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.

Horse Race….Show

Being inundated with Horse Racing activities these past couple of weeks it seemed perfectly natural to sketch a horse next.



Got my outline down…..then grabbed my watercolor paint mess to put a light color base down.



…..Yea, Yea….I know I said I don’t draw animals…but since their hair is so short, it’s almost like sketching skin.  Plus….I get to draw one of those colorful jockeys too



I learned something new this year.  Every horse in a given position always wears the same color…..red #1…..green #5…..orange#7…..etc.  As you can tell, I am out of my element.



Just playing with those folds…..



The neat thing about sketching from a picture….is the ability change colors.  I’ll be making this horse a light brown instead of dark brown…Go Baby Go!

Blonde Beauty….wash

Well, it’s been about a week since I sketched….and I was driving everyone around me crazy.  So, off I went into my “someday stash” of inspiration pictures.



Started this with a watercolor wash.  I think this helps to add dimension to the colored pencil portion.  Granted….it’s non-erasable so I have to go light.



I would’ve preferred not drawing a face since those are such a challenge.  But lots of the face is hidden here and since it’s not someone I know, the little variations aren’t going to bug me so much.



Every time I start a sketch, I get overwhelmed.  But…..it’s just a bunch of sections.  If I can keep that in mind…I will enjoy this.