Xmas Robin

I don't usually have two projects going at the same time but I felt like starting this today.  Coloured pencils on pastel paper.  Just starting to block in the basic colours at this stage.

Work in progress....

Just started on this drawing today, continuing with the theme of anthro animals.  Coloured pencils on watercolour paper

Sisters

Coloured pencils on pastel paper, A4 size.  Original available in my Etsy shop.

Miss Fancy Pants

This idea popped into my head the other night and I couldn't wait to give it a go.    Coloured pencils on light mauve pastel paper.

Snow Leopard

I drew this in my sketchbook this morning for the Colored Pencil Magazine challenge.  I decided to go with a minimalist approach and have the eyes as the main focus and just do suggestion of the fur.

2nd abstract finished

I found these panoramic canvases in the shops the other day and thought it would be perfect for my next abstract.  I've painted this in a similar style to the first but a bit more colourful, I changed a few things along the way but I'm happy with the end result.  Oil on canvas, 8" x 16".

Abstract Landscape

Oil on Canvas Board, 9" x 12".  Something a bit different, an abstract landscape.  Really enjoyed painting this and I'm already planning some more in this style.

Animal Challenge

Drew this the other day for the Animal Challenge on the Art Tutor website, coloured pencils on Bristol paper.

Beach

Oil on Canvas Paper.  Just a little 30 minute painting I did on canvas paper.  My first attempt at painting a seascape or any kind of landscape for that matter, it's really hard!  I'm planning on a larger seascape painting so I wanted to experiment what colours work well etc....

"Mouse Hunter" finished

Oil on Gessobord, 9" x 12".  Really pleased with how this turned out.  When I started it I had a different style in mind but it sort of evolved on it's own.  Can't wait to plan another painting now!

Fox in oil

Started this painting today but I'm not sure if I'm happy with how it's going. I want it to be a bit more loose than this and more impressionistic in style, I don't want to get bogged down with detail....

Etsy shop update!

Today I've been busy revamping my Etsy shop and listing some original drawings.  At the moment I only have originals but I am hoping to have some prints available soon too.  I have finished the fox drawing I was working on and he's now in my Etsy shop, one of my favourites I think :)

You can visit my Etsy shop here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/catgabriel

Fox in progress

Coloured pencils on pastel paper.   I couldn't wait to get started on this fox today and managed to get quite a bit done.  Just some finishing details are needed now.

New sketchbook

I bought a new sketchbook to do little sketches of animals in.  It's recycled tan coloured paper and really good for black and white sketches.  Did this yesterday to start it off :)

Jaguar finished

Jaguar - Nearly there!

Jaguar update

Have all the spots in their place, starting to build up some colour now on the fur with a second layer of pencil

Jaguar progress

Starting to establish the spots in the fur now.  I've drawn this Jaguar completely freehand (I usually use a ruler to measure etc...)  So as a result I think there are a few things that are a bit wonky, but overall I'm happy with the progress so far.  There will obviously be a lot more colour going into the fur, I'm just starting off lightly and will be adding a lot more layers.

New Project - Jaguar

Bronzewing Pigeon WIP

Work in progress, a Bronzewing Pigeon in coloured pencil.  Drawn completely freehand.  I think I've made him a bit plump but otherwise I'm quite happy with how it's going.

Australian Bear Creations + New Bear Available!

If anyone is interested to have a go themselves at making one of my mini bear designs, my 2 inch Baby Bear pattern is in the latest issue of Australian Bear Creations (the pattern is also available through my Etsy shop)

I have just listed the bear featured in the magazine in my Etsy shop, I've called him "Hunny Bear" and he can be visited at this link:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/113279436/hunny-bear-miniature-teddy-bear

Bird sketches

Did these little sketches this morning of 3 birds that visit my garden.  I wanted to see how my freehand drawing skills have improved and I think they definitely have, I got the shape of the birds heads pretty much right I think.

Egret finished!

Egret painting is now finished.  I can't believe I managed to paint this in just two sittings.  Really pleased with how it turned out, especially as I was using a limited palette and not using the exact colours that was recommended in the tutorial.  I learnt a lot working through this tutorial.

Egret WIP 2

Today I started on the painting, I didn't have the exact colours that the tutor uses in the demonstration but I think it's going pretty well so far.  I've already learned so much

Egret WIP 1

I'm going to be following an oil painting tutorial by Paul Apps on the Art Tutor website. An Egret standing in water. So far I've toned the canvas by doing a grey wash and have done a basic freehand sketch of the bird and the reflection in the water etc...Really looking forward to working through the tutorial

Alpaca finished

Alpaca nearing completion

Here is my progress from yesterday, still more work to do on the neck area but I think it's nearing completion.  I seem to have created a bit of interest with this drawing and I've had several enquiries about my technique and possible tutorials etc..  So I am now thinking it's something I may work on soon.

Alpaca progress

Today I worked more on the fur on the head, gave it some more texture by adding a medium brown.

Alpaca update

Starting to build the colour in the muzzle area now by adding a darker brown

Alpaca WIP 1

Alpacas are one of my favourite animals, I just love their cute faces so it was only a matter of time before I drew one.  Here is my progress from yesterday.

Major Mitchell Cockatoo finished

Okay, I may have overworked this painting a bit, lesson learnt.  I couldn't stop fiddling with it, at one stage I had to re-do the eye completely.

Impressionist Cockatoo

I have a really sore back at the moment but I was determined to start this painting today.  I've had it in my head for weeks to paint a cockatoo in an impressionist style, I chose to do a Major Mitchell Cockatoo as I love the orange and yellow in their crest.  Still more work to do but I'm happy with how it's progressing.  Oil on canvas, 16 x 20 inches.

Splendid Fairy-Wren finished

Work in Progress: Splendid Fairy-Wren

Kookaburra finished!

The Kookaburra is finished now, really pleased with him!  I've had a great reaction to it on various art forums, really encouraging.

 

Kookaburra WIP 2

Kookaburra WIP 1

Started on this drawing of a Kookaburra today, thank you to Andrew Wallace for permission to use his photo as a reference.  I'm happy with how it's going so far.  I always find patterns in feathers a bit daunting at first but once you get stuck into it it's alright.

Whimsical Rosella

I drew this the other night, felt like doing something a bit whimsical and from my imagination.  I really like the idea of writing and illustrating a children's book one day with drawings similar to this, maybe in the future I might think more about it

Artist's Palette Magazine

Very excited, my artist profile and step-by-step demo has been published in the latest issue of Artist's Palette magazine (issue #113).  7 pages in total.  Really pleased with how my drawings look.

Etsy offerings

These three original drawings are available in my Etsy shop, you can see them here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/catgabriel

Video Critique

I recently joined a great art site called Art Tutor where there are lots of online tutorials in all mediums and subjects and a great community of artists to chat to as well.  As being one of the first members to this new site I won a video critique of one of my artworks.  I chose the tri-colour cat drawing.  Here is the link to the video critique by Bob Davies:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpK-yPrvCFE

Squirrel

Just finished this drawing of a squirrel today, coloured pencil on watercolour paper.  He turned out a bit more yellow than I intended, the photo ref I was working from the squirrel looks more red and dark brown but I'm still really happy with it.  I just love squirrels, I think they are so cute!

Basset Hound progress

Worked about an hour on the basset this morning, trying to establish the light and shade areas.  I just did a quick green wash in the background just to get rid of the starkness of the white as it was bothering me a bit.  The background will eventually be grass.

Now accepting custom orders for pet portraits!

For the first time ever I am accepting custom orders for pet portraits!  At this time I am only offering portraits in coloured pencil but may offer oil paintings in the future too.  Please visit the website for all the pricing and information:  www.catgabrielart.com

Basset Hound in Oil

I'm doing this as an assignment for the Pet Portraits Diploma.  The assignment was to paint a full bodied animal portrait in either acrylic or oil.  I've chosen this basset hound as I thought he had a lot of character and I've decided to use oil as it's the medium that I want to practice the most in.  I've just started blocking in the colours, it's going to be challenging for me I think but I'll do my best.

Finished?

Tawny Frogmouth progress

Life has been busy lately but I've been trying to work on the Tawny Frogmouths a little bit each day, this is my progress.  Still figuring out exactly what to do with that background.  The green is more blended in real life, the scanner tends to pick up every little pencil stroke...

Tawny Frogmouth - more progress

This scan doesn't show the complete drawing, but this is the progress I've made so far.  I'm finding the patterns in the feathers challenging but I think I've got the basics there now, need to refine it more and start on the branches

Progress on baby

I didn't have much time today but I managed to get a little bit done on the baby frogmouth...

Tawny Frogmouths

Today I started on a new commission!  An adult and baby Tawny Frogmouth.  I'm drawing this on A3 sized paper so it doesn't quite fit in the scanner, so here is part of it at least.  The branches are actually connected down the bottom, I think it's going to turn out well.  Hope you like the composition I have chosen Lyn?