Thoroughbred….Jockey

Mr. Jockey started off this way from the wash stage.



Went in for some mindless coloring….which shouldn’t be a problem, but all my reds seem to be too pink or too coral.  I have no plain-red!



I must’ve been feeling fearless, because I started in on the goggles.  So much color and reflection going on there…possibly I wasn’t so much fearless as the goggles are forgiving.



Started layering color in by brush for the face.  Then evened out the color in the helmet.



I’m surprised that with each piece I must re-learn how good these watercolor pencils are for bringing in contour and depth to sensitive areas, like the face.  I seem to forget.



He still has a lot of work ahead of him….or rather me!!  But I’m liking his look so far.

Thoroughbred….Wash

All I can say is…. “it was time”.   Time to draw another beautiful race horse.  When my family came in town for some Kentucky Derby activities, I asked my son for my framed horse back for the occasion.  Since the framed horse is such a monster, It took up too much room in my previous home.  It measures 49 inches wide by 36 inches tall (framed).  I consider it my best piece to date.



It was 4 years ago that I completed that horse, and I’m curious if I can repeat the challenge of making another.  I’ve been doing much smaller, “en plein air” drawings and haven’t felt the push to do something this big in awhile.

NOTE: Crescent #114 watercolor illustration board 30 x 40

First things first!  Get that wash down.



Then I started drawing with WATERCOLOR pencils.  There is a lot of play and adaptation with watercolor pencils versus straight brush work.    Good for us more realistic drawers/ painters.  I will bring out the Faber-castell regular colored pencils later, when it’s time for the finer detail work.



That stippling you see, will be smoothed out by applying water with a paintbrush. Gotta be careful here, cuz too much water will play havoc.

Yoga Girl….Colorized

Posted this picture back in January with my Yoga Girl One post.



Brought in color.  I thought it would be cool to have a more batik looking outfit with a lot of color movement.    Watercolors can pull this off rather easily



I thought I’d balance the red in her outfit with the opposite color….Green.  But it did not turn out well.  Much too dark.



I pulled up a lot of that green with a brush and water.  A unique element of working in this medium.



I like the mat better here, a lighter shade of green.



I stalled on this project for about a month because it was hair time.  I tend to do that a lot.  But what I really need to remember….is to keep the crown of the head’s hair darker, by putting many more lines (strands) in.



Last thing to do before completion is this hand.  It’s not watercolored yet, just showing the w/c pencil stippling now.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to blend this better for a more realistic impression.



My kitchen table!!  Soon to be cleared off…. close to completion…..   

Art Quotes doodled

Not much time for art these days, so I did what I do when I’m time-challenged.



Grabbed my square watercolor paper and started stenciling on it.   Then watercoloring via w/c pencils.



Something needed to be done with all that white space….looked like a good place to get some font practice in.



Pulled up some of my favorite Art Quotes to write in those areas.



Used some of my new Stabilo fine point markers for the floral areas.



Just coloring fun here,



and here,



and here.



Had to go back and re-apply the black outlines cuz the watercolor will overlay on the lines and dull….them….down.

Quotes:

• Everything that needs to be said has already been said but no one was listening, so it must be said again- Andre Gide
• Just get up and do your thing and speak- Lamar Harrington
• One eye sees the other eye feels- Paul Klee
• Treat a work of art like a prince, let it speak to you first- Arthur Schopenhauer
• Writing helps me wake up the rest of life- ?
• The moment you cheat for the sake of beauty, you know you are an artist- David Hockney
• “ART” x 9

Walk On….ballerina style

I was wanting to color-sketch big and when I came across this ballerina “done with practice for the day”, I thought she’d be the perfect candidate. 



Did the watercolor wash first.  Then started in on the slippers…you know the easy stuff!



If you’ve been following me on instagram then this scene won’t be so new to you.



This will give you a perspective as to the size.  30 x 40 inches.  It’s the same brand of illustration board as I used for the Horse.  But I’m having much trouble with the paper.  It seems to not like the watercolor so much.  It’s bumping up on me and it’s flaking off.  I don’t remember that being an issue with the horse! Ugh! 



Stayed with watercolor and w/c pencils as long as humanly possible!  But, the board seems happier when I use colored pencils.



Onto the hands….I seem to “get” the hands when I do them in watercolor.  Watercolor is so pliable, it just adapts better to all those cracks and crevices.



This back is going to be fun!  One minute it’s watercolor time the next it’s colored pencil time.  But they seem to work well with each other….so I’m happy!




The w/c pencils used so far.  All lined up….ready to go!



I just love this ladies attitude!! She’s so confident and cute!  I hope I can do her justice

Picture-In-Picture

When I snapped this picture for my last post, I fell in love.



In the middle of the night, I knew what I was going to do with that picture.



Cuz, I needed a portable project and this would be perfect.



I adore the fun colorful works of Daniel Gregory and Thomas Thorspecken, granted they are much better than I and can even do it on-the-spot. 



I had it on my list to create a drawing of my art supplies and stuff and this fit in nicely.



Now…I like this picture too….maybe I’ll do another picture-in-picture-in-picture, because I really seem to be avoiding the still life of the glass bottles that got this all started!  Haha



For some reason, I like all these details, this kind of picture lets me play around with parts and pieces.  I can change things up (like the striped coaster and the striped file folder) where I want.  I did this all in watercolor & w/c pencils, cuz I have so much to learn there.



Another fun type of sketch that can be done by anyone.