Pauline Longley

Oops what a disaster!

2012-01-02T01:27:00.001Z

I have inadvertently deleted these photos not realising the blog pictures were lurking in an albume in Picasa. There doesn't appear to be any way of recovering them without loading each one again so I will have a rethink. Sorry folks! But I still have my paintings on my website www.paulinelongley.co.uk

Ruby

2011-10-08T14:33:00.000+01:00

This is Ruby a Cairn Terrier. I have restocked with Polydraw and it is such a long time since I used it I felt I needed to reacquaint myself with it so this is just a quick sketch to get me started again and it took just over an hour. Size A5 with Polychromos. I had forgotten how much I like working on Polydraw.

Here are 2 other pictures that I started at the UKCPS exhibition and recently finished. The cat, another quick sketch, is done with Polychromos on Fabriano Classico and the portrait is from an old family photo of my Mum taken in the 1920s. Polychromos Sepia pencil on Mellotex both about A5 size.

Self portrait finished

2011-10-04T15:02:00.002+01:00

The dress look a bit grey in the scan, in reality the highlights are brighter and the shadows more of a lilac colour. I'm not sure I have got the mouth quite right but I will live with it for a while.

Self Portrait WIP5

2011-10-04T09:16:00.001+01:00

I did manage to do some work on the hair while stewarding at the UKCPS exhibition in London but it will still need a little more work. It was a hectic 4 days especially the last one with meetings, taking down of pictures, packing and dismantling everything. We arrived at Westminster Central Hall at 8.30am on Saturday and finally got home at midnight. It was great to meet more members and chat to others about my enthusiasm for CP. I had a lovely surprise on Friday when a friend from 30 years ago turned up to have a chat. We had been out of touch for 20 years so lots to catch up on, thank you Pam.

Self Portrait WIP4

2011-09-27T17:46:00.003+01:00

A few more tweaks to the mouth. The Prismacolors weren't subtle enough so used Polychromos pinks, it is still a little lipsticky looking so I may tone it down more. I have been gently touching in some shadows on the face with dry pencil as and when I spot something.

A little experimenting on some spare paper and I quickly discovered I need to work the hair from dark to light. So the hair slide is in and the first shadows of hair using a mid brown (I was very blonde at that age then went mousy before going almost white). I have also tested a Neocolour white blended with spirit and I think it will work nicely for the dress. I don't seem to have pale enough colours for the shadows on the folds on the dress but with an application of white over the top tones them down nicely so I feel more confident about doing the dress now.

Self Portrait WIP3

2011-09-27T12:36:00.000+01:00

I added a layer of Derwent W/C blue grey to the background and blended it again, I am happy with it now as the colour recedes. Then of course I couldn't wait to have a go at the face. The Zest-it has smoothed out all the lines and wrinkles (if only it could do it for real). I have also tweaked the mouth a little more. I will probably put more colour and definition back in the face but will wait until the hair are dress are done. I have a dilemma, what colour should I do the dress. I have no idea what it was originally but I think it was probably white and I'm not sure how well white will take on the light grey pastelmat with zest-it. If I do it girly pink then I think this will fight with the face...um some experimenting needed I think.

I have been trying out the same technique on Strathmore vellum but the zest-it doesn't work as well as on Pastelmat. I really enjoy this method of working as it is so quick compared to conventional ways of using coloured pencils.

Self Portrait WIP2

2011-09-26T15:15:00.000+01:00

I adjusted some of the shading on the face and worked a little more on the eyes and mouth before scribbling in some greens and blues on the background. In the second picture I have used Zest-it mineral spirit on the eyes, mouth and background but still have to do the flesh. Notice how the spirit enhances the colour. The background in this photo looks much bluer than in reality and I much prefer it so will have to give the picture another coat of a blue/grey. I seem to be going great guns with this and I really don't want to do much more until I do the demo at the exhibition so will have to start something else tomorrow to make sure I keep my fingers off it.

Self portrait WIP

2011-09-26T10:18:00.002+01:00

Feeling both inspired and daunted by the UKCPS Exhibition I realise I need to up my game if I am to gain a place next year. I can aspire to the skills of other artists but the imagination and creativity seem to be beyond me. In those few moment before falling asleep or waking up the ideas come flowing but translating them into a piece of art is another matter. So a little more experimentation is required.

I am using a very small black and white photo on a contact sheet taken in a studio when I was about 2 or 3 so there is not much detail. The size of this pictures is a little bigger than A4 and I am using Prismacolor on light grey pastelmat. In the past I have layered colours but this time I have gone straight in with the desired colour and tweaked a bit as necessary. It is very grainy at the moment but I will by using Zest-it to smooth it out. I don't like the harsh shadow on the forehead, although it appears like this on the photo so this will go. The eyes are not quite right yet. I always seem to have a problem lining features up when the head is on the tilt, I naturally want to straighten everything in line with the paper. I may also have the top lip too wide but the mouth is slightly open so will wait a while before I adjust that. I have used white, cream, a range of pinks, jade green, tuscan red and burnt umber. I will work on the background next, this will be interesting as I need to reserve the curls.

UK Coloured Pencil Society Exhibition

2011-09-25T10:02:00.000+01:00

UKCPS Exhibition

Here is a link to the gallery of the UKCPS 10th anniversary exhibition currently being held at the Central Methodist Hall, Westminster, London. It really is an exhibition not to be missed. The standard is very high and there are daily demonstrations, workshops, a silent auction, have-a-go area and prints and cards for sale. The exhibition finishes next Saturday and I will be in attendance on Thursday and Friday this week. If there are any UKCPS members going along please make yourself known to the desk and if you can offer a couple of hours of your time to help with stewarding so much the better. Your society needs you.

I was delighted to find a little red dot on my zebra picture.

Rat Catcher new version

2011-08-23T18:58:00.000+01:00

I did after all decide to put a little colour into this, I think I prefer it without but unless you try you don't know.

The Rat Catcher finished

2011-08-19T15:10:00.000+01:00

I have decided not to put any colour on at this point, I may change my mind later on. There may be a little more contrast on this scan then the original but it's very close and better than the photo version.

The Rat Catcher WIP

2011-08-18T17:05:00.001+01:00

This graphite drawing was inspired by an Edwin Smith black and white photo. I have changed and added a few bits. I have used mainly a 2B pencil on Mellotex. When it's finished I am thinking of putting a little subtle colour into it with coloured pencil. This bit has taken about 5 hours and the size is about 23x20cm.

Girl

2011-08-11T16:55:00.001+01:00

Size 14x20cm, Prismacolor on creamy yellow Pastelmat with some blending with Zest-it. It's a while since I did a portrait and I am really pleased with the result. Again it was one that I started at a demonstration last Saturday and I so enjoyed doing it I managed to get it finished. I guess it has taken me about 6 hours.

King Charles Spaniel called Charlie of course

2011-08-11T16:48:00.000+01:00

Well it is ages again since I updated my blog but at last this week I have managed to get some proper art done. This is my second picture of Charlie but he was only a pup last time. Unfortunately I forgot to photograph it before I framed it so this one is through glass.

Prismacolor on Pastelmat size a bit smaller than A4. Wish I had given him a longer neck but as he was only intended as a demo piece I wasn't too particular on the crop. e is not for sale and will stay in the family.

Sketch Books

2011-06-26T11:20:00.002+01:00

We have been doing lots of DIY trying to make more room in my bijoux house. The floor space in my art studio measures 6'x7' and was full to the gunnels. With some clever rethinking and a lot of hard work it is newly decorated with 2 drop down tables, shelves and a wall cupboard. We now have room for Paul and his laptop and me and my table easel. We have both done some serious decluttering and as a result I found all sorts of sketches, paintings and experimental pieces that were too good to throw out but not good enough to frame some going back to 2006 when I started doing art. So, with the UKCPS exhibition in mind and the request for sketch books I spent most of yesterday trimming and sticking them on spare pages in part used sketch books. I am not really good at using sketch books as I find I like to try things out on different papers and a little scrap is much less daunting than a huge page or I end up doing one little bit in the middle and not much else. It was great to revisit some of the old pieces and see the progress. I haven't bothered putting then in any order just as when they cropped up in the pile but most of them I have been able to date by year. Three of the books are A5 and I had to pop into town for a suitable A4 book for the bigger ones that I didn't want to fold. I still have a few A3 pictures with no home but they will stay in the portfolio for the time being.

I have kept book 3 exclusively for pen and graphite while the others contain a majority of coloured pencil. I started this pup in January and somehow managed to cover his legs in glue so he got trimmed and became a portrait. He needed some finishing off so he is my last entry. He only measures 2" square. Now I need to get inspired to get back to painting on paper rather than walls and doors.

Chuffed to bits

2011-06-11T22:08:00.029+01:00

I entered the SAA Artist of the Year competition for the first time and was so surprised to receive a letter telling me that my entry 'Itchy Feet' in coloured pencils was awarded 'Commended Finalist'. There were 6,000 entries and I am in the top 62. The exhibition will be at 'It's All About Art' at The Business Design Centre, Islington from 21st to 23rd July 2011.

I have been neglecting my blog recently but I haven't been totally idle as I have been taking some coloured pencil workshops which have required quite a lot of preparation. Hope to get back to drawing for pleasure again next week.

Children's faces

2011-03-31T08:23:00.000+01:00

I don't seem to have had much time for my art lately as I have been preparing for some recent workshops and helping with a U3A drawing group. It always surprises me how much time and thought needs to go into things like this even if it is a repeat session. Anyway it has been fun, I have met lots of new people interested in CP and hopefully some of them will consider joining the UKCPS which is the main point of the exercise.

One of the faces above started out as an experiment to show the drawing group that you could use different types of pencil other than graphite and the different tones you can achieve with just one pencil. I enjoyed doing it so much I did a few more, a couple of them were inspired by illustrator JH Dowd and the others from my photo collection. I have used a Polychromos Burnt Sienna on Mellotex which is very smooth. Each face is only about 3inches high

I am slowly getting to grips with my MacPro and the training sessions have been a godsend. Still a lot to learn but at least I am not having to think about every move now. I am so impressed with Apple and their customer service, there are many other companies that could take a leaf out of their book.

Also been getting used to a new automatic car with a recently installed 'loft conversion' which is a top box that sits on the roof rails, we raise the lid and sleep in it. Thank you Boab for introducing us to this ingenious tent on wheels, can't wait for warmer weather.

New Computer

2011-03-05T09:36:00.000Z

My lovely man has bought me an early birthday and Christmas present, I have a MacBook Pro and this is the first time I have used it...YUMMY!! I'm in 7th heaven!! Paul was getting fed up with me complaining at my Vista which is very slow after 3 years hard work and needs rebooting several times a day.
A big thanks to Eliot at Apple, Cribbs Causeway whose knowledge and patience got me over the first steps.

Basset in graphite

2011-02-14T18:36:00.000Z

I started this a few weeks ago as a fur demonstration for a U3A drawing class. Today I decided to finish it. It is the first time I have done a background in pencil and in reality it is not brilliant although it looks fairly smooth here. Not sure what I am doing wrong so will need to experiment more before trying another but I was quite pleased with the dog. The white fur looks a little blue due to the photograph, I should have scanned it really. It's about 7" square on Mellotex.

Laycock, Wiltshire

2011-02-06T17:05:00.000Z

I have been helping out at a U3A drawing class and last week I was asked to demonstrate buildings in graphite. This was the outcome finished off today. 13x17cm on Melotex. I have really enjoyed doing this so may do some more. This is from a photo I took last summer as I was coming through the the church gate. Next time the subject is people so will have to get my thinking cap on.

Crabbing WIP2

2011-02-06T10:28:00.000Z

This is coming along slowly. This is a closer crop to show more of the detail on the ropes. The sky looks rather speckled but is much smoother in reality.

Crabbing WIP1

2011-01-30T15:34:00.000Z

I started this one just after Christmas but since finishing the spaniel I haven't felt like painting on these endless grey days and have been out making the most of the sunshine when it has appeared. I am also taking a CP techniques workshop in Ilminster for 11 people so that has required some planning and also doing the promotion for the 3 Coloured Pencil Experience workshops in Somerset, Devon and Dorset.

Today with the sun shining in my tiny studio I felt inspired to get this one moving again. Size is 54x40cm on mountboard. I have used pastel for the sky and underpainting of the sea with coloured pencil for the detail. Both will still need some work towards the end. Today I have spent about 4 hours on the wooden jetty The horizon looks a bit wonky in the photo but in reality its OK. There is a lot of shadow in the evening light but I am still hoping to achieve some subtle detail. There are 3 figures crabbing on the right that I haven't drawn in yet, hence the title. I wasn't sure I liked the mountboard but I've got used to it as I have been working, I think it is a good support for this detailed subject.

King Charles Spaniel

2011-01-01T13:34:00.001Z

Happy New Year to all my followers. This is my first picture of the New Year, this King Charles Spaniel is appropriately named Charlie. He was about 6 months old when I took the reference photo and he is absolutely adorable. I am usually a big dog person but this little chap is so cuddlesome I could take him home. However I do get the chance to doggie set him from time to time. I have used a new paper, Strathmore Bristol Vellum so it was really an experimental piece. I would certainly use it again. Size is 9x12 inches and I used Prismacolor and a few Derwent W/C pencils for the background. I have decided to call it "Not me Mum!" he's got that guilty look as though he has just chewed my favourite shoes.

Season's Greetings

2010-12-24T19:38:00.000Z

The Rodent Revellers wish you a merry Christmas and happy New Year. Prismacolor on pastelmat size A4.

Train Driver

2010-11-22T15:03:00.001Z

I have been under the weather since the NEC with the seasonal virus which has laid me low. No enthusiasm or energy for anything until today. So finally got this finished. Just need to think of a suitable title now, any suggestions?
Also received a wonderful comment on my Charlie portrait from well known Canadian CP artist Bernard Poulin "... "Charlie" is the most huggable portrait I have seen in a long, long time". I was well chuffed.

NEC Art Materials Live event

2010-11-03T09:57:00.002Z

I will be on the UKCPS stand at the NEC on Thursday, please come and say hello.

Back at the drawing board - Train driver WIP

2010-11-03T09:54:00.001Z

At last I am back, pencils in hand, inspired and full of enthusiasm. Hope it lasts. This picture is from a photo I took on the Somerset Railway last year. If fact the driver was so much like my brother-in-law I have tweaked it slightly to give a closer resemblance. I am using black Stonehenge paper with Prismacolor and Caran d'Ache pencils. The finished picture will be A3 but most of the right hand will be black paper with a few gold lines. I am taking a risk here with composition as the driver will be looking out of the picture and the focal point to the extreme left but I can always crop it if it doesn't work.

Picture 1. I started with the sky as I knew this would be the biggest challenge. Could I get it smooth? Could I disguise the pencil marks with clouds NO WAY!! Three hours later, using every technique I could think of I gave up. The sky looks far more grainy for real than it does in the photo.

Picture 2. Another sheet of paper and with next years UKCPS mixed media exhibition in mind out came the pastels. No problem sky done in ten minutes duly sprayed with fixative and ready for the CP onslaught. A couple of issues I hadn't bargained for, the fixative didn't completely fix the pastel and had also changed the properties of the black paper so the CP behaved differently. Ah well another learning curve, I like a challenge. I think I prefer working on the f'ixed' paper as it is less absorbant and therefore requires fewer layers. I keep smudging the pastel as I am working but it lifts easily with Blu-Tak and a soft rubber so I am not too bothered at this stage.

Picture 3. Face and cap finished, starting to define the overalls.

Where have I been?

2010-10-24T10:37:00.000+01:00

I cannot believe it is over a month since my last blog, where does the time go? However, although I have done very little in the way of painting I have been doing lots of other arty things. My picture of 'Charlie' got a Highly Commended at the UKCPS annual exhibition held in the Art Gallery in Stamford, Lincolnshre. I made 2 visits, one to help set up the UKCPS exhibition and again to do some demonstrating, help to take down an pack pictures as well as attend the AGM in my capacity as Local Groups Co-ordinator. I have also had a day in London at Westminster Hall for a meeting about next years exhibition which is going to be quite an event. The UKCPS will be celebrating their 10th anniversary and Faber-Castell, our sponsor, their 250th. Speight of the Art will also be their promoting art for children. So lots more to do on this as the months go by.
Also we have had out 3rd Coloured Pencil Experience workshop in Somerset. It has been so successful we have had to book a bigger venue for next March as we couldn't fit everyone in this time. New people attend as well as regulars and everyone seems very appreciative of their day spent with coloured pencils. I also have 2 others booked in Devon and Dorset in the Spring, do come if you can, no experience required and you don't have to be a member of the UKCPS. Email me for more details and an application form.
I have also been involved with 'The Big Draw' at the Ilminster Arts Centre and have agreed to take a Coloured Pencil Workshop there starting in January. More details are on their website.
Fellow UKCPS member, Terry White asked me to help him set up a local group in Cheddar that meets every other Wednesday morning and I am also helping a friend, John Morland, to run his U3A drawing class. John is a self taught watercolour artist and has done some amazing landscapes in the past, he now enjoys passing on his techniques to others.
Phew!! This week I hope to get down to some painting again.

'Charlie' Highly Commended at the 9th UKCPS International Open Exhibition

UKCPS Open International Exhibition 2010

2010-09-15T19:39:00.000+01:00

The exhibition is now on at the Arts Centre in Stamford Lincolnshire until the 1ar October and I will be demonstrating on the 30th Sept and 1st Oct. Other demonstrators will be in attendance on other days too. I was so chuffed that I received a 'Highly Commended' for my picture of Charlie

Diversity Exhibition at Ilminster Arts Centre

2010-09-06T18:13:00.001+01:00

All up and running at my Exhibition at The Arts Centre, Ilminster. Bev Lewis, Diana Connor and myself spent 3 hours on Saturday afternoon hanging our pictures with much help from the gallery. This is our first major exhibition and we were exhausted. A lovely gallery but not easy to get good photos but these give a flavour of it. The exhibition is on until 18th September, come and meet the artists on Wednesday 8th and have a go with coloured pencils.

Exhibitions

2010-08-31T10:45:00.002+01:00

Oh dear, I have sadly neglected my blog. Too much to do, so little time exhibitions coming out of my ears but happy to say I sold 3 pictures at my local art group in Somerton and my Tabby Cat sold at the Open Exhibition in Clevedon. I actually managed to get all 4 of my pictures juried in for the first time and as a result have been approached by a local gallery. ALSO I have been awarded Signature Membership of the UKCPS very exciting. So good news all round.

I am now preparing for my first group exhibition to be held at Ilminster Arts Centre from 6th to 18th September. Hanging on Saturday, Private View Sunday 5th between 3 and 5pm. Do come along for tea and cake. We will also been in residence on Wednesday 8th promoting the UKCPS, coloured pencils and giving people the opportunity to have a go.

I will also be demonstrating at the UKCPS annual exhibition in Stamford on 29 and 30 September.

UKCPS Exhibition 2010

2010-08-17T13:58:00.000+01:00

I am delighted that all 4 of my pictures entered for the UKCPS exhibition to be held in Stamford, Lincolnshire in September have been accepted. Last year I had one rejected so I must be doing something right. For more information on the exhibition check out the blog. http://ukcps.blogspot.com/

Steps

Itchy Feet

Charlie

Times Past

Blue Turban, Pink Shirt

2010-08-10T16:31:00.000+01:00

I have been busy getting pictures ready for a couple of art club exhibitions, can't believe how long it takes filling in forms, labelling everything and choosing which picture to put where. Anyway 4 pictures have been duly delivered to Clevedon for the juried open and I won't know until next week which ones have been accepted.

My lovely man gave me a set of Staedler Fineliners so I have been playing with them today and this is the result. I love the vivid colours, they blend well with a waterbrush and although the colour range is small they mix easily. This picture is partly imagined size about A4 on Fabriano Classico. I think I could get hooked on these, just need to find the right subjects.

Llama in graphite

2010-07-28T12:06:00.000+01:00

An up close and personal picture of a llama, graphite on Mellotex, size 15x12 cm. I started this ages ago before I did the llama in CP and I only had the bottom right hand corner to do so one hour today and I finished it. I may still darkend a few bits.

Teeming

2010-07-28T10:56:00.001+01:00

Here is one I have been working on over the past week in short snatches between doing other things not related to art. This was fun, totally imagined, size 17x24cm Derwent W/C pencils wet an dry on Fabriano Artistco. The light areas are a little brighter in reality.

I have a couple of art club exhibitions coming up in August and have decided which pictures to enter, just need to label, sort out the paperwork, deliver them and put my name down for stewarding. I am now thinking hard about the exhibition I am doing in Ilminster in September with a couple of friends. It seems to be coming up fast. I would have loved to have done completely new stuff that is themed but my work is rather eclectic and I do really want to sell pictures from the cupboard. The financial situation has put such a damper on selling art at the moment, just hope I can at least cover my costs.

I have been going through some of my older work and realised I have moved on so much in 3 years that I can't possibly exhibit some of it so I have decided to recycle the frames. I am also considering reworking some of the pieces, not sure if this is a good idea or not.

Harvest Mouse

2010-07-20T16:05:00.000+01:00

I'm on a roll today but now the dark clouds have descended and the light isn't good enough to start another. This one is 12x22cm on light grey pastelmat. I have used mostly tinted charcoal pencils with a touch of yellow and pink pastel to brighten it up. I do like the charcoal they enable me to get the darks in quickly but they feel a little scratchy and slightly set my teeth on edge so I find myself gritting my teeth and ending up with an achy jaw. Must think of another subject for tomorrow.

Running Scared

2010-07-20T11:19:00.000+01:00

With nothing particular in mind except 'small, quick and loose' I rustled this one up in an hour this morning. It is only 10x18cm on a yellowy Pastelmat. I started off using tinted charcoal pencils for the background but then changed to pastel pencils for the hare. I think I might try some more like this.

Rose Bug WIP3 and Finished

2010-07-19T12:42:00.001+01:00

It was really nice to do something completely different and work on sanded paper for a change. So much quicker and I have managed keep it painterly.

I am having a moan, I have just been filling in entry forms for my local art group exhibition and noticed that all greeting cards are to be priced at £1.50. Mine are already priced up at £1.80 and £2.00 so I will boycott cards this year, hope others do the same. Agh!!!

Rose Bug WIP1 & 2

2010-07-18T17:44:00.000+01:00

I am working on this rose, a real change for me. Derwent Artist Pencils on Fisher 400 size about 7"x5". It doesn't look much at the moment but if it works I may do a couple more like this to mount and offer for sale at my local art club exhibition next month. This underpainting is done with dry pencil. Next stage is to bring in some detail but I am hoping this will still look painterly rather than botanical.

Beads

2010-07-18T11:41:00.000+01:00

I have just about finished. This is certainly the best picture I have done of this beaded girl but still not totally happy with it. The skin is quite painterly and I would have preferred it smoother. I should have layered more carefully in the early stages. I put the paper on a sheet of rigid plastic placed on a hot water bottle to try to blend a little more. It certainly helped to melt the wax enough to blend with finger but it then became rather dull so had to work over it again. I can hear my teachers comments on my school reports echoing in my ears. 'Must take more care and not rush things!' agh if only I could.

On the drawing board

2010-07-15T08:49:00.001+01:00

This is a picture I have had a go at many times with various mediums and have never managed to achieve the look I wanted. The last one being an oil painting earlier this year. This one started by accident while I was trying out different pencils on Stonehenge Black paper. The reference photo was at hand and I decided to keep going. Underneath my trusted Prismacolor are a mixture of Graphitint white and Derwent Tinted Charcoal. The white seemed no different to any other white and the Tinted Charcoal was really too dark for this paper but interestingly the Prismacolor seemed to glide beautifully over the charcoal pencil. So a little more experimentation required there I feel. I also discovered that the Prismacolor plain wax pencil worked very well as a first layer reducing the amount of white I needed to cover the surface. There is white under all the skin area even the darkest shadows. I have just about finished the viewers left cheek, eye and the ear, but this morning I can see the right eye needs to be larger and I have a slight skew on the mouth and nose area. The right cheek still needs a lot of blending and I have the beads and dress to do. I am still not totally happy with it but feel it is my best interpretation of this sweet little girl that I have done to date.

Off to Art in Action near Oxford on Friday, hope it doesn't rain but not looking promising.

Beach Girls

2010-07-14T15:02:00.001+01:00

Here are 3 pictures I have been working on over the past few days entirely from my imagination (unusual for me). They are all 30x14cm, coloured pencil on light grey Pastelmat using Zest-it to blend. I don't think they are worth framing but they were fun to do and may inspire me to do a bigger picture sometime in the future. On the other hand I may print them as greetings cards.

Ladies in Lavender

Life's a beach

Scotch on the Rocks

Llama in Coloured Pencil Finished

2010-07-06T11:27:00.001+01:00

Finished at last although he may get a few more tweaks. If you want to see the full WIP click here

Llama in Coloured Pencil WIP

2010-07-05T14:27:00.000+01:00

I have been working on my llama today and I am really pleased with progress so far. There are 4 updates. Click here to see the full work in progress. But here is where I am so far.

Coloured Pencil Experience Workshop

2010-06-26T20:50:00.000+01:00

We had a very successful meeting at our second Coloured Pencil Experience workshop in Somerset today. 14 of us managed to brave the heat, avoid Glastonbury Festival (just down the road) and tear ourselves away from the football and tennis. Many who came were new to CP and Bev, Diana and I were kept on are toes doing demonstrations, giving a helping hand and offering advice. The heat got to most of us by 3pm so we finished a little earlier than planned but I hope everyone has gone home with renewed enthusiasm for getting their pencils going. In the first picture we have Bev Lewis showing us how to create long whispy fur and secondly Diana Connor passing on her botanical expertise. My demo was the llama on the previous post and techniques for working on black paper. If anyone who came is reading this post I hope you enjoyed your day and I look forward to meeting you again and seeing your progress at the next meeting. I also hope we have inspired those of you who are not already members to join the UKCPS and help promote coloured pencil art.

Llama in Coloured Pencil WIP

2010-06-24T12:17:00.000+01:00

On Saturday I am doing a Coloured Pencil Experience workshop in Somerset with fellow CP artist Bev Lewis. We have 16 people coming and I needed to get something started for a demo. So as my new technique worked with the portraits I thought I would try fur. You can follow my WIP on this link. If you run the slide show you will see a description for each stage.

Llama Face WIP1

2010-06-21T09:50:00.000+01:00

I started this yesterday afternoon whilst sat in the sun. I have only to complete the bottom right corner. Graphite on Mellotex 6"x4". The llama is mostly white so quite a challenge for me to get the shading. I might put this aside today and start on another llama picture in coloured pencil but still debating on which technique to use, so many choices. Why can't I get white paper to look when I take the photo?

Tawny Owl

2010-06-21T09:25:00.000+01:00

Last year I took some lovely photos while visiting Secret World. Paul, my partner, is a volunteer rescue driver for them, picking up injured animals to be assessed, nursed and hopefully released back into the wild. This is a resident owl who is quite tame and seemed very happy to pose for me. I have been working this picture on and off over the past week trying out different Zest-it techniques on Pastelmat. I am not totally happy with it as I lost some of the lights around the face and haven't been able to recover them. I did try using fixitive but the white still didn't want to take. I may resort to adding some white acrylic. The body area is much better as I put down a thick layer of white Neocolour in the light spots and I would certainly do this again. Painting feathers do not have the wow factor for me and I think it shows. This one probably won't get to the framer. Size is 26x18cm.

Nikita and a Lavender Field

2010-06-19T16:51:00.000+01:00

After looking at Nikita sat on the mantelpiece for the past 24 hours I realised she needed a lot more work and not just a few tweaks. She now has more contrast and shadow. I have done more work on her eyes, nose, mouth and hair and hope this is much better.

I saw this lavender coming into flower in Falkland last Sunday. While I had some other pictures drying out I did this 30 minute picture using Pastelmat and Zest-it. Size 21x19cm. I turned the stone wall into a fence and put more flowers on the lavender otherwise the rest is much as it was. The shadows have come out a bit heavy in the image and the grass is a little brighter in reality. Fun to try something different but landscapes are truly not my forte.

I have been racking my brains for tools to use with Zest-it. Up until now I have used bits of washing up sponge cut up into various shapes, cottonbuds which are really too fluffy, and spirit in a water brush which is good for detail and hair but still needs something firm to move the pigment. Today I bought some make-up sponges which are wedge shaped but not really firm enough. The little eye-make up sticks wtih sponges on each end are quite good but they are a bit short and the spongy bits keep falling off. I also bought some impregnated cotton pads for removing nail varnish and they move large areas of pigment but I don't know what lasting effect they may have on the paper. What I would really like are firm Colour Shapers that are absorbant, any suggestions?

I tried this new method of working on Fabriano paper without success so I will be sticking to Pastelmat.

Nikita

2010-06-18T12:14:00.000+01:00

Nikita is my great niece, painted from a reference photo by David, Nikita's uncle and my nephew. She is so fair it was quite a challenge and will still need some tweaking, getting the transparency of the skin is hard and this image makes her looks as though she has a dirty face but the original is more subtle. I have used the same method as with Charlie, disolving the pencil with Zest-it and blending with a cotton bud, sponge and fingers. I started the picture with dry pencils several months ago and it wasn't going right so it was relegated to the bottom of the pile for future consideration. Yesterday I was doing a short demonstration for a friends art group and decided to dig this one out and apply the solvent and I am pleased I did as it has come together well.

Charlie and the Exhibition

2010-06-06T19:52:00.000+01:00

Sadly the exhibition wasn't a great success as far as sales go but on the positive side we had a lot of interest in coloured pencils and some wonderful comments in our visitors book. We also acquired a few more applications for our Coloured Pencil Experience workshop in Mark, Somerset on 26 June.

I was demonstrating with coloured pencils on the days I was stewarding and Charlie is the result. I used Derwent watercolour pencils on Pastelmat and blended with spirit on a cotton bud. It gave a very painterly effect, this image is a bit redder than the original. I was so pleased with the results I have entered it into the UKCPS 9th Open International Exhibition to be held in Stamford Lincolnshire in September.

Glastonbury Exhibition

2010-05-28T08:48:00.002+01:00

A few photos of the exhibition currently showing at Glastonbury Galleries. Bev, Diana and I worked hard yesterday morning setting up and people were trying to get in before we had finished so we are hoping for a good foot fall especially over the Bank Holiday weekend when visitors come to Glastonbury for the Earth and Spirit Fair. One of us will be in residence over the long weekend from 11-4 so do pop in and say hello.

Busy, busy, busy.....

2010-05-18T07:38:00.000+01:00

I can't believe 9 days have passed since my last post, where has the time gone? But then I guess I have been busy with all sorts of things. Transcribing family history records for Somerset Hundreds, a day with my brother cooing over the new addition in the family, a 10 week old Border Terrier. Preparing for my Glastonbury Exhibition on 29 May - 6 June. I also have a craft stall at Stourhead (National Trust in Wiltshire) this weekend where I will be selling my felted hats and bags that I made during the long cold winter when my art had dried up. (It will be great to see you there, if you can make it please make yourself known). Yesterday, with wood, drill and saw in hand I was making hat stands.

Stourhead arts and crafts will be quite a family affair as my sister, Rona, will be selling her knitted mice and my daughter, Emma, designer bunting, her new venture called Threads and Tails. I spent the weekend helping her with last minute preparations and doing simple sketches suitable for felt cutouts for decoration. Here are a few examples. I also did some vehicles and animals too. I am not very proficient at drawing from the imagination but once I got started the ideas seemed to flow. It's great being a member of an arty/crafty family, we bounce ideas off one another when we get together and then there is no stopping us.

Tabby Cat Workshop

2010-05-09T08:24:00.000+01:00

Here are a few pictures from the workshop I did for Somerset Skills and Learning in Wells. There were 11 students, all beginners in coloured pencil. Everyone did an amazing job with the eyes and made them look round and watery. We had such a variety of fur textures from soft to spikey and even curly as they all found there individual style. A couple of people managed to finish the picture and everyone else was happy to put there finishing touches in at home. Well done to all, it was lovely to meet such enthusiasm and I look forward to seeing you at a future workshop. Hope you enjoyed the experience and that it has given you confidence to try some more coloured pencil art.

Wolf - Scraperboard

2010-05-06T10:55:00.000+01:00

Remember scraperboard at school, I loved it and have since forgotten all about it. But recently I have come across a young wildlife artist Cristina Penescu http://www.wild-visions.com/ , her work is amazing and I was so inspired I just had to have a go. Well my order arrived in the post yesterday and I couldn't wait to get started and this is the result. 4x6 inches and 3 hours later. No way do I come anywhere near Cristina's standard but I was pleased with the result.

Zebra

2010-04-28T08:12:00.000+01:00

Another zebra, I really do like working on black paper and zebras just seem to work for me. This is one of a pair...I hope. 15x30cm using Prismacolor. I am trying to find unusual poses and crops to make a black and white picture more interesting. At the moment I can't think of a suitable title...Rear View perhaps?

Emu

2010-04-26T20:21:00.000+01:00

I took this photo of the Emu while travelling to Ularu (Ayres Rock) Australia. They are such comical creatures. This is a quick sketch using Derwent tinted charcoal pencils with pastel pencil for the bright orange eye. The paper is dark grey pastelmat size 15x30cm.

Chimp

2010-04-23T09:49:00.000+01:00

This one is with newly acquired Derwent tinted charcoal pencils on Anthracite Pastelmat size about A4. I finished him a couple of days ago, wasn't sure at first but I am liking him more as I look at him...(or her). The pencils are nice to use, silky, layer well and coverage is quick. I think the paper was too dark and didn't make the most of the subtle colours. I used a lot of white and out of choice I would like to add a cream to the collection so will probably supplement it with a cream pastel pencil.

Basset Finished

2010-04-23T09:38:00.000+01:00

I did reduce the shadow on the ear and think it looks much better. Size is about A4 and it was nice to pick up graphite again and not have to think about colours.

Coloured Pencil Workshop - Tabby Cat

2010-04-23T07:13:00.000+01:00

I will be taking a Coloured Pencil workshop at The Somerset Skills and Learning Centre, Portway, Wells on Saturday 8 May from 10-4pm. Cost is £35 including lunch. To book your place call Somerset Skills & Learning on 01749 677786 or email abowen@somerset.gov.uk

Basset WIP1

2010-04-20T17:49:00.000+01:00

I haven't used graphite for a while and I found this lovely picture of a Basset Hound on Wetcanvas so thought I would give it a go. The ear is heavily shadowed and I am not sure yet if it looks right but I will do the rest of the dog before I decide.

Blue shutters again

2010-04-06T09:24:00.000+01:00

This picture is Prismacolor pencils on black stonehenge.size 15x21cm and only too about 1 hour to do. I have used white under the light and mid tones, left the black paper in places for the real darks. I don't like it as much as the oil painting but I was interested to see if I could get anywhere near the same contrast which of course I can't. I guess a touch of acrylic white in some areas may help.

Cat finished

2010-04-03T17:30:00.000+01:00

I put a cream background behind the drafting film before I scanned it to warm the whites a little. The pinky/reds have come out stronger than reality. I think I prefer to do furry creatures on Pastelmat rather than drafting film but it was good to have another try at this. Finished size is 10x14cm.

Cat WIP2

2010-04-02T21:16:00.000+01:00

Next installment. The nose seems to have come out rather intense on the photo.

Cat WIP1

2010-04-02T12:35:00.000+01:00

I decided to try another picture on drafting film and this one is developing much better than the orangutan. Size is about A5, the photo reference is courtesy of Wetcanvas where there are some brilliant cat photos for artists. I am using Polychromos pencils, lots of colours, purples, blues, greens and pinks in the fur which the camera doesn't pick up. There is quite a lot of white fur on this cat and I am not sure how well it will come out on the drafting film but it will be a good experiment.

Orangutan

2010-04-02T10:06:00.000+01:00

Yesterday morning I messed about with oil paints tweaking a few things and putting a ground on some new canvases while the afternoon was spent with coloured pencils. This Orangutan is 15x16cm on Polydraw drafting film which I haven't used for a while. It is so different to paper I had forgotten my technique and it was like learning over again. So today I will probably do another on drafting film while it is fresh in my mind. However the day is grey, it is raining hard and I would prefer to hibernate... so who knows I may decide to work on the family history instead.

Blue shutters

2010-03-28T13:58:00.003+01:00

....and another 12x18cm oil on canvas. I did this on a very dark background and let it dry overnight. I think I prefer working from dark to light in oil. I am getting better at painting more loosely and this one only took about 30 minutes. From a photo I took on a camping holiday in France about 3 years ago. Must dig out some more, they would make a good series.

Lady in pink

2010-03-28T13:54:00.003+01:00

Another 12x18cm oil on canvas practise piece.

Lady in orange

2010-03-27T17:25:00.005Z

This is a little fun one done off the cuff, no reference photo. A bathing beauty with her striped bag and bottle of sun tan lotion sat on the promenade. A nice practise piece with oils and I am gradually getting to know them but not sure I will love them as much as coloured pencil. Size 12x18cm, oil on canvas. Can't think of a suitable title at the moment.

New Website

2010-03-22T16:05:00.004Z

Today it is raining in Somerset and there is a cold wind blowing through the cracks so I have hunkered down by the fire with my laptop and updated my website . A necessary evil especially as someone pointed out this morning I had a glaring error on the old one. I used the new wizard that comes with my BT provider, much better than the old one but still not something I find easy to use. Oh how I wish I could afford to have it done professionally. I'm sure there will be some tweaking necessary but at least it will be easier to add new pictures.

Cat workshop

2010-03-15T15:46:00.003Z

Today I have been working on this cat for a coloured pencil workshop at the Wells Adult Education Centre in May. I had to take some short cuts as it is only a day workshop. This took me 3 hours including making notes on the way so I am hoping everyone will get it finished in 5 hours. The size is 18x15cm on dark grey Pastelmat. I have used Derwent Coloursoft pencils as these are the ones the students will be using.

Courtyard

2010-03-10T18:39:00.002Z

Size 14x18cm Derwent WC pencils for the washes and Polychromos for the detail, on Fabriano Classico. I have given this a loose watercolour look.

Steps

2010-02-27T15:31:00.002Z

I used the Derwent WC pencils for an underpainting and Polychromos on the top, in some places I have used heavy layering and others I left the washes. The paper is Fabriano Classico.

Derwent Watercolour Pencils

2010-02-26T16:07:00.002Z

Yummy, my new pencils have just arrived!!!

The Window

2010-02-26T15:50:00.004Z

Experimenting with Atelier Interactive Acrylics and a limited palette. This is a small canvas and the first time I have used these paints. I don't like them quite as much as oils but they are better than the standard acrylics because they don't dry so fast. This is the view through the bedroom window of The Treaty House in New Zealand with the wonderful tree ferns catching the light.

Henry

2010-02-17T08:18:00.002Z

This is Henry a commission I completed a few weeks ago. Size A4 in coloured pencil on Fabriano Classico 5 with a watercolour pencil underwash.

Dutchman WIP

2010-02-14T15:50:00.004Z

This was an excercise with the new Derwent watercolour pencils (the ones with the dark blue barrel). I only have a small selection but I really like them and hope to get the complete set. I applied several layers of pencil blended with a damp water-brush, added more layers and dampened again until I achieved the depth of colour. There is no dry pencil on top. The paper is a beige Stonehenge. I now have to decide what to do with the background.

A touch of Oils

2010-02-07T13:00:00.006Z

Well at last I am back to the drawing board, with Christmas, grey days and DIY projects my enthusiasm for art dried up completely. However I have been doing some craft work so I guess I have still been testing my artistic abilities.

I enrolled in a 10 week art workshop with Nick Andrew to try and get some inspiration and to try my hand at oil painting. Well the first time I seemed to get paint everywhere, I was trying to be loose and free, not my usual style and flowers are not really my favourite subject but after 3 hours this is the result.

Next day at home my second attempt was an imagined landscape. Again not my prefered subject and I 'don't do green' so I have used muted mauves for this. Again it was 3 hours and I did manage to contain the paint better this time.

Day 3 and 4 (6 hours) I thought I would have a go at a portrait, a picture of a child I took in Florida 8 years ago. I have had several attempts to do this picture in CP without success and although this is definitely not loose and free I am pleased with the results so far. I may still do some tweaking.

Tiger WIP1

2009-12-10T10:05:00.002Z

I have some lovely pictures of tigers I took at Marwell Zoo a few years ago and I have had several false starts in painting them, never happy with the way it was going and given up long before completion. I have kept them and hope one day to rework them but it seems to have given me a bit of a mental block on tigers. However, here I go again and so far I am a little happier with this one probably because I am using my favoured support, Pastelmat. I have done a rough underpainting in CP to highlight the main areas of colour and have started putting in the face detail. The tiger is lapping at the waters edge and I will need to invent a scene. Fortunately being a close up there isn't a lot of background required.

Cat 2

2009-12-05T11:54:00.003Z

My second cat in coloured pencil on anthracite Pastelmat. I don't think this one is as good as the previous one I did on dark grey pastelmat. I wanted to create more shadow and thought the anthracite would save me some work, which it did to an extent but then I had to work harder to get the light and midtones which I eventually achieved by using Zest-it to smooth out the layers for the underpainting before putting the hair detail on last. I don't love him as much as the first one but he is still quite cute.

Owl

2009-11-29T11:21:00.005Z

This week I had a new delivery of Pastelmat in various colours and unfortunately the surface of the sheet of Anthracite is a bit suspect. It wasn't until after I cut it that I realised there was a distinct line across it, some strange shading on the reverse and the surface seemed much coarser than the other colours. Anyway having cut it and still in an experimental mode I decided to give it a try. I'm not totally happy with the owl probably because birds are not really my subject, and I may still do some more tweaking. The size is 25x25cm and I used various makes of pencil from the softest to the very hardest and even used some heat from an iron on the reverse to melt the wax in the lightest areas. This caused some cockling so I then had to glue it to a piece of mount board. I have been more impressionistic with the feathers than I would normally do but maybe it will grow on me.

Bear

2009-11-23T13:03:00.003Z

Another small one, 18x26cm. Pastelmat and Prismacolor.

Experimenting with different styles

2009-11-22T13:03:00.006Z

Two small pictures one very loose and painterly and the other

sharp and full of contrast. Both coloured pencil, the trees are on dark grey pastelmat using Prismacolor and the machinery is Polydraw using Polychromos.

End of the lull

2009-11-19T12:40:00.001Z

I can't believe it is so long since I posted to my blog. I have been so busy with the last of the exhibitions, still have 4 pictures in at the RWA Friends, and besides that we have had a new central heating system installed and still have all the other bits to do to finish off. It has been a hard process getting back into painting again. I have had so many false starts, nothing worth showing and last week I started several different projects that may come to something or not but here is the first picture completed since the last post blog and I am really pleased with it so hopefully the dry period is over. I was inspired by a picture of a cat that Margaret Edwards was demonstrating at the NEC Art Materials Live show. I found a suitable royalty free reference photo on Wet Canvas (a big thank you to the photographer) and have been working on this over the last few days. I have used Prismacolor on dk grey Pastelmat size 36x28cm.

Ship Ahoy!

2009-10-14T11:44:00.004+01:00

Well, a big departure from CP, this one is acrylic, way out of my comfort zone but I so enjoyed doing it I may do another. Inspired by a photo I took in NZ of a boy at the top of Rangitoto, the volcanic island, overlooking Auckland Harbour. I have done my own interpretation of the scene and included the photo for comparison. The scan of the painting hasn't come out particularly well. 5x7in on canvas.

Daisy with sunglasses

2009-10-11T13:24:00.005+01:00

Another picture of Daisy on holiday. I loved doing the distorted reflections of sunbathers in the glasses. Size 21x27cm, mainly Prismacolor on Clarefontaine Pastelmat.

Pebbles 2 WIP

2009-10-08T17:13:00.004+01:00

I started this second pebble picture while doing the demo at the RBSA last Friday and spent a couple of hours on it today. It has been a nice break from portraits and animals that have to be so exact and it is the sort of picture I can leave for a while and pick up again at a later date. I have used Fabriano Classico with Prismacolor and a touch of Polychromos.

Another Zebra

2009-10-07T16:26:00.003+01:00

Following my highly commended award at the UKCPS exhibition in Birmingham for the 'Not all is black and white' I decided to try another zebra. This is from a photo I took at Marwell Zoo last year. The ref. photo was pretty awful as I had zoomed in so much and lost the detail so I used a lot of imagination to get the shading right but I am pleased with the result. Stonehenge black paper with mainly derwent drawing pencils and Prismacolor. Size about 48x32cm. No title yet.

Daisy on holiday

2009-09-27T09:38:00.003+01:00

I recently spent a week with Daisy and her family on holiday in Spain and couldn't resist snapping the odd photo when she wasn't looking. She is such a natural poser and very photogenic. I have tried to capture the sunlight reflecting on her face from the white walls around her. This picture is pure colour pencil on Clarefontaine Pastelmat size 22x28cm.

Award for 'Not all is black and white'

2009-09-23T08:49:00.004+01:00

This picture of the grazing zebras received Highly Commended at the UKCPS exhibition at the RBSA in Birmingham and I will be demonstrating there on Friday 2nd October. Of the 3 pictures I am exhibiting this is the one I thought least likely to win anything. You just never know.

Shore Birds

2009-09-23T08:22:00.005+01:00

This is my take on Jack Vettriano with a 21st century look. I really loved doing this one. I used a wet application of Derwent Inktense pencils for the sky before going over with dry pencil.

Good news and more good news!

2009-09-12T07:38:00.002+01:00

My picture of the Mudlarks was awarded the 'Public Vote' at the exhibition for the Somerton Group of Artists and secondly my 'Lemon Slice' has a red dot at the Clevedon Pier & Heritage Trust exhibition. Both were colour pencil.

Jacob

2009-09-09T15:26:00.004+01:00

Jacob is about 20 months old in this picture. For the face I have used a cross hatching technique to preserve the look of transparent skin that babies have. I have used Prismacolor pencils and Stonehenge paper on the rough side, should have used the smooth side I think. I have also cross hatched the clothes but used a brush to blend the colours together. I am considering putting in a background. He was laying in his pushchair when I took the original photo and the interior was dark grey. The scan has bleached the colours in the face the original has more contrast and shading in the skin tones. Size is 21x16cm.

Mutt Finished

2009-09-08T14:46:00.003+01:00

This is it, not going to do anymore, I struggled with the straggly long hairs on the neck, they are not very realistic but I erased them and redrew them so many times I am making the whites look muddy. Next time I will go it at with a slightly different approach. Nevertheless I am quite pleased with the outcome and I added a little colour in the eye and around the mouth which doesn't show up too well on the scan.

Mutt WIP1

2009-08-31T17:22:00.002+01:00

Just for a change one in graphite started today

Daises

2009-08-27T17:11:00.004+01:00

I have had a day of playing with colour pencil techniques and came up with this one. I have used Derwent Inktense wet and Polychromos dry. Size 8x20cm. Flowers are not something I would normally consider painting because I tend to think of botanical work which is not my style but I feel I have captured the essence of daisies on a sunny day.

UKCPS International Exhibition

2009-08-24T16:12:00.004+01:00

I have just been informed that these 3 pictures have been accepted in the UKCPS Exhibition this year. I only got one in last year so must be improving. It is being held at the The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists 4 Brook Street, Birmingham, B3 1SA from Monday 21st September to Saturday 3rd October.

Ol' Blue Eyes

2009-08-15T16:54:00.003+01:00

I felt like a change of direction today so got out my pastel pencils and sanded paper (first time for this combination) and produced this pussycat in about 4 hours. So much quicker than colour pencils. I had reservations about half way through as the fur looked course but I kept going and smudged a bit and it finally came together. Size is 30x23cm and the photo has taken some of the warmth out of the colour.

The Parade

2009-08-14T12:23:00.006+01:00

The tallest character is only 3cm high and I thought it would make a nice greetings card. Very fiddly and I need a lot more practise but the ideas are flowing.

Sharing the Load

2009-08-13T17:01:00.003+01:00

I have had an 'art play day' today. I started with getting everything ready for the next exhibition in Somerton, this always takes longer than I envisage. Handing in day is next Monday so I am well in advance. I have been getting ideas together for some silouhettes, trying different techniques in colour pencil and finally produced this little drawing on black stonehenge paper 14x14cm. It took about 20 minutes so nothing like the detail I normally do but quite effective and suitable for a card.