All set up.

Hi

Here is my desk. All set up with my sets of watercolour pencils.

I have been studying some coloured pencil techniques on youtube and to get some practice in I thought I would try my hand at an animal portrait and took a look on google images and decided on a Jack Russell.

This is the first time I have attempted an animal portrait but I am quite pleased how it turned out.

I used a water brush to activate the first layer of watercolour pencil then left subsequent layers dry and used a 5B pencil and a paper stump to shade the body.

I hope to keep improving my shading skills with more practice but I have already picked up a lot of tips from watching some very talented coloured pencil artists on-line.

XXX

New Pencils

Hi

I have been watching a lot of reviews on coloured pencils recently and wanted to try out these Derwent pencils.

Derwent Drawing pencils are a coloured pencils with a thicker core and are a really soft creamy pencil.

They come in 24 beautifully subtle colours.

I used a combination of these and my other pencils for this colored pencil drawing.

Then I went crazy and did another oil pastel drawing in my moleskine sketchbook.

Not that much attention to detail on her dress but that was just the mood I was in. Lol!

And I don't know why she has a fish on her head !!!

XXX

Another Pencil Drawing

Hi

I have just finished another page in my Moleskine sketchbook.

XXX

Lesson Learned

Hi

I made a real 'school girl' error while doing my latest coloured pencil portrait. I merrily coloured her hair black and picked up some residue pencil on my hand and then rested it in the middle of her cheek. I tried to rectify it but not very successfully.

  coloured pencil on cotton rag handmade paper

I have been reading and watching a lot of coloured pencil reviews lately and I am thinking of possibly getting some other brands of coloured pencils to add to my collection. I am looking at the Faber Castell Polyhromos which are oil based pencils as apposed to the wax based pencils I have and also the Derwent Drawing Pencils which are thicker coloured pencils in lovely subtle colours.  First I think I will try out some singles to see if I like them before investing in a set. I will post my thoughts on them some time in the future.

Over the weekend I went to an Antiques and Collectors Fair and came across some great finds.

A couple of pieces of vintage papers and a wooden cotton reel. I bought the cotton reel with the idea of making a spool book. Something I saw on Pinterest.

I also found something I have wanted for a while now. I have been wanting a Russian doll but not a new one.  I wanted one like I used to have as a child and I found one and it was complete with all the sizes right down to tiniest one you've ever seen.

So I was very pleased with myself.

XXX

Handmade Stamps

Hi

Today I made a couple of stamps from some Fun Foam.

I tried them out on some painted papers I had on my work desk.

I thought this one looked a bit plain so I added some holes with my awl. I would be interested to know what you think. Better with or without ?

The designs were inspired by seed pods. I would like to try and create some more detailed stamps but will have to get some new blades for my craft knife. I have been considering having a go at carving stamps but I am hesitating investing in stamp carving supplies in fear of dipping my fingers in  too many pies.

Thanks for visiting.

XXX