New horse portrait

Here's the first scan of a new horse portrait - another Spanish stallion drawn in coloured pencils...

News update

Hi everyone, I'm still enjoying my break...time to dream about future art projects...

Also, we went to a huuuuuuuuuuuuuge art shop...wow! Sandra in wonderland....apart from some pencils and coloured pastel paper, I finally got myself some velour paper and can't wait to try my pastels on it.

Thoroughbred foal full body portrait

A full body study for a change! This foal is a very young Thoroughbred X stallion and he is being drawn in pastels. Quite a small portrait on A4 but thanks to my new set of Faber Castell Pitt pastel pencils, even very fine detail can be achieved. Unlike other pastel pencils, these are not a problem to sharpen.

Update on new horse drawing

I've done some more work on my new horse drawing. I've been adding layer after layer of different foundation colours, which is quite time-consuming. Coloured pencil portraits thus take considerably longer than pastel portraits. It's fun though!

Horse montage WIP

I've been working on the character study of my horse and have done two of the eight small portraits. I'm quite happy with the result - I recognise him immediately. I have never worked this small before with this much detail involved and I think it's fun! I just have to make sure the pencils are really sharp. The head study at the top shows Kolli in his winter woolies so it is less detailed than the one below which depicts him in the summer - turning around to me, as if to say 'hello there, nice to see you - have you brought me some carrots?'. You can see that he was a lot darker in winter. I feel it's great that with one portrait, I'll be able to capture many different aspects of Kolli's character and looks. I have to admit that I still find it hard to look at his photos and draw him...I don't suppose I will ever stop missing him.

New equine project

Two years ago on 16 February 2006 I lost a friend of almost 17 years: my Icelandic horse "Kolbakur" (aka "Kolli"). I can't believe it's been two years; I still miss my 4-legged friend very much and think of him every day. You can read his story here. I have drawn several portraits of him but thought I'd like to do something special in his memory. When browsing other pet portrait artists' websites for ideas and inspiration I came across a type of portrait called 'character study' or 'montage', and it's basically a bigger portrait in the centre and several smaller studies around it, thus giving an insight into the pet's character and personality.

So this is what I am currently working on - a character study of my horse. Some artists use different media - say pastels for the centre portrait and graphite for the smaller ones - but I decided to draw all of the sketches in coloured pencils. Kolli's colours were spectacular and changed with the seasons and I'd like to capture this. So yesterday I went through the photos I've got of him - not that many unfortunately (no digital cameras back then...) but I've chosen 9 - more than planned but I just coulnd't make up my mind. ;o) He was such a beautiful horse! I have already drawn one of the small heads (maybe 2 inches long) and it is 'him'! :o) Watch this space..

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!

Budgies on hand

I have now started working on a portrait of two budgies landing on their owner's hand. I have to say that I am not keen on drawing human hands but am determined to face the challenge and gain some confidence! I think I've made a good start. I do love drawing budgies (or 'parakeets' if you are from the States) as I've got two of my own called Teddy and Alfie. If you'd like to see some of my budgie portraits, click here.

As for this particular portrait, the reference photo isn't that brilliant (you can't really see the budgies' faces) but the photo means a lot to the owner, which is why she asked for it to be drawn.

The portrait is being drawn using mixed media - pastels and coloured pencils, which I find works very well as far as small drawings of birds are concerned.

I'll keep you posted! Wow, 3 posts in 3 days.... ;o)