Leopard

When I came across the photograph of this big cat, I felt I just had to have a go at drawing it. Thoughout the process I've been thinking of this fine animal as a Cheetah, but I've been looking at other images on the net and am fairly sure this is a Leopard.

I know some of friends will tell me I shouldn't mention my mistakes but my blog, web site and art forum are aimed at beginners who may well find themselves in the same situation one day, so for them here are two things I could have dealt with better.

Firstly, I was working from a colour photo so I converted it to greyscale to help me get the tones correct. A leopards markings involve a brownish-goldy colour and black spots. By converting to grey, I lost the goldy colouring completely. Had I referred back to the colour version from time to time I would have noticed this. The second mistake was leaving the white whiskers until last. I completely forgot all about them and by the time I got to them they would have been difficult to do, so I opted for black whiskers.

I also used hard pencils for the first time. My normal selection is HB, 2B, 4B, 6B and 8B. For this drawing I  used 5H, 2H, HB and 6B. Fewer pencils but a broader range. I had expected the hard pencils to not produce a very black line but was pleasantly surprised.

Different pencils and two serious mistakes ... am I disappointed? No ... I am three more step along this wonderful journey of discovery.

Another portrait

Flushed with the success of my first portrait, and floating in the clouds on the back of the encouraging comments from my blogger friends, I've had a go at another one. John Wayne was my film hero back in my younger days, many lifetimes ago. I know he played many parts during his career but I always think of him as a cowboy.

While I have no intention of giving up on watercolours, I have to recognise how differently I feel when working with pencil. When painting I know I struggle. I find it difficult to make the paint do what I want it to do and although I've produced one or two passable pieces, they have been hard work and I've felt I've stumbled my way through each one. Pencil, on the other hand, feels comfortable to work with and I feel in control at all times. I feel I am at the limits of what I can do with watercolour, but I feel I am only just beginning to understand pencil and can take it a lot further.

What next? I've a long list of subjects I'm just itching to draw, so watch this space.

My first portrait

Captain Jack Sparrow
(Graphite on smooth Bristol Board)

I've been feeling reasonably pleased with my pencil work of late so decided it was time to step outside my comfort zone and attempt my first ever portrait. I confess to cheating slightly as I deliberately chose a subject that would be easily recogniseable even if I messed up some of the facial features. Captain JackSparrow was a good choice in that respect, but I won't be sorry of I never see another dreadlock as long as I live.

I used a full range of pencils, HB to 8B, on smooth surface Bristol Board (115lbs), as well as a kneadable putty eraser, Blu-tac and home-made blending stumps (must buy some proper tortilions one of these days - LOL).

I saw him .... and he saw me.

Pencil on Smooth Surface Cartridge Paper

While strolling on the beach in Torbay last year I saw this Gull standing at the waters edge picking things out of the water in his beak. I took out my camera, as you do, and took a few shots. With some 'in the can' I moved in closer ... and then closer still. He seemed quite happy to continue 'fishing' for his dinner, though when I was framing up this shot, he did give me an inqisitive stare. Out of all the shots I took of him, this is the one I like best.

I'm not very good at identifying birds but though I've been referring to him as a Seagull I suspect this chappy is more correctly known as a Herring Gull. I'm happy to be corrected if anyone out there knows for sure.

Pen Sketch

When in the office, I usually check my emails and forum while I'm having a sandwich at lunchtime, but today some unplanned maintenance prevented me from using my computer for a while. At a loss for something to do during my break I picked up a sheet of copier paper and a black pen. Looking around my office for inspiration, I decided to sketch my jacket that hangs on the wall nearby.

Yesterday I was looking at the fine pen work of Sue Pownall and in particular her hatching. Creating shadow by hatching isn't something I've done much of so this gave me an opportunity to try my hand at it.

Favourite piece

At the weekend my wife and I were out dining with friends and the conversation turned to art, thanks to a rather stunning drawing hanging on a nearby wall. My friend asked a few questions about drawing in general and then asked which of all my pencil drawings was my favourite, and why.

This is it ... "Glasses". It was very much an experiment with the concept that you need dark to create light, and I wanted to understand how you can put 'highlights' into a clear object to make it look solid. The background is supposed to be graduated from very light grey at top left, down to quite dark in the bottom right, but that hasn't worked as well as I'd hoped.

Running a very close second is "Newtons Cradle". Another experiment with highlights, this time trying to understand how to make something look silver. I chose not to have a background at all for this one and in this case I don't think that matters.

Though I discovered art through watercolours, and despite the fact that I spend much more time painting than drawing, for some reason I get a lot more satisfaction from my pencil work.

Artist Showcase

It is time for me to update my Artist Showcase again. Though normally a facility taken up by my forum members, on this occasion (as some of you have figured out) the 'victim' this time as a good blog-follower friend of many of us, Barbra Joan Araneo.

Most of you will already be familiar with Barbra Joan's work through our blogs, but if any of my visitors are not familiar with her, then please visit my Showcase and see her fine watercolours and stunning pencil drawings for yourself.

As always, if any of my blog followers would like to be showcased, please use this contact form to get in touch.