Title: Carolina Wren I - matted 8x10" - colored pencil (c)2009 Pat Dolan Continuing from previous posts about re-tooling myself at this time of physical challenges:
I spent more than a few years exploring both pastels and colored pencils while selling my watercolors. Unfortunately, I no longer have photos of any of that work. This week I set aside the watercolors and chose to play with colored pencils - combining my love of drawing, of color, and of birds. Here's an abbreviated, step-by-step of one piece, plus photos of others completed this week.
Using Strathmore's smooth white Bristol paper and PrismaColor Light-fast Pencils, I begin with one of my photos, do a quick drawing in 4H pencil, followed by a sequential laying in of colors. Each layer enriches the next, with the final layer merging them all into one somewhat translucent piece of art.
The pencil lines here are heightened in contrast so they can be seen at all. Generally, the pencil lines are so faint they can barely be seen. 
Carolina Wren II: - matted 8x10" - colored pencil (c)2009 Pat Dolan And more:
And when completed: 
Title: Tufted Titmouse - matted 8x10" - colored pencil (c)2009 Pat Dolan 
Title: European Robin - matted 8x10" - colored pencil (c)2009 Pat Dolan from a photo taken while we were in Ireland a few years ago 
Title: Black-capped Chickadee - - matted 8x10" - colored pencil (c)2009 Pat Dolan
Title: Eastern Blue Jay - - matted 8x10" - colored pencil (c)2009 Pat Dolan
Title: White Throated Sparrow - - matted 8x10" - colored pencil (c)2009 Pat Dolan
Title: Nuthatch - - matted 8x10" - colored pencil (c)2009 Pat DolanThis is quite literally "play" for me - I love birdwatching, photographing birds, drawing birds, painting birds. It's much the same with flowers. This coming week I think I'll try doing some of those wonderful orchids I photographed last weekend!
If you are interested in purchasing any of these little bird portraits, they are $45.00/each, including postage & handling. If you would like to commission a specific piece done from one of my many blogged bird photos or from your photo, please send me your query.
2 comments:
these look so realistic, I feel they could fly away any moment. Your work is fabulous.
Thanks. I believe that my love of birds contributes to the quality of my work.
Having once been commissioned to do a pen and ink drawing of an old/antique truck on top of a building (it was their advertising scheme), I had one heck of a time completing it. I wasn't all that happy with it, either, although the owner was quite pleased.
Since I also like flowers, cats, etc., I think that there's ample subject matter about for me to play with and that I will enjoy and that pleasure will enhance the work.
Pat
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