I will be exhibiting at NEWA, the National Exhibition of Wildlife Art from the 15th - 31st July 2011.
The exhibition takes place at the Gordale Garden Centre Chester High Road, Burton, Wirral CH64 8TF.
I entered two pieces, 'Stolen Moment' the Amur leopard in graphite and 'Bad Fur Day' the pastel of the Amur tiger. I don't know which one, or if both of them got in.
The private view is on Thursday and I'm looking forward to meeting up with several friends who have also had work accepted.

Wolf in Coloured Pencil

2011-07-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

I can only work on my horse in daylight while I'm sat at my drawing table so I've started a coloured pencil wolf.
I find it easier to work with coloured pencil in the evenings.
This is approximately 12 x 9 on a stone coloured pastel paper.
I'm wishing I'd done it as a step by step because I think a wolf might be popular.

Horse in Watercolour

2011-07-08T11:47:00.001-07:00

I decided to have a complete change of subject.
For the last two years I have visited Bramham 3 day event and taken lots of photographs of horses in action.
This horse was just jumping out of the water which you will be able to see when I paint his legs.
I'm also having a change of medium, this is watercolour on a hot press watercolour paper.

Hare - Finished

2011-06-30T10:20:00.001-07:00

I added a little background to my hare which puts it in a setting without distracting the viewer, in my opinion anyway.

I added the touch of blue, white and ochre using pan pastels and was pleased how well they worked to give a hint of colour on a smooth paper. The foliage is painted in watercolour, so all in all this is a real mixed media piece.

I'll let it sit a couple of days before deciding if I need to tweak.

Hare - Part 4

2011-06-27T12:01:00.001-07:00

The hare itself is almost complete I'm now working on the background. I'm just going to add a few bits of grass and lightly tone the background with pan pastels so that it becomes more of a complete picture rather than a study.

Brown Hare - Part 3

2011-06-22T14:04:00.001-07:00

I've been updating my website so progress on the hare has been slow.
I'm hoping that I can finish it tomorrow.

Brown Hare - Part 2

2011-06-19T02:27:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I picked some of the orange poppies I have flowering in my garden. I'm considering adding one or two in the background using very soft watercolour washes as they are more or less the same colour as the hare's eyes.
It's a good job I picked them yesterday as there is heavy rain here in Yorkshire this morning and most of the petals are now ruined.

Brown Hare in Mixed Media

2011-06-17T11:16:00.001-07:00

I want to take a break from drawing cats, I feel that I need to concentrate on different subjects for a while. I have more or less completed the images for this years Society of Feline Artists exhibition so I can spare the time away from the felines.
I want to add to my portfolio of british wildlife so I'm starting with this hare.
I'm using coloured pencil and watercolour on a Strathmore paper. The image size is about 10 x 8 inches.
The left ear is not yet completed as I need to really concentrate on the way the fur grows.

2011-06-14T11:10:00.000-07:00

Almost finished, just a few tweaks needed.

I have lost a little around the edges by adjusting to lose the background tone in photoshop, I'll post a corrected image tomorrow.

Patchings Art Exhibition 2011

2011-06-13T02:42:00.001-07:00

Anyone who saw me at Patchings will recognise the cat. I am almost finished and I will post the finished drawing on here within the next couple of days, honestly.

I had a good time at Patchings apart from the horrible weather on the last day. One of the best parts is the socialising, I had a laugh with several artists, some old friends, some new. In particular Darren, Vivienne, Cheryl, Paul and Bob. You are all fantastic artists and great people, and I hope our paths cross again.

Thank you to all the people who bought my work and to those who stopped to say hello, I enjoyed meeting all of you. I hope I was able to help some of you move forward with your drawing.

I had to laugh at some of the comments we got and can assure you that concentrating on drawing or painting does not affect your hearing. Most of the artists I spoke to could relate a funny comment each day.

My most memorable comment was from an individual who walked up to me and asked why I draw cats, because they are nasty, dirty animals that destroy gardens.
Without giving me time to reply they sighed deeply and walked away.

I was very impressed with how Pan Pastels worked on my hot pressed watercolour paper and I will be doing a little demonstration on my blog later this week.

I also couldn't resist splashing out on yet more supplies that I probably didn't really need but couldn't resist.

Coloured Pencil Techniques Number 2

2011-06-07T04:53:00.001-07:00

Just in time for Patchings I have completed my second coloured pencil step-by-step. This time it's Lenny the tri colour Rough Collie dog.
It is exactly the same format as the guide to drawing Poppy.
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.

You can purchase direct from me by clicking the link in the sidebar.

If youy are planning on visiting Patchings Art Exhibition please come and say hello.

Lenny Part 3

2011-06-05T11:29:00.000-07:00

I saw a Roe Deer on my early morning walk. Much to the dogs dismay I hid behind the hedge until it came close enough for me to take some nice photographs.
He will be making an appearance in a drawing very soon.

Lenny - Part 2

2011-06-03T13:56:00.001-07:00

Lenny the Rough Collie Step-by-Step

2011-06-02T11:33:00.001-07:00

I'm working on my second tutorial, this one is a step-by-step drawing Lenny a beautiful tri colour Rough Collie.
Hopefully it will be finished and printed in time for Patchings exhibition next week.

Borzoi - Part 2

2011-05-31T10:33:00.001-07:00

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

2011-05-26T03:07:00.001-07:00

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

2011-05-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-12T02:58:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-09T10:39:00.001-07:00

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

Step-by-Step Continued

2011-05-06T04:41:00.001-07:00

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

2011-05-05T05:04:00.001-07:00

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

2011-05-04T10:11:00.001-07:00

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.

Back to the Tiger

2011-04-28T08:49:00.001-07:00

For some reason I can't get the colour right in this photograph, it is slightly too red, I'll have another go in photoshop later.
I decided it was time to work on the pastel tiger again even working on the missing bit on his nose.
I really want to get this finished and framed as pastel is not the best medium to have unframed with several dogs playing chase round the easel legs several times a day.

Little Owl Part 2

2011-04-26T11:02:00.001-07:00

I'm continuing to work on the owl. I tend to work on one area at a time building the depth by glazing thin layers of paint.
The great thing about using acrylics is that adjustments can be made as and when necessary. For me this removes the hesitation in getting started because I know if when I go wrong I can correct the mistake.
I try not to add any white to the colour I'm glazing with to keep it as transparent as possible. For the feathers I'm using a lot of burnt and raw umber with touches of paynes grey and alizarin to vary the colour.
I glaze over the white feathers with burnt umber then add more white etc until I'm happy with the result.

Little Owl in Acrylic

2011-04-20T12:01:00.001-07:00

I wanted to try a small version of the Little Owl before attempting one with a full background.
This is a captive bird that I photographed at a game fair. I can see the plumage much better in this photograph than my wild owl one so decided it would be good to practice the feather structure.
It is 8 x 10 inches, acrylic on MDF.

Local Birds 17/04/2011

2011-04-18T02:36:00.000-07:00

A selection of birds I saw yesterday either in the garden or on my walk.

I'm not sure what the first bird is, I think it's a Willow Warbler but if anyone thinks differently please let me know.

The second is a Pied Wagtail which is one of my favourite birds.

The third is a Goldfinch, one of several that visit the garden each day.

The last bird is a Little Owl, which is one of a pair that I see when I walk the dogs down a lane near home. I got up especially early yesterday hoping to photograph the owls before most other people were about. It isn't the best photograph but I was pleased with it, I managed to snap it just as the sun was rising.

I can now paint a Little Owl from my own photograph which is great because I want to paint an Owl series.

How Permanent are Your Prints

2011-04-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

'Blue Boy' 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Mixed Media on paper.

When I started producing my own prints I was very concerned about their longevity.

I bought a printer that uses Epson UltraChrome K3 pigmented inks and I always use an archival paper but I still had no definitive figures on permanence.

However I have now discovered that Henry Wilhelm has researched the longevity of different inks and surfaces.

The website is an absolute mine of information for anyone wanting to find out how permanent combinations of ink and surface are.

The website is http://www.wilhelm-research.com/

There are different ratings depending on how the prints are stored, for example:-

Prints framed under glass

Printsframed with a UV filter

Displayed prints not framed

Album/Dark storage

Tests have also been done on the following:-

Unprotected resistance to ozone

Resistance to high humidity

Resistance to water

Are optical brightners present

There is a lot of information how the tests were carried out and a note that in some cases they are ongoing.

The pdf file for my printer was 9 pages long.

I'm pleased to say that it very much looks like my prints will not fade for very many years however they are stored.

Persian Kitten Part 2

2011-04-11T13:26:00.001-07:00

Very slooow progress.

I have a pair of Bluetits going in and out of my new nest box ( at least I assume it's a pair).

If they do rear a brood the baby birds will be sitting in comfort because the adults are lining the box with dog hair. Roma has decided to cast her coat so I've been putting handfulls of soft undercoat in the hedges for the birds. It seems to be popular because it soon gets taken. Roma makes sure there is plenty to go round, she helpfully leaves huge amounts all over the carpets which manages to spread everywhere.

Persian Kitten in Watercolour

2011-04-05T11:10:00.001-07:00

This is part of my newest cat painting, a Persian kitten with tons of attitude. The kitten has a great deal of very soft coat so I decided to use watercolour to portray it. I thought that I could build up layers leaving them pale and indistinct in the areas where the fur is very soft and fluffy. I seem to have cropped the left side in the scanner but the whole body will be on the finished painting. I'm using Arches hot pressed watercolour paper as I wanted a very smooth surface that I am used to working on.

Spring Walk

2011-04-03T02:53:00.001-07:00

I had a nice walk this morning. The sky was black in the West but blue in the East and there was a beautiful rainbow. Apart from a drop or two the rain never materialised. The birds were out in force including several species of tit, a fleeting glimpse of a Green Woodpecker and several Curlews. The best photograph I shot was this Dunnock because I like the colours in the blurred background. I haven't touched up in photoshop, just cropped in on the bird. There were plenty of lambs and rabbits in the fields but I'm still looking for the elusive hare. I really want to paint a hare from my own reference material but so far I've only spotted them in the distance at dusk. At least with the lighter nights there is more time for searching.

Tuxedo Cat in Coloured Pencil and Acrylic

2011-03-31T11:14:00.000-07:00

ACEO size 2.5 x 3.5

To bid click here.

A small one today done in coloured pencil and acrylic on Stonehenge paper. I really enjoyed working on something small and uncomplicated for a change.

Two Ragdoll Kittens in Coloured Pencil and Acrylic

2011-03-29T10:22:00.001-07:00

'Cuddled Up'

To bid click here

This is 6 x 4 inches, coloured pencil and acrylic on cream stonehenge paper.

I need to decide what I'm going to submit for the Society of Feline Artists exhibition this year. I've never painted Ragdoll cats before( I did start one on pastelbord but it remains a work in progress) and I have a nice image I want to use, so I decided to do a small piece to work out the colours.

I used a piece of cream Stonehenge paper that I'd been sent to try. I'm not a big fan of Stonehenge as I find it a little bit too soft but this time I really enjoyed using it. I did quite a lot of blending with French Grey and Peach Beige Prismacolor pencils and the paper behaved perfectly. I also added acrylic highlights and again found the paper worked well. I was going to do the full size piece on Arches watercolour paper but I think I might use the Stonehenge again.

Amur Tiger - Part 2

2011-03-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

I'm slowly but surely working on my second Amur tiger. There isn't quite so much contrast in real life but at least you can see the progress.
I can't quite work out the fur direction/light on his nose so it's incomplete until inspiration strikes, or I run out of other areas to work on!

Featured Print - Siberian Husky

2011-03-18T03:16:00.000-07:00

"Siberian Spirit"
Limited Edition Giclee Print Image Size 6 x 8 inches

You will notice that I am changing 'Print of the Week' to 'Featured Print' so that I can leave the print available for longer than a week without feeling I should be changing it.

This featured print has been taken from an original graphite drawing of a Siberian Husky.

The print has been professionally produced on Hahnemuhle German Etching Fine Art paper using Epson archival ink.

It is limited to 350 prints worldwide.

It will be mounted/matted in white and the mounted size is 10 x 12 inches.

I will sign and number each print and it will be sent direct from me.

The usual retail price of this print is £18.00 while it is 'featured' it is available for £10.00

I have included a Paypal button in the sidebar for you to purchase this print or you can contact me direct if you prefer:-

gayle.mason@gmail.com

Cat on Drafting Film

2011-03-16T10:48:00.001-07:00

'In Deep'

Acrylic and Coloured Pencil on drafting film, approx 7.75 x 6 inches

The new tiger is making slow progress because I'm having trouble with my shoulder. This makes standing at my easel for long periods with my arm raised rather painful.
So I revisited drafting film and used coloured pencil and acrylic. I haven't used drafting film for a while and found the process enjoyable.
But tomorrow I need to get back to the tiger.

Another Amur ( Siberian) Tiger in Pastel

2011-03-08T03:45:00.000-08:00

I've started another pastel of an Amur Tiger.
I took the photograph earlier this year at the Highland Wildlife Park in Scotland.
I'm using a mixture of soft pastels and pastel pencils on Fisher paper, the size is approximately 24 x 20 inches.
I'm beginning to dislike the CarbOthello pencils made by Stabilo because I'm having real difficulty sharpening them. No matter how carefully I handle them some of the colours break really easily. White is the main culprit followed by the cream colour which is a shame as I do like the way they work with the Fisher paper.
As far as sharpening is concerned I'm finding the Pitt pastel pencils far easier to work with.

Pastel Tiger Completed

2011-03-03T03:07:00.001-08:00

"Bad Fur Day"
20 x 16 inches, pastel on Fisher paper.

Although the tiger was completed without any issues, getting a colour corrected image was incredibly difficult. This was due to both my desktop and laptop computers dying at more or less the same time.

I had an old edition of Photoshop running on the desktop so when that computer ceased to function I wasn't too worried as I have the full CS4 suite running on my Mac Pro Book.

I decided I couldn't justify the expense of buying the windows version for my desktop and I would manage with Photoshop Elements.

So my son went ahead and rebuilt my computer. Within hours of wiping the hard drive my laptop got stuck in an update sequence and of course I couldn't find the system disc to reboot.

So I am currently waiting for new discs to be shipped to me so that my son can (hopefully) repair the laptop.

I needed an accurate image of the tiger because I wanted to submit it on line to a competition.

I couldn't scan because it was far to big for the scanner so I had to photograph it. The light was so poor the resulting image needed correcting which I found incredibly difficult using Elements. I need to add that the version of Elements I had is really, really old, I'm sure the newer versions are far better to use.

I did manage but what would have been a small tweak in Photoshop became a huge task.

Fingers crossed that my laptop is soon operational.

Three Kittens in Graphite

2011-02-27T03:01:00.000-08:00

'Three Little Kittens'

To bid click here.

I had a short break from the tiger to create another cat ACEO. This is graphite on watercolour paper, 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

Pastel Tiger Part 4

2011-02-23T08:38:00.001-08:00

Almost there, just a little bit more fur and then I'll look at the whole to see if anything needs lightening or darkening.

Pastel Tiger Part 3

2011-02-19T08:29:00.001-08:00

Continuing to work on my tiger with a mix of hard and soft pastels.

Print of the Week (2) - Long Haired Tabby Cat

2011-02-17T00:20:00.000-08:00

'Fluffy'

Image size 7.5 x 6 inches

Limited Edition Giclee print (350 worldwide)

Thank you to the people who bought 'Pretty Kitty' the first print of the week. Pretty Kitty has now reverted to the usual retail price of £18.00.

This is the second in my print of the week series, although the first ran for rather longer than a week.

This print is printed on Epson Archival Matte paper using genuine Epson Archival inks.

It is mounted/matted in white and the mounted/matted size is 10 x 12 inches.

In line with all my other feline limited edition prints of a similar size the normal selling price is £18.00.

For the next few days it will be available for £10.00, I have included a paypal button in the sidebar or you can contact me if prefer.

The print will be sent direct by me and each print will be signed and numbered in pencil.

I painted the original in oil pastel on ampersand claybord and really enjoyed tackling the long fur in a different medium.

The cat herself is one of our friends beautiful Norwegian Forest cats. To see more of the cats them visit Tiganlea Norwegian Forest cats website.

Note; As I had no sales of this print I decided to make it an open edition and the price will remain £10.00 rather than reverting to £18.00

Pastel Tiger Continued

2011-02-14T08:35:00.001-08:00

A little more work done on my tiger. I will add more whiskers later because I will need to do more work on the background once I finish the head.

Pastel Tiger on Fisher Pastel Paper

2011-02-10T11:52:00.001-08:00

I decided to work a little bit larger with this tiger so returned to pastels as I work faster with them than any of the other mediums that I use.
This is 20 x 16 inches on Fisher pastel paper. I'm using a mix of soft pastels and pastel pencils. I put down a layer of soft pastel as a base and then work over it with the pencils to add the detail.

If this goes smoothly I'm planning another tiger with a full background that will be around 26 x 20 inches.

Pen and Ink, Pointillism and Patience

2011-02-08T09:15:00.000-08:00

Pen and Ink 2.5 x 3.5 inches, to bid click here.

When I've finished a fairly long project like 'Stolen Moment' it takes me a couple of days to decide what do do next. The eagle is one of the pieces I work on while I sort out my next painting.

Several months ago I started the bald eagle using pen and ink and a pointillism technique and I do a bit more every time I have a break between large pieces.
Pointillism is defined as a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of pure colour are applied in patterns to form an image.
I find this technique relaxing, just aim the pen and place the dot.
I decided to try something with colour using the technique so I bought some Pitt Artist pens in various shades of grey and green (only the lightfast colours) and did the small cat above. I added a little acrylic ink with a small brush to create the pink nose.

Print of the Week - Long Haired White Cat

2011-02-04T03:22:00.000-08:00

" Pretty Kitty"

Limited Edition Print (350 worldwide), image size 6 x 8 inches, mounted size 10 x 12 inches

Each week I am going to offer a 'Print of the Week' For around seven days the featured print will be available at a discounted price, reverting to the normal retail price once it is no longer featured.

This print is printed on Epson Archival Matte paper using genuine Epson Archival inks. It is mounted/matted in white and the mounted/matted size is 10 x 12 inches.
In line with all my other feline limited edition prints of a similar size the normal selling price is £18.00.
For the next week it will be available for £10.00, I have included a paypal button in the sidebar or you can contact me if prefer.
The print will be sent direct by me and each print will be signed and numbered in pencil.

I picked this image as I loved drawing the huge blue eyes and the challenge of creating the colourful 'white' fur.

Amur Leopard finished

2011-01-30T08:17:00.000-08:00

'Stolen Moment'

45 x 21 cms

Finally finished my Amur Leopard.

I'm ready for a little colour in my life now.

The Second Volume of Fur in the Paint

2011-01-28T03:16:00.000-08:00

Last year I used Blog2Print to create a book of my first years blog posts. I was pleased with the book so decided to do the same for the second year.
I used the same design but in a different colour to suit the image I had chosen for this years front cover.
This time I included the comments as it is nice to lppk back and see what people thought of my progress.
Last year I had the first volume available on my stand at exhibitions and people seemed to like glancing through to see how I work.
My main aim though is to have a hard copy of my blog for my personal use and there is something very satisfying in seeing the two volumes sitting side by side on the shelf.

I intend to create a book each year I write my blog and this year I intend to include things like the birds that visit the garden, more about the dogs etc.

I would add that I have absolutely no connection with Blog2Print and if anyone decides to have their own blog printed I recommend you read the small print carefully.

Amur Leopard - Part 3

2011-01-26T11:07:00.001-08:00

Starting to draw the hind legs, hopefully by tomorrow they'll be done.

Amur Leopard - Part 2

2011-01-24T00:53:00.001-08:00

Carrying on with my leopard.
I have no idea why I haven't finished the ear except that I haven't felt the time was right. This is definitely 'my' way of working certainly not recommended in the books that suggest working the whole piece as one. But, it works for me.
I've adapted to the much rougher surface and am pleased with the effect. It does have a tendency to shine with the softer leads so I find it helps to put a layer of 2 or 4H down first before adding the softer darker tones. Working back over the top with the hard leads then further softens and dulls the effect.
I'm not intending adding any more background than the small shadow because I want all the focus on the leopard.
He will have back legs eventually.

Endangered and Alone - The Amur Leopard

2011-01-17T22:57:00.000-08:00

I'm working on the cold pressed paper again, going even larger this time.

This is an Amur Leopard that I captured in a moment of relaxation rolling on his back in the sun. Sadly it is a captive animal, I will never see one in the wild.

The finished piece will show all the Leopard's body but it's too big to fit on the scanner.

A bit of background:-

The Amur Leopard is also known as the Far Eastern Leopard, the Manchurian Leopard or the Korean Leopard and is found in the Russian Far East and Northern China. It is a solitary nocturnal hunter and there are believed to be only around 40 individuals still left in the Russian Taiga.

Ecologists are going to do a count of the Leopards in Russia to see how the population is fluctuating.

Link : Ecologists to count Amur Leopards in Russia's Far east

When I looked at the photographs I'd taken of the Leopard I knew this was the one to draw. I immediately thought of the contrast between the carefree pose and the threat the animal faces in the wild. It was an exceptionally bittersweet moment as clearly this animal was relaxed and enjoying himself in the sun but I couldn't help but wish it could live as the lone nocturnal hunter hidden away from humans in its natural habitat.

More Garden Birds

2011-01-16T08:14:00.001-08:00

I had two slightly less frequent visitors to my garden drop in today. Both photographs are poor quality because I was shooting through glass without having time to adjust my camera settings.

I see the Sparrowhawk every few days but usually just flying past low and fast, today it perched on the greenhouse for a few seconds.

The melanistic pheasant visits every so often but I hadn't seen it for about six months and had assumed it was dead so it was a nice surprise when it appeared this morning.

I understand the melanistic pheasant is a mutated version of the birds with the normal plumage and they are quite common in some parts of the country. I've never seen another one locally, there are plenty of pheasants but all the usual colour. This one looks very greeny/purple in the sun, not that I really remember as it has been a long time since the sun appeared in Yorkshire.

Graphite Chipmunk Finished

2011-01-14T03:11:00.000-08:00

I could do a bit more with the foliage but I have done enough to decide I do like using the cold pressed paper. I need to move on to finishing some pieces I want to enter into competitions over the next few months.

More Graphite on Cold Pressed Paper

2011-01-11T01:56:00.001-08:00

To bid click here

I finished the meerkats but remained undecided about the cold pressed paper. I decided to try a bigger image and see how I felt once I had something bigger to evaluate.

This chipmunk image is approximately 10 x 8 on the Fabriano cold pressed paper

Original reference image of the chipmunk is courtesy Alan D. Wilson, Naturespicsonline.com, used with Alan's permission.

Graphite Meerkats

2011-01-09T12:58:00.001-08:00

I wanted to try a rougher surface and let the texture of the paper become part of the image so this is graphite on Fabriano cold pressed watercolour paper.
It is only small 5.5 x 3 inches and the reference is from one of my own photographs. I wanted a different take on the standard meerkat pose, I'm going to call it 'Off Duty' when it's finished.
I started fighting the texture as I tried to work in my usual way but adapted quite quickly to just touching my pencil to the paper and letting the point skim the surface. I built up several layers starting with a 4H pencil and working up to a2B, going back and blending with the harder lead.
I think the cold press paper is too textured for how I like to work although I do like how the rock is turning out. I'll probably try a vellum finish next.

Oh and I also went to London today to return son 2 to University. I think I'll finish the meerkats tomorrow.

Garden Birds 07/01/2011

2011-01-08T02:30:00.000-08:00

I achieved probably my record number of different species of bird visiting the garden in 12 hours yesterday.

Some of the photographs are not good quality as it was snowing and I was shooting through glass.

The species visiting at various times yesterday were:-

Sparrow

Dunnock

Starling

Redwing

Wren

Robin

Blackbird

Pheasant

Redpoll

Siskin

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Chaffinch

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Coal Tit

Long Tailed Tit

Collared Dove

Wood Pigeon

I could see the following in the trees across the road.
Rook

Jackdaw

Magpie

Maine Coon Cat in Graphite

2011-01-04T10:16:00.001-08:00

To bid click here.

I decided to carry on with graphite, another Maine Coon this time 3 x 5 inches.
I am still in the process of setting my aims for 2011 but one of them is to create at least 4 small drawings or paintings a week. This is the first for 2011.