Bigfoot Commission Finished, New Colored Pencil Lesson and Review on Marco Raffine Colored Pencils

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to everyone! I was just wanted to say thanks to all the veterans and God Bless.

Commission

My latest commission is completed. I used Marco Raffine colored pencils, Prismacolor colored pencils, and iridescent watercolors. The iridescent watercolors do not show up in the scan but the background was done in iridescent blues and colored pencils. Reference was mainly from a photo I took on our trip to Newport, Oregon of the Bigfoot wax image at Ripley's Believe It or Not museum. However, I felt that it looked to zombielike so I made his face a little more realistic.

New Colored Pencil Lesson

Well, I started this piece last spring but school and other clients kind of got in the way of me finishing it. So I hope to finish this up tonight or tomorrow. The free colored pencil lesson will be viewable and accessible on my site later next week. 

Review on Marco Raffine Colored Pencils

So, I completed my recent Bigfoot commission piece using the Marco Raffine 72 colored pencil set that I received a few weeks ago. I only paid $21.99 for the set. Pretty affordable when you are a poor starving artist. 
I decided to compare the Raffines to the brand I normally use which is Prismacolor Professional Grade Colored Pencils. I compared the two throughout the Bigfoot commission process.

First, a little bit about the pencils themselves. They are oil-based colored pencils and are creamy, smooth and blend well. There is presently no lightfast testing done on this brand.

Positive Points: The Raffine colors have 72 pre-sharpened colors to choose from. They blended well with the watercolors and Prismacolors. They also blended and dissolved well with a Copic colorless blender marker. I had no problems layering multiple colors to create fur. However, I would want to test this brand doing a portrait of a person just to see how well colors blend and layer. Colors are easy to erase with an electric eraser.  All Raffiné colored pencils conform to ASTM-D-4236 Non-Toxic requirements.

Negative Points: I did notice that the Raffines have more of an inconsistent pigment than the Prismacolors. They are not as rich as the Prismacolors they are more softer as you see in the image below. If they weren't oil-based, I would say they have more of a waxy pigment due to the softer colors. I thought also that they don't easily sharpen to a real sharp fine point as Prismacolors. Prismacolors I can get to a real sharp point which I like for details. You cannot purchase these pencils in open stock only in sets.

If you are a beginner colored pencil artist or into the adult coloring books then this is a great brand to set you off in the right direction and a great set to add to your colored pencil artist tool box. There might be colors in this set that you may not have found in any other brand set. It's all about the colored pencils and if you love this medium as much as I do, you will continue to create works of art with colored pencils and will find the brand that works best for you whether as a hobbyist or professional.

There are other reviews out there on this brand each with their own perspective and viewpoint you can check them out here:
http://aprettytalent.blogspot.com/2015/07/comparing-marco-raffine-coloring.html
http://la-artistino.com/2015/10/01/marco-raffine-pencils-review/
http://www.aurella-art.com/colored-pencils.html
http://www.aminoapps.com/page/art/8226094/marco-raffine-color-pencils-review

Hope you all have a great Memorial weekend!
Keep on Creating!

New Bigfoot Commission and Marco Raffine Colored Pencils

New Commission

I haven't picked up my colored pencils in over a year. This week I start working on a new commission for a client of Bigfoot. Of all the years drawing I have never been asked to draw this particular mythical creature. I will be basing it on the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum Bigfoot display.

copyright © Ripleys Believe It or Not

Making the Mark

There are many artists concerned about protecting their art online. One basic and easy thing to do is to post up only pictures that are 72dpi or small enough that the image quality if increased in size, is very poor.
Here is a  great article by Katherine Tyrrell on how to protect your artwork online
http://makingamark.blogspot.com/2016/04/how-to-protect-your-art-online.html

New Pencils 

So I purchased some new colored pencils - Marco Raffine 72 set. A great buy on amazon and great reviews. Anxious to give them a try and I will be using them on my latest commission piece. They seem to have the same creamy wax base as Prismacolors. Will be providing a further update on this brand.



Hope you all have a great week!
Keep on Creating!

New Colored Pencil Art Work and Logo

New Color Pencil Art Work

Hi Everyone!
My newest colored pencil art work is now complete. I started this piece quite a few months ago but school kind of took over my life and I just didn't have any time to work on it until now. This is my vision of Miriam from Exodus. I was inspired by verse 8 in Exodus 15 "By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood up like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea."
Title: "Nobiscum Deus"
(latin for God is with us)
Medium: colored pencil, watercolor pencil, and acrylic

"Nobiscum Deus"

New Website Logo

So since school ended and I have gotten my degree in web design, I have been working on a whole new website and two other websites. Fifty pages of coding to be done on my site.  Here is a peek at my new logo.

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!

Happy Creating!

New Colored Pencil Artwork Commission Donation of Dragon Fairy

New Color Pencil Artwork of Dragon Fairy 

Finally done with the dragon fairy. My first attempt at a dragon fairy. The winner of this auction commission was very happy with it and this particular dragon was inspired by artist Amy Brown. I love her dragons. This piece was done in colored pencil and watercolor pencil.

Hope everyone is having a blessed week!

Happy Creating!

Update on New Colored Pencil Commission Donation

New Work

New commission donation of a fairy dragon. Presently working on the rocks, wings and dragon. Done in colored pencil and watercolor pencil.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Keep on Creating! 

Graduation and New Commission Donation

Graduation
What seemed an eternity, I finally graduated from college in June with an A.A. degree in Computer Information Systems. It was a difficult journey, but with God's help I succeeded.

 

I am now working on my web design portfolio and hope to start applying for jobs next month sometime or working on starting up my own web design business. While I am working on my portfolio, I am working on commissions and new art pieces.

New Commission
I started a new commission donation piece yesterday - a fairy dragon. I will be posting the step by step on my blog here and on my Facebook page.

Hope everyone is having a great summer!!

Happy Creating Everyone!

New Colored Pencil Artwork Breast Cancer Awareness and Updates

Hey Everybody!
It's been a while since my last blog post. I have been so busy working around the house trying to get things situated and doing some deep cleaning before school starts back up again for me on the 29th I really haven't had a lot of time to draw as of late. I have a week left of vacation.  Also during the summer time, I managed to crash two laptops. Lost some of my stuff, but fortunately, I had most of the important files backed up. So, I have been without a computer most of the summer. I just got my new laptop this week and I am very happy with it. It seems to be able to handle all the adobe software quite well.
We had a great time down at Depoe Bay and Newport Oregon for our vacation in August. So much to see and do. Love watching the whales and checking out the lighthouses.

Depoe Bay

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

New Color Pencil Art Work
Well, I have pretty much finished my last work in progress "Remembering Mom" This piece is for sale at my Etsy store http://mooresart.etsy.com/
Twenty-five dollars of the sale will be donated to Susan G. Komen.
Title: "Remembering Mom"
Medium: Color Pencil and White Gel Ink

"Remembering Mom"
Medium: Color Pencil and White Gel Ink





Work In Progress
Here is my latest work in progress "Slave No More." I might change the title of this piece. It's not quite coming out like the way I was envisioning it. It's been a challenge to create and capture what I was envisioning. The idea behind this piece is the sea is parting, a pillar of cloud is behind her and the woman is one of the Israelites that God has led out of Egypt. I still have a bit more to do on this piece. I am taking a two-day break from it and to see what areas need more work on and how I will finish it up.

Medium: Color Pencil, Watercolor Pencil and White Gel Ink

Updates
Now that I have a computer again I can start working on my website. I have so many ideas for designing it that I have learned in class. I am so eager and excited to start working on it.
Also, I have a bunch new listings of artwork for sale now available at my Etsy Store http://mooresart.etsy.com/

Hope you all have a blessed weekend!

Happy Creating Everyone!

New Graphite Works, New Colored Pencil Work In Progress and New Colored Pencil Tutorial

New Works

First, I have a whole new background tutorial on clouds now available for purchase and download at my site.

All new work in progress for October's Breast Cancer Awareness theme. 

Medium: Color Pencil

A new graphite piece I completed that I started back in February.

Title: Sacred Promise

Medium: Graphite

And sketches from Sketchfest 52 available for sale at the sketchfest website

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

Art Resource of the Month

Wonderful video about CPSA signature artist Denise Howard and the techniques she uses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZovsLdDEkzg

Happy Creating Everyone!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to wish all of my followers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I haven't had a lot of time to post on here, due to school and I have had no time to create any works of art. However, I did manage to squeeze in a quick graphite drawing for Christmas.

Joseph's Lullaby

This piece was inspired by MercyMe's song Joseph's Lullaby.
The lyrics are the following:
Go to sleep my Son
This manger for your bed
You have a long road before You
Rest Your little head

Can You feel the weight of Your glory?
Do You understand the price?
Or does the Father guard Your heart for now
So You can sleep tonight?

Go to sleep my Son
Go and chase Your dreams
This world can wait for one more moment
Go and sleep in peace

I believe the glory of Heaven
Is lying in my arms tonight
Lord, I ask that He for just this moment
Simply be my child

Go to sleep my Son
Baby, close Your eyes
Soon enough You'll save the day
But for now, dear Child of mine
Oh my Jesus, Sleep tight

Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

New Work and Updates!

Hello Everyone :)
Well, school starts back up for me on Monday the 30th. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. This week, I am trying to transfer all website tips and resources over to my blog.  I still haven't even tackled Zazzle yet. Anyways, unfortunately, I can't submit any more works to Zazzle, as I have lost all my files - forms, contracts, contacts, ideas, stock photos, photos, artwork, prints on my hard drive. All files are lost. My husband thought he could fix the hard drive, but he was unable to do so. He is going to try to do one more thing to see if he can get the hard drive to work, but I am afraid all files are lost. So anyway, enough of my bad news, I have new work to share.

New Artwork

Title: "Let Every Voice Sing"

Medium: Colored Pencil

Paper: Canson Mi Tientes

Size: 8.0" x 10.0"

Reference: Jagged-Eye Stock

 



In addition, I have a new work in progress to share. I was hoping to get to work on it today, still might get an hour in. I want to get this finished up before Monday. Then that gives me the month of October to work on my Breast Cancer Awareness piece when I have time available between classes and classwork.

Originally I was going to call this piece "A Reflection of Autumn" but decided to call it "Autumn Eyes." Still not 100% sure which title to go with, but the medium is colored pencil.

Work-In-Progress

Finished Piece - Autumn Eyes

 

I hope everyone has a blessed week. Stay well, safe and healthy.

Keep on Creating!

 

 

 

Creating White Using Colored Pencils

Colored Pencil Tips & Techniques:

Creating White Using Colored Pencils

It's All About Colored Pencils!

The white-colored pencil is much like a colorless blender in that it can be used to blend and burnish colors. But should colored pencil artists just use only a white pencil to achieve white in their works of art? When working on colored paper, the white-colored pencil is a very effective tool for creating a base layer, and the white-colored pencil is effective in bringing out the highlights and wispy hairs within a subject. However, when working on white paper, defining white can be quite deceptive and challenging, especially for beginning artists. White is very much like black and can be made up of many colors in the spectrum, depending on the time of day, surrounding subject(s), and colors reflected upon the subject you are creating.

Below is a list of tips and techniques to create subjects that are white.

• Analyze your subject and determine what colors you see and are present before you begin.


• Use a paint shop program to determine what colors to use for white in your reference photo.


• Use a value/color finder to determine colors and values.


• Lyra Rembrandt and Derwent Coloursoft white pencils work best on colored paper.


• Build your white or brightest areas up using light layers of colors.


• In creating a white subject, pick colors reflected from surrounding subjects.


• Use light greys and soft pastel colors for creating your white highlights and light areas.


• Use soft pastel or light colors for snow.


• Use white only for highlights, whispy hairs and whiskers.


• Use opposite colors for shadows and darks to make your work pop and glow.


• Focus on creating the highlights and mid-tones, when working on colored paper.

Helpful Resources

A video on using white colored pencil on black paper
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_lh11AM0yE

Drawing fur in colored pencil on black paper
http://sidneyeileen.com/tutorials/art/fur-colorpencil-black/

Drawing feathers on colored paper
http://www.squidoo.com/Colored-Pencils

Wet Canvas Colored Pencil Forum
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1302213&highlight=white+color+pencil

    

    

Keep on Creating!

Moores Art Gallery Watercolor Pencil Tips and Techniques

Colored Pencil Tips & Techniques:

Watercolor Pencil Tips & Techniques

It's All About Colored Pencils!

Watercolor pencils are very similar to colored pencils in that they allow you to have precise control, achieve great detail, are very flexible, portable, and inexpensive. The difference between regular colored pencils and water-soluble pencils is their leads. Colored pencil leads are either wax or oil-based, whereas watercolor pencil leads have a water soluble base.

When working with watercolor pencils, it is important to remember that the results will not be the same as if you were working with colored pencils. After you have layered several colors down and have applied water or a solvent of some type, you will notice that the colors will sometimes be darker, sometimes more vivid, or sometimes will become a color you were not trying to achieve at all. So experiment before you start layering colors to see if it is the color you want for your project or portrait. Also, try mixing your watercolor pencils with other mediums, such as Prismacolor colored pencils, Ohuhu Gel inks or Derwent graphite pencils. You will be surprised with the results!

Tips and Techniques

• Apply the watercolor pencil dry.
• Wet the paper first to produce a bleeding type effect or to create soft lines.
• Try using various tools, such as a sponge or toothbrush or shaking the watercolor pencil, to create different effects.
• After your watercolor pencil wash has dried, apply dry layers of watercolor pencil for detail.
• Create glazed watercolor pencil washes (transparent layers of color over another) by using either water or solvents.
• Use a colorless blender marker, such as Tombow's Colorless Blender Pen, to blend the colors.
• To achieve a thick opaque look, dip your pencil in water or in a solvent, such as Turpenoid Natural (this technique tends to eat the lead of the pencil up quickly) and then apply it to the surface of the paper.
• To create detail using watercolor pencils, try using a small wet paint brush.
• Try creating a graded wash, from dark to light with water or solvents.
• Try a backwash technique by wetting your paper first then apply one color at one end, and then another color at the other end, watch the colors blend and bleed together.
• To create a cool effect, try dipping a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and then dot the wet colored surface of your paper with the cotton swab.
• To create a sparkly effect, try applying salt to the wet surface of your paper and let it dry.

Best Papers

I have discovered the following papers work the best when combining watercolor pencils with colored pencils: Arches watercolor paper hot press, Strathmore watercolor pads cold press and Rising Stonehenge drawing paper. Rising Stonehenge works best with the dry technique, with colorless blender markers, or with minimal water. If you do use water, make sure to tape the paper down to the board to prevent buckling.

All three brands of paper are acid-free and Strathmore also has ATC/ACEO size watercolor paper.

Brands of Watercolor Pencils

The watercolor pencil brand that I work with the most is, Derwent Watercolor Pencils. They are super creamy like Prismas color pencils and they have a wonderful selection of colors. They are fine art quality water-soluble pencil. They are non-toxic with lightfast pigment. They are available in packaged tins or open stock at most art stores.

In addition, I like to use Stabilo Aquacolor Watercolor Pencils to work on skies and small details. They have leads similar to Prismacolor Verathins, but, unfortunately, they have been discontinued. However, from time to time, you can find them on Ebay.

Watercolor Pencil Example

Keep on Creating!

New Graphite Autumn Fairy and New Colored Pencil/Graphite Artwork The Avengers Assassin

Hi Everyone!
We just got back from our vacation last week and it was so awesome to see the coast. It has been a long time since we had been down on the Oregon Coast. I miss it so much. These are some shots taken with my cell phone (since my camera is not working) down near Winchester Bay, Oregon.

New Graphite and Color Pencil Artwork
This past weekend was EMG Sketchfest  http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/sketchfest/index.php
I didn't get a chance to participate a whole lot as my mother-in-law was admitted to the hospital and we visited her on Friday and Saturday evening.
Here are two graphite sketches up for sale there

Autumn Fae

Graphite, ink, color pencil and watercolor pencil

Reference photo by Janna Prosvirina

http://kuoma-stock.deviantart.com/

Mermaid with Pearl Earring

Graphite

Reference photo by Jessica - Faestock

http://faestock.deviantart.com/



My newest color pencil and graphite piece "The Assassin" now up for sale at my Etsy Store
  http://mooresart.etsy.com/



Resource of the Week
Hope kits http://creatinghope.us/
"Creating Hope is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization founded in 2000 by 36-year-old Jeanette Gianfagna Shamblen who was a breast cancer patient. She founded Creating Hope to help people cope with cancer through self-expression and creativity…inspiring them to find their way through each day toward survival. Creating Hope provides art materials and art events at no cost to cancer patients. The HOPE Kit contains art materials and instructions for painting watercolor bookmarks." You can sponsor a hope kit and send it to someone you know or for a cancer patient.

I hope you all have a blessed week!

Take Care!

Moores Art Gallery Colored Pencil Tips

Colored Pencil Tips & Techniques:

Colored Pencil Tips

It's All About Colored Pencils!

Some Tips When Working with Colored Pencils

These are some tips I have learned over the years through books, magazines, articles and from other colored pencil artists. More tips will be added to this list as I learn and explore more.

• To help your drawings stay crisp and clear, keep your pencil points sharp.
• To add some interest, spark and life to your drawings, try layering several different colors together.
• Beware of over saturating your paper's surface with too many layers of color. The color will start to no longer adhere to the paper's surface because the tooth of the paper has completely filled. As a result, the surface of the paper will start to wear down and possibly tear.
• Always keep the surface of your paper clean by brushing debris away with a drafting brush, make-up brush or tissue. Be careful when applying heavy pressure, such as when you burnish, sometimes pencils tend to flake debris upon your paper.
• To prevent wax bloom (a white film that builds up on the surface of the paper), wipe the surface of the paper with a soft tissue and then lightly spray the drawing with 1 to 3 layers of Krylon Workable Fixative Aerosol Spray. The workable fixative will protect your artwork while you continue to work on your artwork. Once you are done with your artwork you can spray 1-3 layers of a final fixative on your artwork to protect it and to prevent wax-bloom. In order to make sure there is not displeasing color changes to your artwork, make sure to test before you spray any fixatives. 
• To create vivid intense colors, try applying a solvent to the layers of color such as Turpenoid Natural, liquin, colorless blender markers, bestine, mineral spirits or baby wipes.
• It is important to add a good range of values throughout your drawing. Remember the more layers of color and the heavier the pressure, the darker the colored area on your drawing will become.
• To add life to your colored pencil artwork, try varying the color intensity, saturation and or hue in your artwork.
• Try creating different moods by drawing on different colored papers, such as Canson Mi Tientes or Art Spectrum Colourfix.
• When working on a tonal drawing, work from dark to light.
• Keep your pencil strokes even, consistent in pressure and in the same direction, so the lines of your strokes will be less visible and will blend into the layers of color.
• When adding layers of color, start off with light pressure and gradually increase your pressure.
• To create, a rich dark black, try layering Prismacolors indigo blue, crimson, sepia and black grape.
• To keep areas on the surface of your paper white, try using frisket film, liquid frisket or a frisket masque pen.
• Keep a color key of your drawing for future reference in case you decide you need to take a break from your artwork.
• For fine or small detail, try using Prismacolor Verithins. Rex Art has an open stock of them available.
• Practice using only a single color to help improve your blending, layering, and graduating skills.
• Practice using different pressures (light, medium and heavy), to achieve different depths of color and tones of color.
• Try using a light colored pencil to draw out your sketch and then blend the sketch into the layers of colors you apply.
• When your pencils become too small to sharpen, try using a pencil extender for your pencil stubs, or try gluing pencil ends together with superglue.
• To prevent smearing, smudging of debris and dark spots, wipe off the tips of pencils with a tissue or cloth before applying color.
• When working with colorless blender markers you have to be careful to wipe off the nibs of the pencils after blending, or colors will mix.
• Try purchasing several blender markers for each color, so there is not a constant need to wipe off colored areas on the nibs.
• Be careful of over-blending and over-saturating your paper, you will not be able to add any more layers of colors or blend with a blender.
• Allow your drawing to dry from the blender marker before adding any more layers of colors.
• To create an illusion of depth, try using complementary colors in dark valued areas of your artwork.
• To help hide a stain on your drawing: try using a color similar to the stain color or use an opaque medium such as white or cream to cover it.
• Colored Pencil Artist, Barbara Newton, has a wonderful tip on how to conceal a scratch mark or indent on your drawing: first apply a little color over the area, then blend the color into the area with a clear colorless blender marker and then add some more color till the mark is no longer visible.
• Try making your own colored pencil wheel using specific brands of colored pencils to use as a reference tool while creating your works of art. Two great tutorials on creating a colored pencil wheels are located at the Empty Easel and at Wetcanvas.

Keep on Creating!