USMWF

So the Memorial picture I did for my sister-in-law is now done.  I took it over to her house and spent some time with her side of the family on the one year anniversary of her Uncle Bobby's death (upper left). Sadly to report the next day a similar work related accident happened taking the life of another gentleman. http://www.journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/article_a428f546-0dcc-11df-86f1-001cc4c03286.html

"Flutter By" Bird house

The design is pyrographed in and the coloring is watercolor. The gourd background is left it's natural color.  The whole thing is sealed with paste wax. (why can't i get the underline to turn off)

Buffalo Creek

Dried Gourd stained and pyrographed with stone inlay and leather trim.

Spiral

I decided not to post any more of the memorial drawing I'm doing for my sister-in-law until it's done. I thought she needed a surprise too! So here's a gourd I did a year or so ago. The dried gourd's top was cut off at an angle and a tool was used to clean out all the skin and seeds inside. The inside is sprayed with black paint that has glitter in it. Then a whole drilled out of the middle for the dreamcatcher. The design was done with a wood burner. It's called pyrography. The brown you see on the sides and back is wood dye. I sold a lot of different gourds at the farmers market with my mothers help. You'll be seeing more in the next few days until the memorial pic is done.

USMWF

So I have 3 figures and the ribbon good and started! I'm pretty confident I'll have it done by the deadline. The heads of the young gentleman  in the lower left and upper right faces are the same size but I didn't anticipate the hair making the one look so much bigger. I'm hoping the sunglasses on top of the head of the upper right man's head will help with the illusion.                        

USMWF

Amazing I got the first portrait "done" in about 2 1/2 hours! It is only about 5x7 size and I've drawn Bobby before so maybe that's why it went so quick. He's really not completely done.  I have to do his shirt yet. I plan on doing it in carbon which can have quite a bit of dust.  Just to keep things clean I'll get it in last. Carbon will give me that dark, dark I want in the shirt without the graphite glare. The gentleman below him has a lot of hair to tackle! I'm glad two of my subjects are bald in this drawing :) Since I'm on a time restraint it will make things go quicker.

USMWF

This project is a Memorial for my sister-in-law.  She's been invited to Washington DC to speak, along with four others. They have all lost loved ones in work related accidents. 

Belle

"Belle" won an Honorable Mention in the 2010 ANAC competition 13 June! http://www.nebraskaartclubs.com/
Finished! Not a lot of difference from the last post though.  I'm thinking I don't want to title it just with her name. Boring! Her AKC name is Princess Honey Belle. Or I could go with BFF more girly than man's best friend.  She's an English Labrador, that's boring. Any suggestions? My next project I already started yesterday for my sister-in-law/. Check it out next post!

Belle

As some of you know my dog here, Belle, was attacked on Friday by the neighbors St. Bernard that jumped our fence.  She's doing fine. Thanks to the fast action of my husband she only has one puncher wound in her thigh.

As for the drawing I think only one more post will do it!

Belle

 I thought with this post I'd give you a little insight on how I work. Normally I crop my pic to what it will look like under a mat. This is done on 14x17 Bristol Vellum but my actual finished product size is Approx. 8x10.  In the upper right are notes to myself on what materials I used,  process I employed and in what order. When I switch to a different media for an extended time I need a little reminder of how I did things. In the lower right is my "graphite/carbon farm" a technique I use that I didn't realize others used until I read some use the term graphite farm.  I apply graphite and or carbon here then pick it up with my stubs to apply to my drawing. Don't forget to label each patch of graphite/carbon with it's lead hardness H, HB etc. Be careful to keep the area around it free graphite/carbon dust. I use my kneaded eraser frequently to clean all around my drawing.  You could use a separate piece of paper for the graphite/carbon farm to help keep your drawing clean but you'll still want to keep the area around it clean as possible.

Belle

Got a little more done if you can tell. Really not a lot left but it should make a dramatic difference  when done. So I changed the look of my blog page.  Do you think it looks good or too busy?

Belle

Started getting a little worried about the snout but am pleased with how it's coming along now. I can't wait to get more of the little whiskers in. Her nostrils look a little off to me but in the photo they look the same way. I might just have to take some artistic license and give her a nose job!

Belle

Another day another eye. Also a little work on the fine hairs to see how it's going to work out.

Belle

Wow I love what the carbon pencil did for the eye! Who'd a thought you could spend 2 hours on an eye. It was worth it though.

Theresa's Tablet: Lizzie

Belle

I got a little caught up in the detail on the ear the first day to see if I could get the fur right. Today I decided to focus on just getting some of the values in the total picture. I'm a little worried about it reading as a yellow lab and not a black lab in the end.

Belle

My Dog Belle. She's a 3 1/2 yr. old yellow lab. Actually her coloring is so pale she's mostly white with just hints of yellow.

U-Mo'n-Ho'n (Upstream)

I believe this is done. 22 Hours later and I still can't decide. If you ever get a chance to see the PowWow in Macy, NE do it. It's a good one! Very traditional.(Graphite and Watercolor pencil on Bristol Vellum)