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Getting to grips with coloured pencils

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Hang on Studio Wall
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With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Just keep going - I expect you said what pencils you're using, but they do vary a good deal in the amount of colour they yield up: it can take a lot of time, and a great deal more patience with pencils that I fear I possess.  I don't mind working on acrylic paint, which whatever anyone tells you can take a day and an age to produce any real subtlety, but can't be doing with pencils that don't reward me fairly quickly.  Think it's just meanness - I see the pencil disappearing, shavings everywhere, pencil going down to a stub - and they're not cheap, either!   But the thing about your cat is that you've got the drawing right, so he'll lend himself to as much attention as he doubtless enjoyed in life.  I like the portrait as it is, but am sure you'll want to strengthen it - without overdoing it: the challenge we all face every blessed time we try to produce anything.
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Thank you for your words of encouragement Robert.  I’ve given him another layer or two.  The photo hasn’t worked out to well - looks more like a watercolour now.  I tried scoring in his whiskers with an embossing tool, quite early on, but there is not much sign of them now.  I might have to use a white gel pen.  I seem to remember John Stansfield cleans them up with a scalpel, but I don’t trust myself with one of those.

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by Linda Wilson

Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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White pen didn’t work.  Scalpel marginally better.   The good thing about Bristol board, with coloured pencils is that you car remove any guide marks in graphite really easily with the touch of a putty rubber, while leaving the coloured pencil virtually untouched.   The last photo was taken in the golden hour, so the colours are not quite right, but the final version is in the gallery.
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Had a disaster, aka learning experience, with the background on this.  Should have done it in watercolour, instead of attempting it with CP’s.
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Tony Auffret

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I don't think I could call the background a disaster, though it might have driven you to distraction doing it..  To me it looks like wood or smooth bark.
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Thank you Tony, but my lesson is learned.  I was trying for reeds, but I had already laid a layer of plain green.  I was quite pleased with the bird though.  However, I really think I have ruined the overall effect.

Sylvia Evans

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That bird is fabulous Linda .can I suggest...use your coloured pencils to really darken your background I know you want reeds I still think you can have a Reed effect if you use dark greens ,indigos and purples.used vertically .  Sorry suggestion over... but a thought.
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Thanks Sylvia. I might give that a try, but it might be less work to redo the bird!  I’ve just started another bird , a green honeycreeper from Costa Rica.

Sylvia Evans

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I think your kingfisher is worth a try.  He’s a delight .
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Thanks Sylvia.  I had a go, but I have added too many different types of product to this to make much difference now: a wash to activate the Inktense pencils, Zest it to blend the oil pencils, a pencil blender as well as an eraser   The only thing I haven’t done to it is spray it with ACP spray.  I’m reluctant to try that, because previous experience tells me that it will go blotchy, leaving an erratic surface to work on.  So it is saturated now and will not take any more, much easier to start again.

Sylvia Evans

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You are probably right Linda....did you try the kitchen sink ?
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Marjorie Firth

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Could you use him in a collage?
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