Updates and New Works

It's been a while since I posted last. I have been busy working on some new works, spending time with family and doing things around our new house. I hope all my followers are having a great summer. We hope to take off for vacation next month down the coast. I can't wait as I miss the coast so much.
And my daughter got a new puppy a few months back a white Siberian Husky. He looks a lot like a white German Shepherd. I have to say it is a lot like having a toddler around the house. I hope I get a chance to draw him once I can get some good pictures of him.

Updates

Just letting followers know, I will be slowly transferring my color pencil resource tips and techniques page to my blog before I start school again. Since I am only creating works now for just a hobby/pleasure, I have been pondering over the idea about making my blog my main site and phasing out the main site within the next year or so. I feel there is really no need in keeping a site anymore, especially once I finish up school and start web designing as a profession. I will be putting up my artwork that is for sale either at my Etsy store or at one of the auction places. I will be posting further updates on this later.


For those interested, I do have some new works up for sale at my Etsy store http://mooresart.etsy.com/

New Works

I have some new sketches available for sale at Sketch Fest from this past weekend's Sketch Fest #39

http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/sketchfest/index.php

I didn't get a chance to work on many sketches this time, as my husband had the computer most of the day on Saturday. I really enjoyed viewing everyone else's amazing works. Everyone is so artistically creative and talented there. Just practicing up on my pencil skills was so much fun though. All 4 are done in graphite some mixed with acrylic and color pencil.

1. Teacup Mermaid
Reference: Model - Poser and Teacup http://netza.deviantart.com/

2. The Magic of Faeries
Reference: My daughter

3. Crown of Stars
Reference: model http://a68stock.deviantart.com/

4. Water Elemental Mermaid ACEO
Reference: Poser and model pose (changed it up quite a bit though) http://sinned-angel-stock.deviantart.com/

I have two new mermaid pieces available for sale up at my site
They are two of the three mermaid sisters from the Jack Sparrow series.

Morveren

Graphite, Gel Ink and Color Pencil

Reference: Poser tool on iPhone

For sale here: http://www.mooresartgallery.com/Morveren.html

 

Aquala

Graphite, Color Pencil and Gel Ink

Reference: http://faestock.deviantart.com/

For sale here: http://www.mooresartgallery.com/Aquala.html

 

 

Resource/CP tip of the Week

A great page on color pencil tips
http://www.drawing-and-coloring.com/color-pencil-drawings.html

Hope you all have a great week!

 

Colored Pencil Artwork Updates, Colored Pencil Resource of the Week, and Art Resource of the Week

To be a colored pencil artist is not every artist's cup of tea. It is a medium that can be quite time-consuming, tedious, and requires a lot of practice. Because it takes me so long to do a colored pencil painting, I have come to a point in my art career where now I just draw and paint what interests me and brings me joy. I am not in it for the competition or to make a profit anymore. Of course, it is nice when an artist can make a sale as it can bring a smile to one's face. But now, I create works of art to share what motivates and inspires me and to help teach others what I know. It is always a joy to meet other artists from around the world, especially the artists from DA and Sketchfest. Thanks to everyone who has followed me along my art journey. I hope these blog posts and my website resources have been and continue to be educational resources and inspiration to other artists and students.

Colored Pencil Artwork Updates

The portrait, I Believe, is finally finished. The portrait was created with colored pencil and drawn on Rising Stonehenge. The meaning behind the portrait was to capture a man's emotions who truly believes in his faith and has come to a dawning moment of pure, simple joy and peace. The scan didn't pick up all the details of the clouds, but if you look real hard, you will see some images in the clouds.

Colored Pencil Resource of the Week



Colored pencil artist Revelle Taillon demonstrates and explains a wonderful technique of applying colored pencil on gesso board. Check it out here http://coloredpenciltips.blogspot.com/2013/02/colored-pencil-on-gessoed-board.html

  

Resource of the Week

As portable devices and social networking become a dominant part of most artists lives. I have discovered a valuable artist tool for my iPhone - Pose tool. It uses a 3D platform to place subjects in various poses. It has 3 point lighting and 4 different modes to place the subject in - muscle, life, mannequin and gesture. Check out the review and details here https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pose-tool-3d/id570369634 You can download it from your app store for $6.99. Well worth the cost.

Keep on Creating! 

Happy Father's Day, Updates, CP Tip of the Week and Resource of the Week

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there! I have been spending the day with my family and some great friends. Father's are wonderful and it is a day to honor, to thank them and to let them know how much we love them. My father is no longer here in this world. He passed away in 2007. He is in heaven now and I miss him. But I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father, whom he is now with.
So to all the father's out there I pray that you have had a wonderful day.

Comments by ZingerBug.com

Updates

Well Spring term is finally over with and I am now on summer break. It was a tough term but the Lord saw me through each step of the way. I couldn't have done it without Him. I didn't have any time to work on any drawings during this term. So I plan on picking up where I left off on my last work in progress.
Title: I Believe
Medium: Color Pencil
I still have the sky, shirt and face to work. I hope to have it finished up this week.

 

 

Color Pencil Tip of the Week

 

When working with color pencil, it is important to have a good pencil sharpener as you want to keep your points sharp. The reason why you want to keep your points sharp is due to two reasons:

1. Keeping your lead sharp gives the artist the ability to achieve better detail.
2. It helps maintain a more consistent layer of values. 

There are several types of pencil sharpeners and ways to sharpen your pencil. Most color pencil artists prefer the electric or handheld. The handheld is easy to port around if you are traveling. The blades will tend to get dull after awhile, so one will have to replace the blade or the sharpener altogether.  If one uses the electric sharpener, the points can get very sharp and one must be careful of the pencil lead breaking off in the sharpener or the sharpener eating away the pencil. There is also the sandpaper block, X-acto knife and the old hand-cranked pencil sharpener. The sandpaper block is very portable and can be used to sharpen graphite pencils as well. If one uses the X-acto knife, it is important to have sharp blades and it does take some practice to sharpen the pencil to a point. The hand-crank sharpener tends to eat away pencils, but some of the companies are starting to come out with some good ones.

 

Below are some different sharpeners that are available for color pencil artists.

 

Handheld

 

Electric

 

Sandpaper Block

 

X-acto Knife

 

Hand-Cranked Pencil Sharpener

Derwent's Super Point Helical Desk Sharpener http://www.pencils.co.uk/newsitem.aspx?nid=267

 





Resource of the Week

 

Check out color pencil master Sandra Angelo's color pencil and graphite workshops. Learn how to master pet textures and the grisaille method.

 

http://www.discoverartwithsandra.com/art-workshops-online-how-to-draw-cats-dogs-4-sessions-with-pet-master-sandra-angelo/

 

Sandra's book Exploring Color Pencil was one of the first color pencil books I added to my library.

 Hope you all have a great week and God Bless!

Happy Creating!

 

New Home, New Colored Pencil Works, and Colored Pencil Tip of the Week

Hey Everybody!
It's Spring Break, Winter Term is finally over with, and it has been a long time since my last post. I have been so overwhelmed with classes this last term, so many essays to write that I have had no time to pick up a pencil and draw. Then I got an eye ulcer in my eye and I wasn't able to see very well for the past two weeks. In addition, we moved out of the house we were renting and bought our first home.

Our New Home

So still have some unpacking and organizing to do, also a lot of yard work. I hope to get that done this week along with some much-needed drawing time.

Now that it is Spring Break, I plan on picking up where I left off on my latest work in progress. “I Believe” Medium: Color Pencil I am presently working on the shirt and background.



I Believe





Colored Pencil Tip of the Week

There are many ways to lift up or remove colored pencil from your work. Whichever method you choose, do so carefully, so you do not tear or ruin the surface of your paper.

Bet Borgeson illustrates two ways here http://www.mightyartdemos.com/mightyartdemosfrbkborgeson2.html
and then over at my website I explain a few ways to remove colored pencil
http://www.mooresartgallery.com/colorpencilremovaltips.html

Colored Pencil Tool of the Week

Many colored pencil artists out there use pencil extenders. Extenders are a handy little tool to extend the length of your pencil when your colored pencil becomes too short to use.
Here is one I found that you have to check out this marbled pencil extender over at Etsy  http://tinyurl.com/cp7fg84
In addition, here are some others over at Amazon.

I hope everyone has a blessed Easter weekend!

Easter Pictures

Take Care and God Bless!
Keep on Creating!



Happy New Year and Updates!

Happy New Year Everyone!
It's been a long time since my last post. I apologize. I have just been so busy with school, family, the holidays, then getting sick, I have not had much time to get caught up on everything online.
I start back to school next week. I am still taking all the required classes, before I can actually begin taking the web design/computer classes. But starting spring term I will start beginning taking the design courses. Very excited about it. :)

And it looks like we might be moving again soon, as our landlord raised our rent $300 and it is killing us financially. But this time instead of renting, we are buying our first home. It seems renting a home around here, is quite a lot more expensive than buying. So things are going to be quite hectic for us in a few weeks and I am not sure how much time I will have for online, with school etc. and everything else going on.

New Works

I have some new works to share with you. Also I just posted up some new items up for sale at my etsy store https://www.etsy.com/shop/mooresart
I finished up my portrait of Frans and Trish. I just got an email from them that they received it New Year's Eve and they were so thrilled, when they saw it. I can't tell how much gladness that brought me, knowing how tickled they were to finally receive it.

Frans and Trish

Color Pencil and Watercolor Pencil



 



 

Also I just finished this up on New Year's It's called the Winter Lion. Done in Color Pencil and Watercolor Pencil.

 

 

Color Pencil Tip of the Week

I don't think I have shared this before, but it is a sample tutorial by artist Christina Langman on creating a big cat using color pencil. You can check it out here http://www.bigcatart.com/CPtutorial/

Also, there is a new blender pen out for color pencil artists. It's called the Finesse Blender Pen. I have yet to purchase it, but plan on to very soon, just to check it out. The rating is not that great on Amazon, but that is based just on two reviews. Apparently they are saying the pen dries out quickly. But from experience, I think the blender pens don't last as long as "we" artists would like them to.
There are more blender pens on market now than there use to be 5 or 10 years ago. The blender pens that I use whilst creating my works, are the Tombow Colorless Blenders and the Prismacolor Colorless Blender Marker.
There is also the Copic Sketch Marker Colorless Blender and the Sakura Colorless Blender pen. I have yet to check out either one, but plan to very soon as well. One nice thing about the Copic Sketch Marker Colorless Blender you can get ink refill replacements.

My advice is to try each one out, as each artist has different techniques and tastes, to determine which one you like the best.




Resource of the Week

If you are need of some inspiration check out http://www.portraitartist.com/ Some amazingly talented portrait artists. They have a forum, a place to sell your works and artist highlights.

I hope you all have an amazing, sucessful, blessed new year!

Best Wishes!

Comments by ZingerBug.com

Work In Progress, Updates, Donating Artwork and Resource of the Week

Hi Everyone!
It's been crazy busy with school. Trying to find time to draw has been pretty much limited to, one day a week for me - Saturday. And then I hope nothing comes up, to interfere with the day. I am looking forward to Christmas break to work on some sketches from the sketchfest. I am presently not taking any commissions, just no time to work on them.

Anyways, here is my current work in progress of a portrait of Frans and Trish. I am so thankful they have not complained about how long it has been taking to complete this. They got married back in August. Two very special people. I hope I am capturing their likeness and spirit. Presently working on their clothes and the flowers.

At my Zazzle Store there is 50% off of cards and calendars. A huge Veterans Day Sale. Use Code: 50VETDAYSALE
Check out my store here http://www.zazzle.com/mooresart

 

Donating Artwork

If you have been following along on my Facebook Page, you will have known by now that I finished the cougar piece. I tried to posting it up on ebay, donating a percentage to Wildcat Haven, well I ran into some trouble. Even though I got permission from the photographer to use her photo as a reference, it appears she failed to tell me that Wildcat Haven had exclusive rights. My fault I should have checked into it further and I should have contacted them as well. Well, they were bit nasty with their messages, which got me upset, and pretty much calling me a liar. Anyways, to put a long story short, I now have decided to give back to my followers on Facebook, the cougar drawing is now a part of a free Thanksgiving give-a-way. If you "like" the post on my Facebook page, you will automatically be put into the drawing on 15th of November.
I have done many donations for rescue places, this is the very first time, I have ever ran into any problems with donating a percentage of the sale to an organization. As artists, I think it is important that we share our bad experiences, so other artists may learn from our own mistakes.

Steps When Donating Artwork or Percentage of the Sale of Artwork:

1. Always check out throughly the non-profit organization you wish to donate your artwork to, or a percentage of a artwork sale to.  What exactly is their mission? Do they accept percentage of sales on ebay? Do they allow drawings or paintings of their animals (don't just assume you just need permission from the photographer)
2. Ask other artists, who have donated to the organization, what they thought about the organization. What did they think about the organization? How did they treat you? Did you get a donation receipt?
3. Always, try to use stock photos or your own photos for references.
4. If you decide to use a photo that isn't stock or not your own, make sure to get permission from the photographer and stick to their guidelines to the tee. And of course always give credit when you post the image up on your website.
5. Notify the photographer and organization when you are done with the artwork.
6. Notify the photographer and organization when you plan to put up the artwork for bid on ebay.
7. Find out if there are any guidelines, when posting artwork up for bid on ebay.

Resource of the Week

A great article for emerging artists, artists trying to re-define themselves or artists struggling what their niche is.
6 Ways to Develop Your Signature Style
http://emptyeasel.com/2011/05/13/6-ways-to-develop-your-signature-style/

Hope you all have a great week!

Happy Creating!

 

 

 

New Colored Pencil Works, Colored Pencil Tip & Colored Pencil Resource of the Week

Hi Everyone,
So sorry I haven't updated in a while. I have been so busy with school, I just haven't had much time to work on any colored pencil artwork. I made it a point to set homework aside to post something today.


I am putting school work aside on Friday, October the 26th and maybe possibly the 27th to throw out some ACEO and other sketches. So if you are interested in checking the sketchfest out and purchasing any of my sketches check it out here  http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/sketchfest/index.php

Colored Pencil Artwork Updates

I have two work in progress updates to share. I am not as far along as I hoped to be, but I will be working on them both this weekend.

The first work in progress is of a cougar.
Medium: Colored Pencil
Paper: Canson Mi Tientes 
Reference photo courtesy of Karine Aigner Photography www.karineaigner.com

The second work in progress is a commission portrait of Frans and Trish.
Medium: Colored Pencil
Paper: Bristol

Zazzle

Zazzle has a great deal going on cards 50% off on all cards. Use Code at Checkout: ALLCARDSALE
Offer expires 11/27/12
A great time to order some of Christmas theme cards if you are interested
http://www.zazzle.com/mooresart/cards
  

Colored Pencil Tip of the Week

A video on colored pencil tips by Janie Gildow focusing on the basic colored pencil techniques.
https://youtu.be/tFGBQJCnwbI

If you search for colored pencil tutorials or drawings at YouTube, you will find some amazing helpful informative videos to help you grow as an artist. I think it is important to see how other artists work with the medium you like to work in. You might discover helpful tips, ideas, and techniques you never knew about.

Resource of the Week

A great site I have discovered for helpful art advice and tips.
http://emptyeasel.com/art-business-advice/general-art-advice/

I hope you all have a great upcoming week!

Take Care and God Bless!

Keep on Creating!

Updates, Colored Pencil Tip & Art Resource of the Week

Hi Everyone,
So all week I have been getting ready for school, which starts Monday  :)
I have been practicing up on my keyboarding, and I got some of my books and school supplies. I am awaiting my pell grant to get the rest of my books.

I have been suffering with tendonitis all week. Pulled some tendons in my left wrist/arm while lifting heavy things. So my wrist has been wrapped up in a brace. A constant ache shooting from my wrist up my arm. Fortunately, it is not my drawing hand :)

Updates

So I am working on the details of the cougar. Either the sale of the original or a print will be a donated to http://www.wildcathaven.org/ Which is a 501(c)3 non-profit, no-kill, ‘last hope’ sanctuary for big cats. It is located in Sherwood, Oregon. 

Colored pencil on Canson Mi Tientes. I am thinking I might change the one ear. I am not happy with it, but not sure yet.

On the portrait of Frans and Trish I have transferred the sketch to the paper and started working on the background. I Just starting applying colors using a light pressure, so kind of hard to see what I have done in the scan.

Colored Pencil Tip of the Week

Protecting colored pencil artwork is important to prevent UV Rays, wax bloom, and damage to your artwork. There are several products out there that artists use, but as with all products I advise to test first, before you apply the sealant.

When you apply the clear acrylic coating, you will not have to put your artwork under a glass frame. If you use just fixative, you will need to put your artwork under a glass frame.

The workable fixatives are great to prevent wax bloom, seal the work, yet still allow you to continue to work on the piece. You want to spray a thin coat, otherwise it will fill the tooth of the paper, creating a glass-like surface, making it hard to apply any more layers of colors.

Krylon UV Resistant Clear acrylic coating does not work well with watercolor pencils or works that you have combined with color pencil using some type of wet method technique. The colors change drastically.

• Krylon Workable Fixatif 
• Sennelier Delacroix Fixative for Pencil and Charcoal
• Lascaux Fixative for Pastel Charcoal and Graphite (forms a lightfast non-yellowing seal)
• Golden Archival Spray Varnish (provides a protective layer)
• Krylon UV Resistant Clear Acrylic Coating (protects against harmful UV light rays)
• Krylon Crystal Clear Varnish Spray (seals and does not yellow)

     

Art Resource of the Week

A wonderful colored pencil demo by Alyona Nickelsen
http://www.artistsnetwork.com/articles/art-demos-techniques/colored-pencil-nickelsen

I hope you all have a great upcoming week!

Take Care and God Bless!

Keep on Creating!

www.mooresartgallery.com

Tombow Irojiten Review, Colored Pencil Tip of the Week & Art Resource of the Week

Updates

*News I am now licensed with PSP Tube Stop http://www.psptubestop.com

So I had a pretty busy weekend and I didn't get much time in to draw, but I do have two new colored pencil works to share.

The first is a rough sketch of a couple I am doing a commission portrait for. I will be doing this probably all in colored pencil. I might use watercolor pencil or graphite for the background. I am not sure yet. Still playing around with ideas.

The second piece I am working on is the beginning of a donation piece.

Colored pencil on Canson Mi Tientes.

Reference photo courtesy of Karine Aigner Photography

www.karineaigner.com

Irojiten Colored Pencil Review

So I got the Tombow Irojiten Colored pencils a few days ago. I only ordered 4 colors, because using the 4 colors gives me a chance to explore and to decide if I like the brand or not. I chose 4 colors that I would normally use a lot in my works. But before I go into detail in what I discovered in my explorations, I would like to share a bit about what I have learned about this brand of pencil.

Tombow pencil company was established in Japan in 1913. Irojiten is Japanese and means "color encyclopedia". Irojiten is a beautiful white enamel pencil that comes in 90 colors. At Dick Blick, they are available in open stock, they are priced $2.39 each http://www.dickblick.com/products/irojiten-color-pencils/ . They are also available in three 30-pack volume sets - Rainforest 30-Pack, Woodland, 30-Pack, and Seascape, 30-Pack. And available in 5 pack pencil sets - Primary, Soft Primary, Fluorescent, Cool Gray, and Sepia . The prices for the sets range online from $8.54 - $53.99 per set. The pencils are wax based. No information yet on lightfastness test.

 

Now for my own explorations of this pencil. I have to say first, I love the range of soft to vivid colors that are available in their palette. Their palette of soft colors available is what caught my eye, as I tend to use a lot of soft colors in my colored pencil works. 

The lead is neither soft nor hard. If I were to compare them to a particular brand of pencils I would say they are similar to Prismacolors' Verithins, Prismacolors' Artist Grade, and Derwents' Coloursoft pencils. I would place them in the semi-hard category. They are definitely not as hard as Prismacolor Verithins, but they are not as soft and creamy as Prismacolors' Artist Grade pencils or Derwent Coloursoft pencils. They have more of a color selection compared to the Verithins. In addition, a handheld sharpener works great in sharpening these pencils to a point.

Applying light pressure, I applied one layer, then 2 layers and then 3 layers of color. I then applied a Copic colorless blender marker to see how the colors would blend. The single color did not blend as smoothly as the multiple layers of color. Next I applied a colorless blender pencil to the layers and then used a blending stump. I discovered some of the colors needed more layers in order to stand out well. I didn't have to constantly brush away pencil debris like I do with Prismacolors pencils. The Irojitens blended well with other colored pencil brands and they work great for small details. I will be ordering more. I love the color palettes. I think these will be great for working on my small miniature works and small details.

Art Resource of the Week

As I love to take photos but I haven't since my camera went on the fritz over a year ago :(, I have to share this photographer's community. Some amazing beautiful photography.

http://500px.com/

I hope you all have a great week!

Take Care!

Keep on Creating!

Carol Moore

www.mooresartgallery.com

New Colored Pencil Artwork Bear Crossing, Color Pencil Tip & Resource of the Week Using Graphite with Color Pencil

Hello Everyone,
Sorry, I haven't posted in a while. I have been so busy canning, doing projects around the house and getting ready for school. I head back to school Sept. 24th and will be majoring in Web Development/Design. I am so excited!

I went today with my mom to the Oregon Brews and BBQs http://www.oregonbrewsandbbqs.com  . It wasn't quite what I expected. The BBQ was good though and it was for a great cause - cancer awareness. Which I am very fervent about supporting with my works and donations. Which by the way I have to share this song by Martina McBride. It just touches my heart and brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it "I'm Gonna Love You Through It"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYNOXRifXKQ

New Colored Pencils 
I ordered a few of the Tombow Irojiten Color Pencils the other day. Should be arriving in the mail soon. I am anxious to try them out. Never tried them before. They have 90 colors and come from Japan. I love the pastel colors available which appeal to the choice of colors I like to use in my palette.

New Colored Pencil Artwork
So this piece is basically done. I just have a few more areas to darken in the water. I used several colored pencil techniques on this piece. Some did not work quite well, due to the paper I was using - Strathmore Aquarius II. I would say this paper is great for watercolor pencils, but in my opinion not the best for colored pencils.
Title: Bear Crossing
Medium: Colored Pencil and Watercolor Pencil
Paper: Strathmore Aquarius II
Size: 8.5" x 12.0"

I will be working on the tutorial for the rocks and will be starting a new portrait for a very special couple next.

Colored Pencil Tip of the Week
Working with Graphite and Color Pencil
Well I hope everyone had fun with my last post's excercise. I think it is a good excercise to practice blending colors.
This week I want to share some tips/techniques on when you combine graphite with colored pencil. As most of you know, graphite can be very messy. Here are a few tips to keep the graphite from getting your colors muddy.

• Lay the graphite down first and then spray with fixatif
• Blend the graphite in areas that have only dark colors
• Use Derwent's Graphitint (soft watersoluble graphite with color)
• Use Ampersand Clayboard (Great for graphite and colored pencil. The clay coating reduces smudging and smearing and it is great for details)
• Use an artist's bridge, tissue or cloth to protect paper from smearing and smudging

     

Other Resources:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8300527
http://www.ampersandart.com/tips/graphite.html



Resource of the Week
I thought this was such a neat idea to tint mason glass jars different colors and them use them to store your colored pencils or pastel pencils :)

Check out the tutorial here http://go.tipjunkie.com/dc/1972/www.momtastic.com/diy/168908-diy-tinted-mason-jars-in-rainbow

I hope you all have a great week!

Keep on Creating!

God Bless and Take Care!

Carol

www.mooresartgallery.com