Not exactly my favorite, but playing with lots of color this morning, and this is was what came of it... It's more of an Iris that I grew in my head... uh--- oh!!  and since this was posted I've gotten so many comments.. the special thing about it was, that when I painted it I felt so good, so alive and so happy that I now feel it showed through.... thank you all so very much. 

And Again

I'm on a Roll!

There are days, no weeks when I just cannot get that 'thing going ' and then there are the weeks like this  where I can't stop... doesn't matter if they're good or not so good... I'm doin' thats what counts. 

 I know , I know ,  and yet another poppy good grief, but so be it, and then the hummingbird is maybeeee a work in progress (WIP) but something says just work on that left wing a little and call it finished! 

Time for a little color

Pencil Drawing

Picasso had his "Blue Period' . I have my Pencil Period. Last year I gave a little insight as to what I use and do for my drawings. A full range of Staedtler or Derwent drawing pencils, I use mostly Bristol (smooth) paper for good detail.. Some papers have a little more 'tooth' meaning rough,  I prefer  the smooth.
Once an intial drawing is done it's all about the light and dark.  If your using a color photo for reference it's still about the light
and dark. You have to completely block the color  from your brain, then it's a lot of shading and blending . Sometimes a tortillion or stump may be used for the blending and sometimes it's just my finger. An important part of pencil drawing , you must have dark to show the light. You can see in my drawings where the dark and light meet.

Click on any photo for a detailed look.

 Lights are lifted with a kneaded eraser, a  MUST  for drawing in graphite.  You can pinch a kneaded eraser to a fine edge and use it for hair, fur, etc. At the very last stages you can use a mechanical pencil for very fine lines, dots, and extreme detail. Just when I think I'm finished I go in again and maybe again.. darkening, and lightening. I keep bringing it closer and closer to reality.

   My pencil drawings are not sketches but rather completed and detailed works. At least that's what I strive for. It lacks the color but it is a totally different drumbeat, I like to march to that tune once in a while.... Some of these have been sold, and some have been ribbon winners.    All art in this post is copyrighted, do not reproduce any of it without the permission of the artist. Any questions please email me at:
bjoan1024@yahoo.com   Barbra Joan