Cats or Dogs?

Bunny Repose

The biggest challenge I've found when creating art is trying to depict pets and people. It's hard to get it right with such a personal subject. People just see with emotion and details are etched with history.

Bunny Repose with color

I've chosen my friendly feral cat named "Bunny" to try and capture her. Since I'm the only one to please, it allowed me to try several drawing styles and techniques to see if I could get it right.

We'll I'm pleased at the results, but the question still remains, could I please an owner.













FYI-Bunny is the neighborhood feral kitty. She's been around for 5-6 years. After her first litter, which was inevitable I found the group Alley Cats to help with getting her spade. I hope she sticks around for awhile, we all need a good mouser.

Bunny Groom Time

Here's Bunny taking the time to make her self presentable.

Bunny Nap Time

 And of course another nap.


















So you're probably wondering about the dog part of this blog.

Pet Painting

I've included the only commissioned dog works of art I've ever done. They were for my sister, who raises the most beautiful Golden Retrievers.

She also has an Old English Sheepdog

Restyled bureau with Golden Puppies

The projects always posed a rather big challenge to get features just right because they must look like her dogs. My sister was very patience and a great communicator holding my hand while I brushed and adjusted and readjusted.

Senior Golden painted on Silk Skirt

It helped to have her keen eye and verbal skills to achieve something she would display in her own home. Very proud to have taken on these projects for her.

Birthday Cake

This one was especially fun, a surprise cake for a cesarean birthday celebration. I got to help.

Hope you don't get grossed out but this is pretty much what it looks like.

Thinking Spring

Celebrating the arrival of spring I selected some flowers as my subject matter. I included the original photos for a comparison.















 

Using markers with a graphic and colorful approach, it felt comfortable coloring within the lines. At least they were my lines.






























My selection of markers was somewhat limited in choices for colors. Working with what you have can be as liberating or as limiting as you want it to be.

Art, it's in the Family

A big shout out to Erin, Happy Birthday.

Here she is with one of her drawings, now in my collection. Some wonder is it nature or nurture the artistic talents. Probably both and a lot of the latter. I think we all have it in our youth and then we lose it to something else on the priority list.

 

Colored Pencil Practice

Eastern New Mexico

I worked with colored pencils this week, specifically Berol Prismacolor. They offer an Art set of 60 colors which gives me a full range of color options. I've had the set for awhile and it was fun to come back to them. There is so much more information on how artists are using them. So glad they are sharing their trials and tribulations.






I selected some images from the hundreds of photos I took during my southwest trip.

Palo Duro Rocks Before

The landscapes and colors are so different from what I'm use to.

The rocks gave me a chance to loosen up with my drawing and I applied some Gamsol minerals spirits to the second image to dissolve the pencil marks and be able to compare the differences myself.

Palo Duro Rocks After

Palo Duro Canyon, Texas

This landscape in Texas I heavily used the Gamsol. It seams to enrich colors.

One of the sites along the trails in Palo Duro is the Cowboy Dugout. A typical residence of early setters in the area. The textures of the building materials was intriguing to draw,



I started out with just a number two pencil and eventually added some color.

I thought it would be fun to capture the stages of the drawing. As an artist it is hard to know when to quit. There's a point in most drawings when you find yourself hating the results and then you work some more.









By being able to view the changes I can now reflect on my choices.

Palo Duro Cowboy Dugout

I still think I could do more. Sometimes it's just best to walk away for awhile.

Note to self -work on photographing artwork.

Before and After

I've revisited a few of my sketches. Just to push the process a little further. So I've posted the before and after versions.

Before

After

 I felt the drawing needed a little more drama with more shading.

Before

After

Before

I like the simplistic graphic look but with the addition of graphic images relative to the region gives it more of a story.

After

 

The different layers of landscape weren't pronounced enough so I added a little color to help define them.

So for better or worse?

Back to the Drawing Board

Being able to draw is basic for creating artwork. 

Keeping a sketchbook lets you jot things down for future reference or something to go back to and refine in the studio. I started the new year with a sketchbook which I took with me on my winter getaway to the Southwest USA along with some pencils and colored markers. Drawing regularly is one of my goals to make me a better artist. I'm sharing the first pages of drawings to get a baseline that I can come back to and review. To see if I'm getting better or revisiting some different styles that I try.



Typically I've been very realistic in my attempts and want to loosen up. Drawing will help me with my observational skills.

At Monahans Sandhill State Park in Texas the large dunes are pretty plain to draw. The only interesting parts are the footsteps and the few plants that grow in them.






My first attempt at loosening up, plus I couldn't resist some color.

We arrived at Big Bend National Park, every vista had a different mountain range.













Lots of textures and rock formations. Very challenging.

Time to loosen up again and get into some color on a Cottonwood tree.

Personally my favorite, a simplistic landscape with pops of colors. Still wondering if I should add more or call it done. This is always a hard decision. What I have to realize is, it isn't that precious, and take it to the next level.

Just liking the graphic simplicity.

Harder than I expected with the medium I was using.

Moving on to the Saguaro Desert near Tucson, Arizona.There were hundreds of cactus going up into the mountains.

Tucson garden, lots going on and I maybe overdid it with the color. A real riot.

Back to trying a more simple attempt at plants.

Plus had to try the family pet. Gotta be quick, they don't stay still for long.












Finally started to really loosen up with the mountain range at Picacho Peak State Park in Arizona. Liking the simplicity, already feel like I'm improving, with confident lines.

Just had to try a cactus, not easy with all the spiny things.

Another attempt at fast and loose.

The scenery changes here, to Riverbend Hotsprings Spa.

Next stop Palo Duro Canyon State Park. You can always find something to draw, all you have to do is look in front of you. Here it's just a section of the arbor overhead. Maybe a little more shading will make this one pop.

Another fast and loose landscape as the sun is setting on the canyon cliffs.













A study in textures, as the junipers have such interesting bark.






Drawing conclusions?
Any suggestions or comments, let me know.