Tag: sketch

“Play with me?” done

So it may not look like much was done between the last post of Zip’s face, which I’ve decided to call “Play with me?”, but I spent a couple of short sessions trying to get the shading just right so the composition has more depth. I think I’ve taken it as far as I can and ready to move on, although my drawing instructor (Laurie) may have something else to say about that, but I’m really happy with it for my first real effort at a dog face drawing. Now I have 2 other dogs who are jealous and ready for their turn in the studio.

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For those interested in the technical details:

  • Used 3 pencils in the composition – 2B, HB, and an ebony
  • Strathmore drawing paper, 14×17, but used about 75% of the page
  • Not sure how much total time, but best guess is probably 6 hours
  • Reference photo of Zip was taken indoors, light source was a table lamp in upper left corner
  • Zip is a 2 year old rescue mutt, Aussie Catahoula mix; she’s ball obsessed and the biggest personality on 4 legs I’ve ever met
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Sketch of Zip’s face – Part 1 & 2

Zip is one of my dogs, a 2 year old ball of energy. She lives for frisbees and tennis balls. She’s incorrigible and relentless with her need for play, until about an hour after dinner, at which point the storm has passed and she’s wiped out.

The reference photo is what I’m working towards, and represents this calm that I so embrace at the end of the day.

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Below is the sketch after 2 sessions totaling maybe 90 minutes. The first 30 minutes was getting the outline right, followed by an hour tonight drawing more than a thousand lines of hair in varied directions. The time it takes to get the masses of hair going in the right direction is indeed tedious, but well worth the effort once the shading of values starts. It’s a little like magic as the shape comes to life. And that’s with just a few other sketches done in this fashion as practice, so I’m hoping these dog faces start to get more realistic with some regular practice.

Zip sketch

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Giverny - Sketch

Did a single practice sketch in my small sketch pad and got the perspective pretty quickly.

Not happy with the choice in turpsy green as a starting base, but next time I’ll take some time to mix a more appropriate mid-range green.

I like the vertical and horizontal compositional components; but not sure if the final painting will have the engaging effect I’m hoping for on the viewer. We’ll see…

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Sketch - dog body (rt hand)

Stage 2 incorporating values, hair, and some of her coat patterns. Saving the challenge of the face for last. Liking the way this is shaping up. First time attempt at complete dog drawing.

This took a couple of 30 minute sessions, so another hour or so.

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Sketch - dog outline (right hand)

Started some sketching of the dogs. This is the ball-obsessed puppy. About a 30 minute effort, focused on proportions and various angles of the sitting pose. Bad lighting on the photo, but you get the idea.

This was done with my right hand, my dominant hand by far.

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Sketch - bananas in bowl

Did some work on the bull ring today, but only a couple of hours and not enough progress worth posting. So, changing gears for a sec and going with a recent sketch of still life. Did this about a week ago and toyed around with some colored pencils. This was before my most recent sketching class that covered the value scale. Probably would have helped with the depth of the bowl. This took about an hour over 2 sessions. Next up is a sketch of one of the dogs and her ball obsession.

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