Rough Pup - Graphite Drawing of a Rough Collie Pup

'Rough Pup' Graphite on Arches Hot Pressed Watercolour Paper

Approximately 14 x 10 inches

Very belated wishes that you all have a great 2015.

The drawing above is the first one completed this year and is of 'Xena' the youngest member of my rough collie family. I chose to draw her in a very uncharacteristic pose, mainly because I thought I might never see her sitting still again :) The image below is much more characteristic of Xena although after all the rain she is slightly more muddy looking.

I do intend to draw her again when time permits and this time it will be a Xena in action pose.

I haven't made any plans for 2015 mainly because I don't tend to revist the list once February arrives. Instead I'm keeping a weekly to do list which includes regular updates of my blog and website and some painting/drawing time.  

I am planning to overhaul my website in the very near future as I think it needs completely re- designing to make it more suitable for the latest technology.

The Borzoi - A Fact You Might Not Know

'William' the Borzoi

 

The reference photograph I used for William was kindly provided by his owner after I expressed a desire to paint him.

I met William at a show a couple of years ago and was impressed by his sweet nature, his elegance and his dignity so when his owner sent me some photographs of him I put him on my 'to do' list. It's taken me a long time but he's finally finished. The original painting is mixed media on hot press watercolour paper.

Before I draw or paint any animal I like to find out about them. I study the anatomy, coat, features etc but I also look for any interesting facts. This brings me to the fact you might not know about the borzoi.
They rank 75th in Stanley Coren's book The Intelligence of Dogs and fall into the category Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence.
The classification is partly based on understanding of new commands and the percentage of times they obey a command first time.
Reading further borzois would appear to be selective learners who become easily bored and can be stubborn if not motivated. I'm not sure that I would class that as unintelligent!

No one will be surprised that the border collie comes out top of the list as the brightest dog.
For anyone interested in the full list this is the article :-The Intelligence of Dogs

Limited edition prints of William are available from my website
 'William' Limited Edition Giclee Print
or you can contact me direct gayle.mason@gmail.com

Spaniel Continued

I've continued to work on the spaniel. I know his fur is looking a little bit too neat but I'll rough it up at a later stage.
I intend to paint quite a lot of the bodyas I want to avoid the 'floating head' look.

Spaniel in Mixed Media

I started a painting of a spaniel while demonstrating at the Patchings Art Festival.
First of all I added watercolour using a barely damp brush and then picked out detail in coloured pencil. The size is approximately 16 x 12 inches and it's on hot press watercolour paper.
I found that the addition of the watercolour really speeded things up and also created a really soft fur effect, I'll be using this technique again.

Thanks to all who came to talk to me at Patchings and also those that bought my work. It was lovely to see old friends and make some new ones. It was also nice to come away inspired after seeing work from so many talented artists.

William the Borzoi

I started William several months ago so I really need to finish him. Apart from his neck I still have some detail to add to his muzzle but he's getting there.
The image is taken from his owners photograph, watercolour and coloured pencil on paper.

After William I have another dog to paint then I'm moving on to some wild animals and somewhere in the mix I need to start painting this years feline offerings.

Coloured Pencil Techniques Number 2

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

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

Lenny the Rough Collie Step-by-Step

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

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.

Featured Print - Siberian Husky

"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

Border Terrier Part 2

A little more work on the terrier but I'm getting ready for the Supreme Cat show on Saturday so I'm busy printing.
I've also decided to offer some framed prints so I'm also sorting that out. I'll post a photograph tomorrow when I get everything ready before loading the car.

Going to the Dogs

Border Terrier, coloured pencil on Arches watercolour paper.

This year I added several venues to my sales strategy, one was a Game and Country Fair, one a Craft Fair and one an Art Festival.

I wanted to see what worked best and decide where to target in 2011. I recognise that the current economic climate doesn't help with sales and that exhibiting once at each type of venue isn't really enough to decide what works, but it did give me a taster.

From a sales point of view non was overwhelmingly successful, but from a learning perspective all had something to offer.

There was a common lesson relevant to all three: my portfolio is too cat orientated to generate large print sales away from the cat shows.

The Supreme cat show next weekend is my last exhibition of the year so I have several months to add some diversity to my range of prints.

One avenue I want to explore is returning to the dogs and adding to the breeds I offer as prints.

Gun dogs and working dogs as groups were numerically greatest at the country fair but the one breed I saw the most of was undoubtedly the Border Terrier so that's the one I decided to start with.

I'm not sure if I want to do any more craft fairs but that's another post.

Patchings Art Festival 2010

I worked on the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel during my four days exhibiting at the Patchings Art Festival. She is approximately 12 x 10 on Fabriano Artistico Hot Press Watercolour paper in extra white.
My friends Katherine (Making a Mark) and Vivien (Paintings, Prints and Stuff) have each done a review of their impression as visitors to Patchings. Click the links to read what they thought.

I was there as a first time exhibitor and returned home after 5 days, tired, but glad I took part.

I met some old friends and made some new ones, and feel I helped some beginners to coloured pencils get started.

During the first two days a lot of the visitors belonged to art societies and had travelled by coach to the event. Many of these people were attending the workshops, stocking up on their art supplies and watching the artist exhibitors demonstrate. For next year I aim to have expanded my step by step collection as I felt this was an area I could have developed more. Regular readers to my blog will know that I spent so long printing that I simply ran out of time.

The second two days, Saturday and Sunday, there were less art society visitors and I did better with selling my prints.

Although some of the exhibitors had a very successful show there was widespread feeling that there was less money being spent this year. In the current economic climate that came as no surprise.

It was obvious that Patchings is a very well run Festival which is attended by many hundreds of visitors who come back year after year, I hope to do the same.

Dalmatian Dog in graphite

'Spotted'

To bid click here.

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.

Rough Collie in Pastel

Another of my Commissions, Bonnie the Rough Collie in pastel.

This was another one I enjoyed because the owner supplied me with some really nice photographs to choose from.

I picked this one which to me had so much life.

The picture was 16 x 20 on colourfix.

Jack Russell in Coloured Pencil and a Treecreeper

Now that Christmas Day is over I can share some of my commission work.

This Jack Russell was a pleasure to draw she had such a sweet little face. Plus I took the photographs which made it easier as I'd seen her personality.

The owner asked that I use French Grey coloured pencil with colour for the eyes, the same technique I've used for cats.

It's on Arches hot press watercolour paper.

My bird of the day is this Treecreeper which was attracted to the fat we've rubbed in the bark of one of the Silver Birches.

It's not the sharpest of photographs but I was so excited my hands were shaking. This is not a common visitor to our garden.