STEP ONE (PREPARATION)
To begin Neddy’s portrait I use a light pencil to draw the basic outline and mark out the placement of important features like eyes, nose, mouth, chest, etc. It is worth spending time getting your drawing just right and saves a few headaches later on.
STEP ONE
I had the truck placed where I could set up my camera (with tripod) to take sufficient photographs for the drawing. I sometimes take up to 150 photographs, depending upon the size of the rig. I made sure the client was happy with the profile before I took the photographs.
STEP ONE
The reference was my son when he was younger. I always loved the photograph but never liked the background or the fact that you couldn’t see his face (obscured by the bubbles). I enlarged the reference photograph and placed the drafting film over it ready to transfer a line drawing in white pencil. As the final piece was to be displayed over black mounted card, it was easiest to see the line drawing in white.
STEP ONE
I set the pose on the paper, using hard pastels, reducing the work to broad areas of solid colour. For this picture, I selected blue for the skin, orange for the hair and red for the shirt; with blue and hot pink in the background.
STEP ONE
The initial pencil sketch is purely to place important features. I really draw with the pen. If I have trouble getting it right, I will trace onto a clean piece of paper. I like to get the pencil rubbed out as soon as possible because it annoys me.
STEP ONE
I chose several different reference photographs of elephants from the Internet, books and newspapers, and practiced several small sketches of elephant compositions.
STEP ONE
I chose a warm sandy coloured sheet of conservation matboard and draw up the main horse and rider with a Prussian blue pastel pencil, and the rest with a Terracotta pastel pencil.
STEP ONE
It’s incredibly difficult to see the foundation drawing on the Canson black paper, but things to remember: try to erase your lead underdrawing as you go or it will muddy your colours and can be seen under the CPs
STEP ONE
Using several of my own reference photos of the honeyeater, I draw up my work on tracing paper. The main image I have of the bird is of a juvenile so I have altered the cheek patch and plumage colour for a mature bird.
STEP ONE
Having decided on my medium I set about sketching up my drawing, I have chosen a full sheet of 310g Illustration board lightly textured.