Showing posts with label graphite pencil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label graphite pencil. Show all posts

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Quarter (Barrel) Horse Pencil Drawing Portrait Commission

Horses have been a favorite animal of mine since early childhood so it comes as no surprise that I embrace every opportunity I have to paint or draw them!

I was asked to draw this beautiful horse's portrait as a memorial tribute for a friend. I used mainly 8B and F pencils along with my tortillions, chamois and Q-tips for delicate blending.

The original photo included a busy background and the horse was wearing a halter but it was decided to leave those out of the drawing to focus on the subject.

"Darby"
11x14
graphite pencils
COMMISSION

View the work in progress below: 


































Friday, December 25, 2015

Winter Snowshoe Hare Pencil Drawing

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and many thanks for all the support and encouragement throughout the year!

This year we have an unusually warm and green Christmas. While I really enjoy the warmer temps, I sort of miss the beautiful blanket of snow. I am sure the snowshoe hare probably prefers the white stuff as well since his white coat makes him stick out like a sore thumb amid the browns, golds and greens of the forest!



Thursday, January 15, 2015

Pit Bull Terrier Portrait (graphite drawing)

I haven't had the chance to post all of my Christmas commissions so thought I'd share this dog portrait I created using graphite pencil. 

I had a handful of photos to use but the original reference photo I had to work with measured only about 3 inches and did not have optimal resolution. To make matters more challenging, the client wanted a large portrait measuring 11x14! 

Creating a white animal on a white background may not be immediately apparent but can be achieved by carefully observing and exaggerating the subtle tonal values (highlights and shadows). One must be careful not to darken the values too much or the subject will end up looking darker than actually would be.

For more examples of my work, visit www.colettetheriault.com 
  
Buster
Pit Bull Terrier 
graphite pencils
11"x14"
commission

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Asian Snow Leopard Drawing using graphite, charcoal and colored pencils...SOLD!

I am so very thrilled to announce that "Peaceful Repose" has found his forever home!
Before shipping the artwork, I took the opportunity to do a final scan of the drawing with my new scanner.  I now have a pretty good digital representation of the artwork before it leaves for its final destination.

 "Peaceful Repose"
Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
size: 9"x11"
graphite, charcoal and colored pencils

To view the reference image used for this artwork and the work in progress, click here

To read more about the snow leopard, visit my website here

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Black Labrador Pencil Drawing Pet Portrait Commission

This dog portrait is now ready to be sprayed with fixative to prevent smudging of the graphite until it gets framed under glass. It is to be given as a father's day gift so I knew I had to complete the drawing very soon so that the client has enough time to get it framed.

Please contact me if you wish to have your pet immortalized as a custom painting or drawing!  I also offer GIFT CERTIFICATES that are perfect for any special occasion for that hard to buy loved one in your life.

"Trigger" Black Labrador
graphite pencil
5" x 7"
COMMISSION


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Portrait of Dog Drawing Work in Progress

On this step I continue to work the dog's fur, making my way down the face while ensuring each strand of hair is of the perfect length,  direction and shading. Now that the nose has been added, the dog no longer has that "ghostly" look stage.

I will now be able to take a step back and tweak any areas I see need adjusting...


Tuesday, May 27, 2014

The start of a new commissioned pencil drawing

Switching from pastels, I am now working with graphite/charcoal pencils to render this detailed portrait of a black Labrador dog for a client. I will be posting more work in progress images of this dog drawing so do come back and visit!

Oh, and I have not forgotten to post the six cat pastel portrait...I have to wait until the recipient opens their gift so as to not spoil the surprise!

To view more detail on the drawing, click on each image for a larger view.



Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Commission of a Golden Retriever Pencil Portrait Drawing

  With my pastel portraits being the most popular option lately, I was excited to receive this dog pencil portrait commission because it gave me the opportunity to try out a brand new paper. I've always wanted to try out Mellotex paper and so, after finding a Canadian distributor I finally ordered a stack of sheets. Although, Mellotex is more expensive than most papers I use, I quickly realized it is well worth the difference in price as it is by far the most amazing paper I have ever had the pleasure to work with! And I've tried many, many different kinds of papers.

  So here is the portrait of "River", in a pensive pose. Along with the wip images below, you can see the original reference photo and compare the modifications I have done to the portrait.
Golden Retriever Portrait
Pencil Drawing
approx. 8"x10"
COMMISSION





  Here are a few work in progress stages I promised to show along with the original reference image supplied by the client:




For more pet portrait and animal drawings, please visit my website artwork galleries.


Sunday, February 16, 2014

The painting studio and animal portraits

It must seem like after completing the wolf painting, I have disappeared from the face of the earth but actually, I have been working on several projects at once. So I thought I'd share a few projects that are at various stages of completion in my studio.

First is a very rough sketch of a six cat portrait commission, most of which are Siamese type breeds and one amusing Scottish fold! Two cats in particular will be challenging to paint due to poor quality photos but with the client's feedback and scanning/zooming the photos on my computer to see more detail, I am confident it will all work out in the end.  I did start the cat on the top left which is one that I only have poor quality photos of. I felt I'd better start with the most challenging one and then the rest should be a breeze, right?

Another project I will be working on is that of my friend's beautiful dog, a flat coated retriever named "Galoche".  I will share more of this special commission on my blog at a later date. Below is a mock- up image composed of two photographs combined to create the reference I will use for the dog portrait.
Lastly, I completed a dog pencil drawing commission of which I have not shown any updates yet. Once the owner approves the final version of their portrait, I will post the artwork along with a few work in progress stages. So stay tuned and have a happy day everyone!


Thursday, February 7, 2013

Drawing of black capped chickadee on branch

Today I completed a second bird drawing in the chickadee series. I love how quickly these are coming along compared to the longer and larger pieces which take forever to finish.

Black Capped Chickadee charcoal drawing in pencil by Wildlife Artist Colette Theriault
Chickadee no.2
6"x8"
pencil
SOLD

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Cairn Terrier Dog Portrait in Pencil

Although I currently have over half a dozen commissions left to do, this dog drawing is the last of which needs to be shipped out before Christmas. With the pressure of commission deadlines being lifted from my shoulders a bit, I can now start thinking of my own Christmas shopping and errands left to do! 
Cairn Terrier Dog Portrait in Pencil by Colette Theriault
"Hunter"
Cairn Terrier
8"x10"
Graphite

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Siberian Husky Pet Portrait Drawing in Pencil

I can breathe a little easier now that this "rush" commission has been completed and shipped to the client all the way to Kentucky!  I don't like rushing but sometimes, I have to discipline myself and spend more hours in the studio...and put the do not disturb sign on the door!


Siberian Husky Pet Portrait Drawing in Pencil by Award Winning Animal Artist Colette Theriault
Siberian Husky (copper phase)
graphite pencil drawing
8"x10"


To read more about this dog drawing commission, see my website http://www.colettetheriault.com/descriptions/petdescriptions/Siberian_Husky_portrait.php 

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Cat drawing in need of a title

I am still contemplating whether to call this feline drawing finished and might even change the crop ratio on the image ever so slightly (the cat is too low)....I think I will darken parts of the blurred out area behind the cat as the foreground looks too dark compared to the rest of the boards (might even just lighten the foreground too).

The cat was actually laying down on a wooden dock which explains her fore paw clutching in between the boards. She was seemingly content as she watched me, sprawled out on my belly, taking her photo. I really loved her expression, how relaxed she was and the perspective... which is the main reason for drawing this pose.



Monday, February 27, 2012

The home stretch...

With the foreground and a bit of the back paw left to do, I call this the home stretch!
Click on the image for a larger view.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Scaredy Cat Drawing Progress

There is no denying that I have reached the "ugly" stage of this drawing...a subject with no eyes is downright scary and this cat is no exception! I have gone against my usual and "safe" method of always drawing the eyes first, perhaps because I feel no pressure whatsoever on this drawing (it is not a commission).  

The mood I am feeling today has to be one of bliss; the joy of creating work just for ME. That got me thinking of a title for this drawing...which might include the word "bliss" to aptly describe the cat's contentment...but who knows what cats are thinking?!?!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Progression of a cat portrait in pencil

Before I close the lights in the studio and call it a day, I decided to scan and show the (little) bit of progress I accomplished today. Tomorrow is another day and I hope to sit down long enough to finish most of her face.

New Animal Portrait in Graphite...bye bye pastels, for now anyways...

I love working with pastels but it is the tremendous surface area  required that I dislike (that and having to clean the dust). I am talking about the surface area required to lay out my numerous pastel chalks, sticks and pencils so that finding the exact color I need can be done at a glance. This also means that my pastels are left laying around collecting dust and taking up precious room. But even worse is the potential for breakage should one roll off the top of a table or chair, or whatever else surface I have them sprawled over.

Logically, I knew one day I would require a storage unit for them; you know, one that has numerous, wide but shallow drawers that allow for easy storage, viewing and sorting of my precious pigments! These taborets as they are sometimes called, can be expensive but I am fortunate to have several family members involved in the woodworking profession. Both my husband and my father are avid woodworkers; my father being retired, was the prime candidate for my next project, and he wholeheartedly agreed!  Once the unit is finished and set up in my studio, I will be posting a follow up with lots of photos, so stay tuned!

Now that my pastels are stored away in their respective containers on the shelf and I have cleaned my studio and work easel of the colored dust, it was safe to take out my virgin white paper and graphite pencils to begin my next project. It may not look like much at the moment, but I take it that some of you will readily guess the silhouette of the featured animal.


Friday, December 9, 2011

Pencil Portrait Step 6: the collar

I have always found it challenging to achieve an accurate representation of a graphite pencil portrait using a scanner (or camera for that matter). For this update I decide to scan the portrait rather than take a digital photo. Although I could have further adjusted this scan for correctness using Photoshop, I much rather wait till the end and spend time drawing . The shinny reflective quality of the pencils is what makes it difficult; one scan can come out one way, while the simple act of repositioning the portrait on the glass will result in a different scan!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Pet Portrait Step 4: the wrinkles and an ear

While it may not seem like the portrait has advanced significantly since my last post, I did put quite a bit of time on what I have done so far. My method consists of indenting fine hairs with my pencil, burnishing, erasing and then applying additional layers of graphite on top of the previous.
I continue (not always in that particular order) until the desired tonal value and level of detail is achieved. This may also require me to go back to previously finished areas to adjust the overall tone of the portrait.

I do find the process more time consuming on a white dog due to the fact that the images I work with are almost always of low contrast and the subtleties in the lighter tones or values are more difficult to adjust.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Pencil Portrait Step 1: Background

Last night, I began the preparatory work for my next dog commission. This included creating a mock  image using Photoshop, printing out a life size b/w copy and selecting the paper (in this case, I chose Fabriano Artistico paper). Since my subject is mainly white, I decided to start with the darker background and then apply a workable fixative to prevent smudging on the white areas. Before spraying, I masked the dog using the paper cutout from my b/w copy to avoid getting the fixative on the virgin areas. Through experience, I have found that fixative will change the attribute of the paper, hence  affecting the appearance of additional layers of graphite.

The paper cutout was also useful for masking when I worked the background.