PA - LESSON #20 - Dog Portrait

[Juan Carlos]

Merci Danielle.

Dennis always appreciate your encouragement, thank you very much.

[Val]

Hmm. For some reason the video wouldn't work for me. So.... I decided to go it alone anyway.  What a royal cock-up!          Didn't notice this was a 'pencil' portrait, doesn't matter, I'm short on the pencils anyway. Didn't have colours even close to those needed so I made up my own colour scheme. Going to have to work on that!     
I'd say I'm about 2/3 there, but not posting until it's done...or I'm done, whichever comes first!     

I will warn you that between the printer not printing, and my baby blues have not been treating me well at all this week so this should be a surprise for all of us! 

[Val]

  Having some major issues with this critter.

He is freehand so parts of him may be a bit out of wack, (still no printer) the video won't run properly for me...due to net at my end I think. Having to use makeshift colours. My pastel pencils just don't want to work over the pan pastels.     That's my rant done. 

I ended up laying a dark grey on his ear and lifting it off with my putty rubber to get it as light as I could. Now before I pull a 'Zorro'    Z   on this, looking for ideas on how to put the darks in place with just the pan pastel. The little sponge tools just make a mess, not thin enough. I tried using tissue, not good. I'm sure I'm missing something....just don't know what. Any thoughts?

Details

[MaryAnne Long]

Val,

Doesn't look as bad as you think it does.  Nice color.  I don't do pastels so am not much help.  That triangular eye socket is an interesting touch.  Maybe should be more rounded than angular??

aloha

mea

[Val]

  Thanks Mea.  Actually, I was thinking the other eye should be more like the triangular eye!     

There's still a long way to go so I guess I'm still in the 'ugly' stage. I think I'll put the rest of his mouth in, maybe a suggestion for the other will turn up.
 

[dennis]

Excellent for freehand  Face needs some more shadowing. The left ear needs to be more detailed to show it up 

[EmmaLee]

Val, I think you are doing much better than you are giving yourself credit for on this one.  Your proportions are wonderful for freehand. 

[Straynative]

Looking reall good Val...

[Val]

Thanks Dennis, the outline/shape of that ear is not quite right, but I'll leave as is. I think it looks passable. I haven't put any real detail in that ear yet, and am thinking since the graying down of the other ear isn't going so well.... I'll try to put the original colours back and he'll just be a much younger dog!       

Agree, still needs more shading overall. Feeling much more optimistic!

[Val]

Ta much EmmaLee, I'm quite chuffed you think so. Very uplifting.... there is hope for me yet!   

[Val]

Thanks Trev, still a way to go but getting there.   

[JayJ]

Beautiful Val!


You think tortilon (blending stump) dipped[size=78%] in pan pastel would help?[/size]
I remember using that with charcoal powder in a charcoal drawing.

[Happychappy]

Val, I have just seen your drawing of the Dog Portrait, how I missed it, I don't know.  Unfortunately, I have no experience with pan pastels in fact, I was wanting to get some to try. With regard to your pastel pencils not taking over the pan pastels, I have often found that if the tooth of the paper has been worn down, the pencils won't adhere to the paper. I too, have tried removing the underlying colour without much success but what may help after removing most of the colour with your putty rubber, try taking a very soft eraser and go over what remains of the colour and this 'may' help. Mea, in one of her Newsletters told us about the erasers for the end of our pencils. Well in my estimation, they are the best erasers ever.  Gosh, try anything because you have done a good job thus far. Wishing you success Val, keep us informed.   


Patricia

[MaryAnne Long]

Patricia,

Regarding those pencil-tip erasers, I have tried several brands.  But, they are not all the same quality.  The best ones I bought were back-to-school specials at our local CVS.  Can't remember if they were a generic CVS brand or something else.

Luckily, they are only a few cents each, so it's pretty cheap to try different brands.

Keep at it, Val.  No turning back now.

aloha

mea

[Happychappy]

Mea, the only pencil top erasers I have tried is the "Helix Professional Pencil Cap Erasers" and I got them at Hobby Lobby for less than $2 for a pack of 10.  They are the best erasers I have ever had and do a perfect job of erasing. Thanks to you for letting us know about them for I otherwise would never have tried them. 


Patricia