Scratchboard

Playing around, trying to see how they work together, I turned some Ampersand claybord into scratchbord and created this little egret:



Egret - 1 1/4 x 2.5 x 1/8" - Scratchboard - FOR SALE












And here's how it was done:

Scratchboard

I've been meaning to try scratchboard for a long time now. I keep on drooling over my talented friend Ann Ranlett's wonderful work, and decided it was time to give it a shot. I've been doing a lot of research about tools, surfaces, techniques, watching videos, trying out different strokes... So basically there's been quite a lot of scratching involved in my life in the last month or so since I started. So much so that whenever I drive over a brand new resurfaced road, I have a bad urge to scratch something on it!
I did a few pieces on scratch paper to get used to it, but I'm now ready for the real stuff: Ampersand Scratchbord. Stay tunned for more scratchbord work. This is what I've done so far:



Tiger 56 - ACEO (3.5x3.5") - FOR SALE


Chat Noir 200 - 5x7" - FOR SALE


Wolf 8 - A5 - SOLD


Cat 28 - A5 - SOLD


Horse 11 - A5 - SOLD

Colored Pencil Magazine challenge

Here's another entry for the Colored Pencil Magazine challenge.



1929 Cord - 9x14" - Colored pencils - FOR SALE


And here's the video of how I did it:

Art subscription boxes

Along with the Art Snacks box, I decided to sign up for the Scrawlr Box as well as the Smile Create Repeat box. The Scrawlr Box is based out of the UK, but the other two are in the US. I love Art Snacks and Scrawlr Box. Smile Create Repeat is getting better in quality, but the value remains poor and I usually pay more than what's in the box. I will give it a few more tries, and if the value doesn't improve, I will most likely end my subscription.
I've been having a blast trying to create something with the limited supplies from each box.



Smile Create Repeat - June 2016


Smile Create Repeat - July 2016


ScrawlrBox - May 2016


ScrawlrBox - June 2016


Art Snacks - July 2016


Art Snacks - June 2016

Videos

I added lots of new videos to my YouTube Channel.
Here's one of them:

Art Snacks

One of the most exciting things is my discovery of subscription boxes. I signed up with Art Snacks, and each month I receive a little box with new art supplies to try. It's a lot of fun because I receive supplies I would never buy otherwise, and it forces me out of my comfort zone and helps me be more creative. If you take on the Art Snacks challenge, you have to draw/paint something with all the supplies in the box. I LOVE IT!

Here's an unboxing/speed painting video I did with this month's supplies.

Monthly challenge and another large piece

I took the time to participate in another Colored Pencils Magazine challenge where I added the baby inside the ornamental cabbage, and I drew a last piece for my March art show.



It's A Boy - 11x14" - Colored pencils - FOR SALE



Girl With Ice Skates - 11x14" - Colored pencils - FOR SALE

Commissions

One of the reasons I haven't been around much is because I've been busy with custom portraits.

Videos

I've been posting a new tutorial/speed drawing/review/unboxing video every Wednesday on YouTube.
Here's one of them:

I'm back!

I can't believe I waited so long to update this page!
There's a lot I have to catch up with so I won't post every single drawing I did since last time. Here are a few.



Chihuahua 12 - ACEO (2.5x3.5") - Colored pencils - FOR SALE



Fox 8 - ACEO (2.5x3.5") - Colored pencils - SOLD



Fox 9 - ACEO (2.5x3.5") - Colored pencils - FOR SALE



Raccoon 21 - 5x7" - Colored pencils - FOR SALE



Tabby 10 - 5x7" - Colored pencils - FOR SALE



Raccoon 20 - ACEO (2.5x3.5") - Colored pencils - FOR SALE



Bunny 137 - ACEO (2.5x3.5") - Colored pencils - SOLD

Experiment

A few months ago, I bought a couple of sheets of wood paper (I think it's birch). I decided to try them out, and I used my Caran d'Ache Pablo pencils, as well as my Lyra pencils. They both work very nicely on wood.

The wood paper I used is smoother than the regular paper I use (Stonehenge), yet, it holds many layers. It works great with both solvent and a colorless blender. The only difference is the direction of the wood grain/veins. The little crevaces can be annoying sometimes. Because of this texture, it's definitely different than with paper, but because the pencils feel very smooth on the wood, it's very enjoyable.



Plumeria 21 - 8.5x11" - Colored pencils on wood paper - FOR SALE

A few ACEOs

I tried to draw a few ACEOs, but again, I've been very busing preparing for the show. I also did a custom portrait for a client.



Fox 7 - ACEO (2.5x3.5") - Colored Pencils - FOR SALE



Fox 6 - ACEO (2.5x3.5") - Colored Pencils - FOR SALE



Special order - 5x7" - Colored Pencils - NOT FOR SALE



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



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

Monthly Challenge

I hadn't planned on doing this month's Colored Pencils Magazine challenge as I'm busy preparing for my art show next week. But once again, I couldn't resist Sally Roberton's beautiful photo. So I gave it a shot, and decided I will include this drawing in my show.

I used the Caran d'Ache Pablo pencils, which are oil based and similar to the Polychromos. It's the first time I do a piece entirely with them. They have a nice variety of colors, keep a sharp tip for a long time, and blend very well. I like them a lot; it was a real pleasure to work with them.




Birds - 8x12" - Colored pencils - FOR SALE

Resolutions

Each year, I like to give myself a new art challenge. Last year, I decided to participate in every Colored Pencil Magazine challenges, 12 in total. It was fun and I learned a lot. The year before, I participated in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge, and later on, I did a 30 ACEOs in 30 days challenge, too.

This year, I won't do anything so stressful, but I've decided I had to finish all the paintings I started over the years and never finished. By December, I want my "unfinished" pile to be gone.
January started very well. I finished these two:



Moose - 11x14" - Soft pastels - NOT FOR SALE




Hibiscus - 6x12" - Oil on canvas - SOLD

Great news!

In March, I'll be having a show at the Ethel M. Weymouth gallery! I've been busy drawing for the show, but soon, I'll be listing animals and other art for sale.

December Challenge

This month, I really liked the photo, but, for some reason, the motivation wasn't there. Maybe it was the holiday stress, who knows? But I got more and more into it as I kept working on it, and I'm pleased with the result.
I recently found out that Stonehenge makes 120 lb paper. I had to give it a try. It's pretty nice, but closer to watercolor cold press paper, so not as smooth as the regular 90 lb. I had to use mineral spirit with the first layer to cover the paper better. I don't think I'll use this paper again with colored pencils, but I'll have to try it with watercolor.
So this is it; one full year of CPM challenges! I told myself I had to do it, and I did.
It's been fun, and, I must say, I learned a lot. Being used to use mostly black paper, I had to get out of my comfort zone, but I ended up trying many different pencils and papers.

Thank you Colored Pencils Magazine for helping me grow, and thank you Sally for your beautiful photos.
I don't know if I'll be able to participate in all the challenges in 2016 because I have to prepare for a show. But you never know...
Happy 2016 everyone!










Toys - 8x12" - Colored pencils - FOR SALE