Mac - Stage 2...and some exciting news!

 Here is another update of Mac's portrait. I'm trying something a little different this time. I always find tabbies a little hard to draw because of all of the flecks of lighter hair throughout the dark. So I've been using an indentation tool for the light coloured hair. My indentation tool is a blunt darning needle, held in a mechanical pencil (I had to break off the eye so it would fit in the holder). If you're unfamiliar with indenting as a drawing technique, I'll explain...

You use an indenting tool pretty much the same as you would a regular pencil. Anywhere that I want the paper to remain white, I go over it with my tool and it indents the paper. Afterward, when you go over it with your pencil, the graphite doesn't go into the indented parts, leaving it white! I've used this technique many times before, but usually just for whiskers and little white hairs around the chin, etc. But this time I've been using it for all of the lighter coloured areas of Mac's fur, and so far I'm really liking the look! The only problem with the indenting tool is you have to get it right the first time. If you make the hairs go in the wrong direction, it's pretty hard to fix later. So it's important to take your time and do it well.

"Mac"

Pencil on Paper

8 x 10

Work in Progress

On another note, I have some exciting news!! I'm finally getting my Australian Shepherd puppy next Friday!!! I am SO EXCITED!!!

I have been waiting for a puppy for almost a year now! I first started with one breeder in NB, but unfortunately the prospective mom had some troubles getting pregnant. So this winter, I decided to contact other breeders around the Maritimes, but none of them will be breeding until this summer and I had my heart set on having a puppy by this spring. So then I decided to look outside of the Maritimes and I found a few different people that have puppies that will be ready later on this spring. Last weekend, it was suggested that I contact a certain breeder in Ontario because she has a litter that is ready to go now. I think all of the puppies were originally spoken for but she ended up not having homes for a couple of them because people either backed out or she wasn't comfortable with the prospective buyers. So I called her up right away and it turned out that one of the puppies that was available was EXACTLY what I've been looking for!!

So long story short, I have sent my money, signed the contract and the puppy will be shipped to NB this coming Friday!! It all happened pretty quickly once I first contacted her, but I've been ready for this for a long time! Since then, I've been shopping!! I thought I had a lot of the supplies already (I've been collecting all year), but man, was I wrong! I spent quite a bit of money on this puppy over the last couple of days: crate, toys, food, treats, collars, etc.

Meet "Ronin", my red merle Aussie...

(these pictures were taken at 8 weeks and he'll be 9 weeks old when I get him)

Love him already!!!

Mac - Stage 1

"Mac"
8x10

Pencil on Paper

Work in Progress

Loki - Stage 1

After working mainly with coloured pencils lately, I decided to pick up 'ole faithfuls...my graphite pencils! I do like working in colour, but I feel so much more at home when I draw with regular pencils. I love the look of black and white and I feel like it's the medium that suits me best.

I started this drawing quite a long time ago actually, but since I've missed working with regular pencils, I thought I'd pick it up again. It felt so good to work with graphite pencils again. I was surprised at how much I missed them!

Loki is my youngest cat. I really don't like to pick favourites with my pets, but if I was to choose, he would be it! He is bursting with personality, he's cuddly, playful and gives you the best "I love you" looks ever! And all those extra toes...so cute! The reference photo for this drawing was taken when he was a kitten. I think he was looking at a string!

Simon - Stage 5

"Simon"
8 x 10 Coloured Pencil
Work in Progress

Simon - Stage 4

"Simon"

8 x 10 Coloured Pencil

Work in Progress

Yet another update of Simon's portrait. I'm really enjoying this one. Last night I kind of lost myself in it and the time flew by! Before I knew it, it was bedtime! I'm still liking the new technique too. Stay tuned for more!

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Simon - Stage 3

Simon - WIP 1 & 2

Here is the beginning of Simon's portrait. I'm really enjoying myself so far because I'm not used to working on coloured paper. And I'm also trying a slightly new technique after having read a tutorial by Christina Langman. Her coloured pencil work is absolutely amazing...especially
this drawing! So far I'm really liking the new technique, although I'm still using some of my own methods as well. I figure I should stick with what I know while I'm working on a commission! Later, I'll do more experimenting on my own time!

Reference Photo

Stage 1

Stage 2

Bandit - almost done!

Here is another update of Bandit. I'm almost done...I just need to do a little more tweeking and touching up. If any of you artists out there want to critique this, please do so. After staring at it for so long, it's difficult to see the changes that need to be made!

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Bandit WIP#3

Here is another update of Bandit. I'm getting close to being done - I just need to finish his muzzle, touch up the rest of his body, then add a bit of shadow. I think I also need to fix his eyes a bit because they don't quite look the same size...and his right ear still looks a little flat. Ok, well there are a lot of things I need to do, but I am in the home stretch!



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Bandit - WIP #2

Here's another update of Bandit's portrait. It's a little difficult to scan a picture when it's in a ringed booklet, hence the shadow on the left, but you get the idea. I'm trying to finish this portrait as soon as possible because it's a little overdue...sorry Wayne! Hopefully it will be worth the wait!

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Bandit - WIP

8x10 pencil on paper.

Delphine WIP

Here is my second update on Delphine's portrait. As you can see, the quality is much better than my last WIP (work in progress) of her. The first one was taken with a camera and this one was scanned on my scanner. You may notice a slight line through the middle of the drawing - that's because I had to stitch two scans together because my scanner isn't large enough. And once again, I've forgotten to record my time spent on the drawing!

Delphine - Work in Progress

This is Delphine, a long haired Daschund. She is being drawn on 11x17 white paper (although it looks pretty orange here) in pencil.

Update#5: Emerald - Work in progress

Update #4: Emerald work in progress

13.75 hrs

Update #3 - Emerald work in progress

Update #2: Emerald

Whisky's portrait finished?

Just waiting to hear back from the owner to say whether or not this is finished.

25 hrs

I'm getting really close to being done this drawing. All I have left to do is a bit of shading on the ground and touch up a few things. I guess my estimate of 30 hrs was pretty close!

21.75 hrs