Just for fun!

Today I decided to loosen up in my sketchbook. I did this little watercolor painting and had a lot of fun.
Note to self: do it more often!

In Between

In between custom work, I did a few more pieces. The first one is my little Sunshine. I love the poses she takes when she sleeps, she looks so comfortable and peaceful.
Inspired by one of my commissions, I decided to start a new series of "Fancy Cats". I can't wait to see how it evolves.





Sunshine 23 - 8x10" - Colored Pencils - FOR SALE





Fancy Cat 1 - 5x7" - Colored Pencils - FOR SALE




Fancy Cat 2 - ACEO (2.5x3.5") - Colored Pencils - SOLD





Rose 5 - 4x4" - Colored pencils on cradle board - FOR SALE

Holiday Rush

It's that time of the year again, and I'm busy with commission work. So I decided to work on a small piece for the Colored Pencil Magazine Challenge, just for fun. It was also a great opportunity to play with my pencils on a wood panel.
I then got busy with my orders. I can only share a couple for now, I'll share the others after Christmas, I don't want to spoil the surprise.

November Challenge:

"Fall Cat 3" - 3.5x4.5" - Colored pencils on wood panel - FOR SALE




Special request - 8x18" - Colored Pencils - NOT FOR SALE




Special request - 11x14" - Colored Pencils - NOT FOR SALE

Monthly challenge WIP 4 and final work

So here are the final images of my Nymph.


"Nymph" - 9x12" - Colored Pencils - SOLD

Monthly Challenge WIP 3

Slowly but surely the leaves' underpainting was completed. I now have to go over them again to add details.

Monthly Challenge WIP 2

I can't believe I haven't posted the last photos yet. Argh!!!
So much work to do, so little time left!

Monthly challenge work in progress

A while ago I started working on the new Colored Pencil Magazine monthly challenge, but I had to put my drawing aside to work on some commission pieces -the Holidays rush has started. Now that I have a little break, it's time for me to get back to it and finish it. Here's what I had already done.

Cats And Dogs And A Mouse!

This is what I've been doing in between challenges.



Wolf - 8x10" - Colored Pencils - FOR SALE



Black Panther 16 - 5x7"- Colored Pencils - FOR SALE



White Tiger 18 - 5x7" - Colored Pencils - SOLD



Chat Noir 198 - ACEO (2.5x3.5") - Colored Pencils - SOLD



Collie 6 - ACEO (2.5x3.5") - Colored Pencils - SOLD



Mouse 3 - 8x10" - Colored Pencils - SOLD

Monthly Challenge

This is my entry for the September Colored Pencil Magazine challenge. I had a real blast with this one, the next one will be even more fun, and there will be only two left before the end of the year. Time flies!!


Teapot - 9x12" - Colored Pencils - FOR SALE

Wildlife 2

I just uploaded this new (long overdue) wildlife video on YouTube.

Monthly challenge and product review

This is my entry for the August Colored Pencil Magazine challenge.

This month, my extra challenge was to use a brand new box of Derwent Drawing Pencils. The catch is, there are only 24 colors, and they are very muted. The fun part is that they are VERY creamy, but it was also a challenge since it's impossible to keep a sharp tip. So I had to forget about details and sharp contrasts. I was able to make it work, giving my drawing a more painterly look, but I was also very frustrated that I wasn't able to use more colors. The pencils blend very well together, even when you don't want them to, and using odorless mineral spirit made them look a bit chalky and lifeless. So I gave up with the OMS, and did what I could with just the pencils. In the end, I cheated a tiny bit, and ended up using one extra pencil not in the box, a white Stabilo Woody pencil, which helped me add just a few extra white touches. Earlier on I had considered adding some Prismacolor, but it was impossible to add to the layer of the Derwent Drawing. I think they work better when you add the Drawing to the Prismacolor instead.
All in all it was a new colored pencil experience for me. I really like the Derwent Drawing pencils, but I think next time I'll mix them with the Coloursoft for a broader choice of colors (the textures are similar). There is definitely a learning curve when you're used to harder pencils. I look forward to using them again.


Donkeys - 8x8" - Colored Pencils - FOR SALE

Last, but not least...

Earlier this Summer, the Colored Pencil Magazine contacted me to asked if I could write an article for them. They liked the idea of my latest videos explaining how to choose the right brand of pencils to use with black paper, and thought it would be of interest to their readers. I decided it was time for me to pay it forward and help other artists with my own experience. I'm very thankful that the Internet is so full of people sharing their knowledge, it's my turn to hopefully help someone else.
You can find my article, Which White?, in their September 2015 issue. Both digital and paper copies are available.

Videos

This Summer, I started working on making tutorial videos again. In fact, I ended up adding a video tab to this site's menu.
Here are the latest videos. More will follow shortly as I'm getting back into "work mode".

I'm back!

I hadn't fallen off the face of the Earth, I simply took an extended Summer break, which I enjoyed immensely.

It doesn't mean I stayed away from drawing and painting entirely. In fact, I was quite busy.

Here are the Colored Pencil Magazine challenges for the months of June and July.
I had to stop working on my bigger drawing for lack of time, and ended up doing this little one in my sketchbook instead. I'll finish the other one (a closer crop) later. I was a bit overwhelmed by all the seeds. But I'm pretty happy with the result. It was great practice, I'll be able to finish my bigger drawing with more confidence.
Great subject this month, another fun challenge. Thank you Sally Robertson for the photo

"Stawberry" - 5x7" or so - Colored Pencils

Double challenge for me this time as I was on vacation with limited art supplies. I learned that I don't really enjoy using cold press watercolor paper with colored pencils, it's too grainy for me, and I can't add details as well as with smoother papers. Also, I missed my beloved scanner, and had a hard time taking a good photo. Yet, I enjoyed the challenge anyway because it made me grow a little more.
Another great photo provided by Sally Robertson.

"Popsicles" - 5x8.5" - Inktense colored pencils

April Challenge

This drawing took me a lot longer than anticipated. I used many layers, and many colors too. I wish you could see it in person, the colors are much more vibrant.
I ended up finishing it about fifteen minutes before the deadline for the April Colored Pencils Magazine Challenge, I was starting to panic a bit. I still had to take a photo (too big to fit in my scanner) and post it on Flicker. So the photo I posted for the challenge is a bit too saturated, but I made it on time, with one minute to spare!
Phew, this one is done and I loved drawing it!


Daisies - 9x12" - Colored Pencils - SOLD

A little bit of everything

Here are a few other paintings I did since I last came to say hello...


My very first ostrich!

Ostrich - 5x7" - Colored Pencils - SOLD


I hadn't drawn a zebra in quite a while.

Zèbre 31 - 5x7" - Colored Pencils - SOLD


A couple of smaller ones...

Rooster 3 - ACEO (2.5x3.5") - Colored Pencils -SOLD



Pug 12 - ACEO - (2.5x3.5") - Colored Pencils - SOLD


And finally, this iconic landmark (which sadly isn't there anymore) of Wells, Maine is finally for sale

Drakes's Duck - 16x20" - Acrylic - FOR SALE

Latest Challenges

I'm still working on the Colored Pencil Magazine challenges every month. I didn't think I would last this long. But it's actually fun to get out of my comfort zone and draw something I normally wouldn't if I were to choose my own reference picture. I love it!
Here are the month of March, and the month of May. I'm still working on April. But since the May challenge fit into my Peacock Series below, I decided to do that one first.


Chain - 5x7" - Colored Pencils - FOR SALE



Peacock 3 - 5x7" - Colored Pencils - FOR SALE

Peacocks

These are part of a small series.



Peacock 3 - 8x10" - Colored Pencils
Photo by Steven James Gibbs




Peacock Feather - 4x7" - Colored Pencils
Photo by Barbi Holzmann

New Project

I started working on a new project, my biggest watercolor painting yet.
Still a work in progress for now.
Plumeria 20 - 18x24" - Watercolor - NOT FOR SALE

ALL DONE!!

Birds

Eagle 5 - 5x7" - Colored Pencils - SOLD


Robin - 4x6" - Soft Pastels - SOLD
Winner of the Artist Reference Photos' monthly challenge.

Bunny Time!

Easter is right around the corner. Time to draw some bunnies!


Bunny 135 - 6x6" - Colored pencils - SOLD



Bunny 134 - ACEO (2.5x3.5") - Colored Pencils - SOLD



Bunny 133 - ACEO (2.5x3.5") - Colored pencils - SOLD