MATERIALS
• Faber Castell Polychromos pencils 1 x Caran D’Ache luminance white pencil
• Pencil sharpener
• Canson Mi – Teintes black paper
• White Gouache paint,
• Fine paint brush
• Soft brush to sweep paper of pencil crumbs
• Eraser
• Workable spray fixative
For this demonstration, I have chosen a beautiful photo of a gorgeous nineteen year old cat called Mochko.
I took the photo when he was enjoying the last rays of sunshine for the day. His is old and has health issues, and so this portrait is now treasured by his human, and will remain in his collection as a memory of his best friend. This is one of the most beautiful things that we can offer as artists – to immortalise our fur family, and people.
There is a natural flow that you will find in your style … no style is right or wrong. I haven’t used some techniques in this piece; I have focused on line work and achieving a realistic result with toned paper. You can use baby oil, zest -it or other solvents to blend your pencils; they will dissolve and blend beautifully. You can also use pressure to saturate the colours with a blending pencil. These things are all available from good art shops. They are used in different ways to highlight areas of your work, and can be used in conjunction with white which if used to add a preliminary layer to your paper, the pencil colour is different but applies with ease, and similarly if you use white on top of colours, you can tone the colour back.
SET UP
Lay out everything that you need so that it is within arm’s length. The most important things are your pencil cups – as you can see, the colours are easy to identify and easy to grab. I use hand sharpeners, some will use crank or electric, there’s lots of choice! I also like to place a mirror behind the desk to see my progress in reverse, and have a print of the reference photo in view, along with the photo on my computer ready to enlarge and rotate as required.
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, use light strokes to not indent the paper and make sure that the drawing is correct, CPs are incredibly difficult to erase, even with an electric eraser, so work hard to get it perfect now.
STEP TWO
I’ve started with the eyes, using white under the colours to make the greens and blues in Mochko’s eyes more vibrant. I have used Light Green, Light Cobalt Turquoise, Light Phthalo Blue, Sky Blue and Cobalt Green and Earth Green. Keep your pencils very sharp and always draw fur in light, confident lines, in the direction of the fur. I am using the soft brush to swish pencil crumbs off the paper as I go.
STEP THREE
A cute little nose does wonders for bringing the drawing to its first stages of resemblance! The Caran D’ache Luminance white pencil is more opaque than the Polychromos, and so is deliciously vibrant and radiant on the black paper. At this stage I am also turning the reference photo sideways and upside down – I find that my brain draws better when it’s not drawing from memory. I don’t have many memories of cats upside down! It challenges the eyes to look. And look again.
STEP FOUR
Getting the fur started can be a little nerve wracking. Go lightly at first,until you are confident that your fur is going in the right direction. I have introduced Mustard and Sienna colours such as Naples Yellow, Indian Red, Burnt Carmine and Bistre, all combined when together to start to create the illusion of fur. Turning the drawing board and reference photo also ensures that I am drawing the fur in the right direction with ease.
STEP FIVE
I am still using black pencil on the black paper. As the black of the pencil is darker and a ‘warmer’ tone than the ‘cooler’ black paper, it keeps the fur uniform and makes it stand out. It also allows you to have more flexibility when going back in and correcting markings and unique patterns to the fur – you can work over lighter strokes and use lighter pencils over the top and the drawing remains consistent.
STEP SIX
Working down Mochko’s body, I have started to weave in warm greys, cold greys and Payne’s Grey, all add depth to the fur and age and character. I am also laying down the yellows and browns, keeping in mind that I will be painting on his whiskers later, so the under colours need to be correct. Look to see how the ends of each strand also catch the light in the fur, so I start adding glistens of white on the tips of the strands with the Luminance pencil.
STEP SEVEN
Mochko is really starting to take shape now. As I work the areas, I go back and rework them over and over until I have built up depth and movement in the fur. I can also start to balance his lights and darks now. Even more colours are introduced, like Dark Chrome Yellow, Sanguine, Venetian Red, Copper and Terracotta. Hard to believe that there are that many colours in fur, but the eye blends them all when they’re layered.
STEP EIGHT
It’s time now to add Mochko’s whiskers! This is the fun part. Spray the drawing with workable fixative as the Gouache will apply easier, use a tiny bit of water to make the consistency flow, load up your tiny brush and keep your arm free and swinging, no elbows on the table. Hold your breath, and gently draw the brush along the paper. I always find a few test runs above the drawing on some free paper will increase your confidence. If you find that you make a mistake, you can gently scrape the gouache off.
STEP NINE
As you do the whiskers, keep in mind that they are all different lengths, widths and tones. Really study the reference photo. I find that placing a black line under each whisker adds even more realism. I also go in and use my Burnt Ochre to tone some of the whiskers down that are not in full light. This creates a beautiful liveliness to the drawing and really finishes it off. I also use the gouache to add the glisten in his eye, the moist reflections around his eyelids and the final glistening touches to the coat. I go back over the entire drawing and make sure that it is balanced, and that his fur is consistent and true to his markings.
FINAL STEP
I signed Mochko and will have a photo taken of the drawing by a professional photographer as Mochko’s human would also like some prints. He is now ready to be mounted, framed and to go to his new home. Twenty hours of drawing time and the size is 28 x 46cm once cropped. Done!
ARTIST’S HINTS AND TIPS
• Use the most professional materials that you can afford you’ll be thankful in a few years’ time. Look for lightfastness and archival quality.
• Reference photos. the higher the resolution, the better your drawing. Persist to get a good photo and try to take your own whenever possible.
• Take frequent breaks, step back and assess, take your time, don’t rush your work.
• Use a mirror to check your work in reverse, it’s amazing how much you can see to improve.
• Turn your work upside down and sideways all the time it stops your imagination from hijacking reality you have to draw what you see,not what you remember seeing.
• Keep pencils you are using in little containers right beside you, easy to see colours, convenient to grab, easy to return back.
• have a spare piece of paper beside you to do little test colours and strokes. Control the paper, don’t let it control you.
• Keep pencils sharp, use a soft brush to remove pencil crumbs so that your work doesn’t muddy or smudge. Use a piece of paper under your drawing hand as well to keep paper free from oils.
• Draw what you are passionate about, it will translate in volume and presence into the heart and soul of your work.
• Be critical of your work, but respect where you’re at, and know that with every piece you do you’re learning and getting better time will pass, with it will come confidence and opportunity. Embrace it.
• Don’t compare yourself to other artists, they’re on a different journey to you!
• Join as many online groups and forums as you can, observe, participate, upload, make friends, share, be a part of it all, research and most importantly use it to inspire you!
• Find your favourite artist, contact them and ask them to give your some tips … you will surprised how many people would love to help and share their experience!
