Making progress

As you can see, I made some progress this morning. I have to say I love working with charcoal...and drawing such a beautiful horse certainly adds to the enjoyment!

Update

This is how far I've got today with the portrait of the PRE stallion. I have started working on his neck, laying down the darks. It is important to leave the light areas white at this stage as you won't be able to erase the charcoal if you make a mistake.

Competition! Win a pet portrait!

As a thank-you to all of my clients and loyal visitors to my website, I am giving away a pet portrait (A4, head study in pastel or charcoal) and two money-off vouchers.

Anyone can take part. How? Simple! Just send in a photo of your pet by Thursday, 21 February 2008 and tell me why YOUR pet is special.

Click here for more info: PET PORTRAIT COMPETITION 2008

Good luck! :o)

Spanish stallion continued

I'm thoroughly enjoying this - I love charcoal and I love Spanish stallions and this is coming along nicely. I always draw the eyes first - I feel they are the most important feature, reflecting the personality and essence of the animal. I wish I could do some more work on this one now but will need to do some work on my websites. Oh well...maybe later... ;o)

Budgies finished and horse portrait started

This budgie portrait is finished as well now and the client is over the moon with it.

So I have been able to start another equestrian charcoal portrait:
The head study of a beautiful Spanish P.R.E. stallion, "P.R.E." meaning "Pura Raza Espanola" - the pure Spanish breed. They are such majestic horses and again, I am lucky enough to be allowed to choose one of Juliana Meyer's magnificent photos as my reference.

This is the pencil draft:

I'm looking forward to working on it some more tomorrow, after updating my websites.

Finished!

Here it is - the finished version of Funky and Fussel's portrait (A4/mixed media pastels/coloured pencils).

It is a lovely image of two budgies in love....and also shows that budgies should never be kept without the company of their own kind as humans simply cannot replace the love and affection budgie friends give each other 24/7.

The other budgie portrait should also be finished within the next couple of days. So watch this space! :o)

New update

As you can see, I have spent some more time on the first budgie portrait and am quite happy with the progress..

As for the second budgie portrait, Funky is now almost finished. Isn't he just a cutie? I'm hoping to make a start on Fussel's head later today.

Progress...

I've been making good progress on the second budgie portrait as well:

They are very pretty little birds, aren't they! :o)

Update and new portrait started

I've done some more work on the budgie portrait and am quite happy with the result so far:

Last night, I also did the pencil outline for yet another budgie portrait. Their owner is very excited about having "Funky" and "Fussel" drawn.

Budgie portrait

While I'm still working on the portrait of two the budgies on their owner's hand, I am able to show you another budgie portrait that the client's boyfriend received for his birthday yesterday. It was done in Faber Castell Polychromos coloured pencils. The little guy's name is Lenny. He was much loved by his owners and his budgie friends - sadly, he flew across the rainbow bridge before Christmas.
Right, this is Lenny:


Another update on the other budgie portrait (and yet another one I am about to start) will follow soon. Talk then!