A breakfast surprise!

The following illustration was part of a children's book illustration exercise from last year.  However, I only recently finished it to my satisfaction and wrote the poem so I thought I would share.

watercolor and color pencil on paper - 8" x 16"

(Click image in order to read poem)

Evening Primrose from Alcatraz Island

This year for the first time, the Northern California Society of Botanical Artists is collaborating with the Gardens of Alcatraz to build a florilegium, or collection of botanical paintings, to document the species of the island.  Many of the botanical subjects survived years of neglect to persist from the island's prison past.

As a NCalSBA member, I toured the gardens in March and chose the 'Pink Evening Primrose' (Oenothera speciosa) for my subject.  It was located on the windy side of the island in the 'Prisoner Gardens.'  I completed the color pencil painting below earlier this summer and was recently informed my piece was accepted for the florilegium. A giclée print of the drawing will be on display this fall and will also remain permanently in Alcatraz's collection.

11" x 14" - color pencil on Stonehenge paper

"The initial exhibition of Alcatraz Florilegium images will be in the Alcatraz Prison Band Rehearsal Room, September 1 – December 31, 2013 and will be open to all island visitors."

Orange Tulip

Tulips are a favorite springtime subject of mine and the following drawing of an orange tulip was completed using color pencils on Canson mi-teintes paper.  I loved the color variation in the flower and had a lot of fun with it.  For an earlier version in graphite, check out my post from 2/9/2012.

Shoebill Don't Bother Me

I don't remember exactly how I found out about the Shoebill, but I thought it was so interesting looking that I had to make a drawing of one.  The following small piece was completed using a combination of watercolor and color pencil.

2.5" x 3.5" CP Watercolor Artist Trading Card

Life Drawing in Color Pencil

The following drawing was done from life over a couple of hours at the very end of last semester.

color pencil on pastel paper

Portrait of a Squash

This quick study was done last semester of a grocery store squash using color pencil and turpenoid.  I've been using color pencils for years but never knew it was possible to dissolve them in a drawing with turpenoid for blending and different effects.  The purpose of this drawing was to experiment with this technique.

color pencil and acrylic background on mi-teintes canson paper

New Business Cards!

I just ordered my first set of business cards featuring my artwork from Vistaprint, and am very excited to receive them and start passing around.  Hopefully I will like them as much in person as I like the preview above!  The image is a pink iris rendered in watercolor and color pencil.

Costa Rican Cattle

The following study is of a cow I photographed while in Costa Rica.  I found their appearance interesting and was told that the breed is particularly heat tolerant.  The sketch is done with a combination of watercolor, color pencils and gouache.

So far, no one has taken me up on my genus and species challenge but this darling is worth another 10 points!  And you didn't think there was a prize...

Parrot in (color) Pencil

I received a great Faber-Castell color pencil set from my Father-in-law for the holidays and have been VERY excited to try it out!  This parrot was completed with the pencils plus Faber-Castell watercolor pencil washes in the background.

The subject was photographed on a previous trip to the California Academy of Sciences.  10 points for the correct genus and species!