Still Life

Apple and grapes in graphite pencil.  Drew this freehand from one of my own photos.  I may do this again in coloured pencil and also try it in oil paint.  I've never used oil paint before so it will be pretty challenging I think but I'm looking forward to it.

Basset finished!

Finished the sleeping basset this morning, really happy with it.  The overall look is just what I wanted.

Basset progress

after 3rd drawing session, still more to do....

Background

I decided to go with coloured pencil and worked on the background all afternoon, I'm fairly happy with it.  Can't wait to get started on the basset now.  I'm not so confident I have the right colours in my pencil set, might have to invest in a larger set I think...

Preliminary sketch

A preliminary sketch of a sleeping basset hound.  A member of Flickr kindly let me use their photo as a reference.  I'm really pleased how this sketch turned out, drawn completely freehand.  In the past I have measured and used other aides for some of my drawings to help with proportions but I feel my freehand skills are improving and I feel so much more satisfied with it knowing I drew it just using my own eye.

I'm not sure if I am going to finish this drawing just with graphite or use coloured pencil, can't decide...

Coloured version

Here is the coloured version.  Coloured pencils.

Dog eyes

Another assignment for the Pet Portraits Diploma, dog eyes in graphite pencil.  I'll be doing these eyes again in coloured pencil tomorrow hopefully.

Chinchilla

Here is a little sketch I did today of a Chinchilla.  I love these animals, I wish we had them in Australia.  I liked how this turned out so I might try drawing it again on better quality paper.

Peacock Butterfly

I bought a set of Prismacolor colour pencils the other week and finally got a chance to sit down and try them out.  This is a peacock butterfly.  The pencils feel nice and soft to use, maybe too soft as I found the leads break easily.  If I really get into using this medium I might search for another brand, something that is a bit sturdier.