Tag: drawing

Posted on by

Mixed media drawing with chalk

portrait and figure study of a woman looking up and into the distance. her hair is made of acrylic paint markers and blue chalk pastel. Her lips and accents are flourescent pink acrylic marker. Her skin is built from orange acrylic markers and chalk pastel.

Using chalk pastels can seem intimidating and scary. Once you lay it down, it feels like there is no backing out. Plus, how do you blend them without ending up with mud? Patience and careful application is key.

Paca the curious one
Paca #1 9″ x 12″ Mixed media chalk pastel, acrylic and watercolor on paper.

I use chalk often for broad applications of color and quick drawings. They do smear, but they don’t try out or stain the way paint does. They are a very portable medium and great for studies and drawing practice. There is an immediacy and vibrancy to them.

Quality matters. Lower quality chalk has less pigment, so the colors will not be as rich. This may be an asset if you are timid about color. At some point however you will want  a strong application of color.

I really like the Stabilo brand of chalk pastels. There are many brands, so the best way to find what you like is to experiment. Visit a local art supply store and try different ones, or buy the same single color from different brands.

You don’t need a lot of colors. I mostly use a blue, red, green, orange, and white. Below you can see a recent figure study I created using only three chalk pastel colors and three acrylic markers. This gave a more vibrant, expressive result. While you can rub a thin layer of charcoal or chalk pastel onto paper first as long as it is well absorbed, for best results use chalk pastel last. You can also use layers of mediums and fixatives to rework areas for special effects.

portrait and figure study of a woman looking up and into the distance. her hair is made of acrylic paint markers and blue chalk pastel. Her lips and accents are flourescent pink acrylic marker. Her skin is built from orange acrylic markers and chalk pastel.

Here is a supplies list:

Stabilo CarbOthello Chalk-Pastel Colored Pencil, 4.4 mm – 12-Color Set

Strathmore STR-27-150 100 Series Black Chalk Paper, 9 by 12″

Stabilo CarbOthello Chalk-Pastel Colored Pencil Sharpener, Stainless Steel – Black

Posted on by

Two Art Shows in July in the Atlanta Area

three paintings of dogs, a pit bull mix, a lab mix and a blue heeler.

I’m thrilled to be showing my work in two locations in July. One in Cherokee County, Georgia, northwest of Atlanta and the second in Atlanta at Ponce City Market. Both shows feature free receptions where you can meet the artists and other art lovers.

July 1 – 26th: Cherokee Members Art Show

Reception: July 7, 6-8pm

July 7 – 27th : Binders Ponce City Market

Reception: July 23rd, 3-5pm

What art will I be showing?

The Cherokee Members Art Show will feature several new paintings in including “Mischief”, “High Energy Jack” and “Shelby Dreams”.

Here is a preview of the pieces that will be in the show:

three paintings featured in cherokee arts center including mischief, a colorful lab puppy, jack a jack russell, and shelby a wire haired dashund mix

Binder’s Ponce City Market will be featuring work from the Friday Painters group at the Atlanta Artist Center including three paintings by me. Here is a preview of them:

three paintings of dogs, a pit bull mix, a lab mix and a blue heeler.

I hope you can make it to one of the receptions!

 

Posted on by

Dog Portraits: Colorful Boston Terrier using Derwent Inktense Blocks and Watercolor on 140 lb Paper

Boston Terrier dog portrait with rainbow colors but mostly green and purple using watercolor and inktense block art sticks

I’m continuing my series of colorful dog portraits with this friendly Boston Terrier. He was inspired by a conversation I had with a fellow designer at a conference. He was talking about how Boston Terriers are the ultimate pet for designers. They are a cute, quirky and visually appealing breed. They pack a lot of personality into a tiny body.
Boston Terrier dog portrait with rainbow colors but mostly green and purple using watercolor and inktense block art sticks

This piece was made on high quality 140lb watercolor paper using watercolor washes and ink washes with layers of Derwent inktense block art sticks layered on top. And layered again. And again. There were a few chalk pastels used here and there, but yeah who uses ink medium for textured layers? It’s fun to experiment like this and not use art materials the way the were intended. I get a thrilling zing in my belly. Does this make me an art rebel? Cool! I always am careful to create make sure my work is well made and durable. Inks are very durable and long lasting and these are pigment rich.

This is a close up so you can see the texture of the ink sticks and watercolor:

close up of boston terrier dog portrait showing detail of ink and watercolor

Here is a work in progress shot before I added the final ink layers:

colorful Boston terrier watercolor and ink work in progress close up

Like this little guy? You can download a print of him from my Etsy shop, request an art print using the contact form below, or request a commission.

Colorful Boston Terrier dog portrait painting using watercolor and ink on watercolor paper

Posted on by

365 Days of Dogs

Molly Sketch 032917

I’m launching a new project where I post a drawing or painting with a dog as the subject on Instagram for 365 days. Why? One reason is it’s a way for me to practice my skills as an artist. Another reason is I want to build a daily habit and find that posting the results on social media help me with accountability. Third, it’s fun! There is something very satisfying about sharing what I create with others.

Every day I will post a sketch or painting of a dog. The goal is to experiment with different media and practice my skills as an artist while documenting the journey.

I’ve added my first subject, a sketch of my dog Molly here in this post and on Instagram. If you have any questions about the project, please get in touch!