April Virtual Sketch Date

Rhododendron

watercolor and colored pencil

on Arches 140 hot pressed paper

I thoroughly enjoyed working on this month's Virtual Sketch Date drawing of a rhododendron from a reference photo provided by Jeanette Jobson. After getting the composition I wanted from cropping, I realized that what appealed to me about the image was that it reminded me of a stained glass window. While wanting to retain that, my goal was also to keep the flower as the focal point and not let the background overwhelm it.

This month, I also decided to work in mixed media with watercolor and colored pencil. Here's my progression:

Step 1 - watercolor wash

Step 2 - First layer of colored pencil. Establishing the dark areas.

Step 3: Second layer of cp. I work all over a drawing at once and build my layers of color. Here I'm still working on layering in the darks and establishing more realistic shapes.

In the final step (above), I've continues to build the color and then began muting some of the background with complimentary color in order to establish foreground and background.

WIP - VSD for April

April 09 VSD

Watercolor

4 x 6"

This month for the Virtual Sketch Date, I thought I'd try a mixed media piece: watercolor and colored pencil. I love the reference photo sent in by Jeanette Jobson and hope to do it justice. While I want to achieve a more saturated color, I also want to retain some translucence. Hence, the watercolor decision.

This is the first stage with just the watercolor wash; tomorrow I will begin adding colored pencil to the piece. I am working on 140 lb. hot pressed Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper as I like the smooth finish for my pencils.

January 09 Virtual Sketch Date

"Clemetine"

5 x 7"

pastel and colored pencil on Ampersand pastel board

Spent much of the day watching the innauguration with my young son reminding him that he was seeing history being made.

But I found time to finish this month's VSD (Virtual Sketch Date). As in my past VSD posts, I decided to try something a little different that the way I usually work. This month I did a pastel underpainting and finished with colored pencil on a tan-toned Ampersand pastel board.

Check out the other entries this month; many of them are wonderful. You can see many of the members' drawings on a Flickr page here.

December Virtual Sketch Date

"Winter Valley"

5 x 7"

colored pencil on pastel board

This month's VSD is a little early due to the holidays but I was able to eke out a little time to do this one and I'm glad I did.

I don't usually do many landscapes and when I saw the reference photo, I balked a bit. But I decided to plunge in and, as I usually do for the VSD, I decided to try to vary my style a bit. This one, I thought, should be rather pastel-like and loosely drawn.

My main inspiration for this style of colored pencil drawing I can directly attribute to a friend and a wonderful artist, Linda Wesner. I had the privilege of pariticipating in a small class and demo Linda gave at one of our local colored pencil guild meetings where she generously demonstrated her style and technique. Take some time and check her work here. She has won many awards and her work has consistently been selected for the CPSA International Exhibitions.

Linda's current body of work is inspired by "vanishing landscapes", rapidly disappearing rural areas due to suburban development. Intriguing, beautiful and contemplative.

Linda has also been a bit of a mentor and always treated me as an equal (as if) and encouraged my work. Thank you, Linda.

Boy, it's great to have artist friends.

November Virtual Sketch Date

"Light Play"

colored pencil on Ampersand pastel board

5 x 7"

Here's my drawing for the November VSD. And I just have to say, I love participating in this monthly draw-fest. It's so much fun to interpret the reference photo in my own way and then check in on the other artists to see what they've done. I'm always amazed at how we all see things so differently and yet, each artist makes such wonderful work.

Check it out if you haven't yet here. You'll see links to work from all the participating artists on Sunday, November 23.

And, hey, if you can draw, you ought to give it a try. Be fearless!

October Virtual Sketch Date

"3 Pears"

4 1/2 x 6"

Neocolor II and colored pencil

Here is my offering for this month's collaborative sketch date known as VSD (Virtual Sketch Date). Check it out and all the wonderful artists who participate.

This month I decided to exaggerate the reference photo and use a more chromatic pallet using MiTeints red paper, Neocolor II watersoluable crayons and colored pencil to finish the detail.

September Virtual Sketch Date

Virtual Sketch Date - September, 2008

colored pencil, Neocolor II, watercolor pencils on pastel board

5 x 7"

Ok, I know, long time between posts. And I have plans to fix this soon. But in the mean time, the Virtual Sketch Date is keeping me honest. Be sure to check out all the other entries, too.

Virtual Sketch Date

"Kale"

colored pencil sketch

5 x 8" moleskin journal

This is my first entry into the Virtual Sketch Date project where a group of artists ban together once a month to draw from the same reference photo. Each artist interprets the sketch in their own way and in their own medium and then posts the result on their blog. I have watched this for a couple of months and am fascinated by what each artist creates.

The VSD project was the brainchild of Rose Welty and this month's photo reference was contributed by Sherrie Roberts.

Enjoy!