Yorshi - Quickie sketches - Supposed to Be

This was supposed to be continuing with the quick gesture sketches but I found myself struggling with the brain wanting to focus too much on detail.  And I kept wanting to go back in to fix things because nothing looked right......basically getting carried away beyond what I was supposed to be doing.  Chalk it up to a lesson learned ;-) 

I used my 8B on this one.  Smudges too easily and my hand is always resting on the paper.  I don't think to grab another piece of paper or something to rest my hand on until it's too late.

Miya and her Bottles

Miya has this fascination for plastic drinking bottles.  Doesn't matter what size.  Hubby being a soda drinker is often hassled with her staring (often jumping in my lap so she can make eye level contact), making these funny noises or partial woofs to alert him she's there, jumping and springing off the side of his leg........just to say "hey.........I want THAT bottle."  And she could have dozens laying around he'd already given her.

Her mission or passion is to work the bottle cap off and then she's ready waiting for another bottle.  She doesn't chew on the caps and I'm forever finding them laying around.  We'll put them back on several times and the whole thing repeats.  You will see her now and then on her back paws holding bottle in the air as if she's drinking from it.

This is from a photo I took when Terry gave her a 2 liter just to see what she would do with it being so big.

This was quickly sketched using side of 4B pencil trying to follow the same principle of the 2 minute gesture exercises.  Only I didn't time it and I know it went longer than two minutes.  After the initial pencil strokes to get form down, I went back defining a few areas.  I took care not to get too involved or labor over it.

More Gesture Sketches

As requested by my mentor, Sandy,.............here are more gesture sketches.

This first is using the deer quarter turn-photos on her site www.sketchingeveryday.com.  After completing and sharing with Sandy, she suggested I use a softer pencil so I switched from HB to 4B

 After completing the deer, I was sitting outside and did this quick gesture of a stem hanging from my fuchsia plant. 

And last but not least, I've just completed two hummingbirds.

And Yet Another Violet Comparison Exercise

You sick of seeing fuchsias yet??  :-D

They are just easier for me while I'm playing with mixing violets/purples.

Going through my Daniel Smith collection of pigments, I came across another Alizarin Crimson.  They put out two with one stating "Permanent" Alizarin Crimson and one that just says Alizarin Crimson.  The one on my palette is the one marked "Permanent"

What I have seen as I was playing with mixing violets/purples, the non "Permanent" Alizarin Crimson seems brighter or cleaner.  Not sure you can really tell on the monitor.  It's subtle but on paper you can see the slight difference.  The Permanent Alizarin Crimson definitely appears to be grayer or not allowing the white of the paper to shine through as the other appears to.  Just in this little experiment, I'd definitely choose the regular over the permanent based on the results I personally get.

 

More Fuchsia - Alternative Sketching Tools (Few)

This is by no means the only choices one has when sketching.  Besides what I have showing, one can use pen and ink, ink and wash, brush and watercolor, brush and gouache, pastels, acrylic, Graphitint Pencils wet or dry, water soluble graphite pencils wet or dry, and probably other means I can't think of.   And depending upon paper, one method might be better than another. 

This was done showing three type of pencils being used.  A standard mechanical pencil, Derwent Inktense pencils wet and dry, and Derwent Watercolor pencil wet and dry. 

I love the look of graphite but I love color too.   A lot depends on my mood as to which I might prefer using at any given time.........as well as time, location, and convenience.

Gesture Drawing Exercise set - Sketchingeveryday.com

Sandy from sketchingeveryday.com has set a new weekly challenge for folks to join in and try their hand at.  Great exercise where you have only two minutes to complete a contour gesture sketch.  She's using an elephant trinket and the object is to do a quick contour sketch, turn the elephant a quarter turn and repeat until you have four sketches.  Do check out her site and join in.   

NOTE:  I misunderstood the exercise and have made corrections as indicated with the line-throughs.  My examples below are actual contour sketches and not the gesture sketches I should have done working more detail......ooops.  And I learned something new today.........I hadn't given much thought to there being a difference between contour and gesture means of sketching.  Forever learning :-)

Here is my attempt.  I first tried a blind contour just to see how it would go.  Then I started the timed exercise.

Instead of timing each for 2 minutes, I set my timer for eight minutes knowing I had four sketches to complete.  I jumped in not thinking about subject but quickly following lines and shapes to draw the elephant.  This was relaxing and definitely fun......even with it being timed.  I really didn't think about it as I was focused on getting what I saw on screen on paper.  And I finished before the timer went off. 

 

Elephant Photos of four quarter turned positions provided by Sandy

Violet Comparison - Fuchsia Study

Just so I could see a comparison with my own eyes side by side using Perm Aliz versus Quin Rose, I completed this fuchsia study.

Personally.......I'm just not a fan of using Daniel Smith Perm Aliz.  I'm sure it would have its place but there's just something about the violets or purples it mixes I just don't care for.  Of course it might not be the pigment but the one mixing and applying it to paper (in all fairness to the pigment itself).

I like the brilliance of the Fr Ultramarine and definitely like mixing that with Quin Rose as shown in an earlier post.  And while I was playing with the two reds, I decided for the fun of it to try Phthalo Blue (Green shade) with Quin Rose.  Again........I'm quite surprised with how those two mix together.  I would expect a duller or grayer outcome.  Of course compared to the Fr Ultra side by side though, it does look duller.

I'll keep playing!

My Favorite Type Marigold

This time I've painted my favorite which is not the ball type or multi-petaled flower head.  Instead the single layer with five petals.  I love the splash of red or deep orange found in these.

This was done in my Langton 140lb Cold Press spiral.

Cropping the flower out digitally........a simple card idea.

Results of Charting - Violets

I am super pleased with this choice of pigments and how it turned out with the fuchsia.  The flower and buds were done wet on dry in my Langton 140lb Cold Press spiral watercolor book.

This combination of blue plus red definitely seems to fit these delicate "dancers" 

Violets Mixing Chart - All My Blues and Reds on my Palette

OK.......here we go.  I've finally completed all my Blue/Red basic combinations and have found I really like using Quin Rose mixed with each of my blues.

What really surprises me is the results using Perm Aliz with those blues leaning towards Red like French Ultramarine.  You would think yellow was hidden in one of the pigments and it very well could be the case (or some other foreign additive that is graying the mix).  I'd have to check out Handprint for more specifics in the pigments I'm using as he goes to great lengths in breaking things down.

Another surprise was mixing Phthalo Blue (Green) with Quin Rose.  You'd think that combination would be more grayed with the results.

All the blues mixed with Cad Red Md leaned towards black, gray and brown.  My notes share that Cad Red Md in Daniel Smith is somewhat similar or reminds me of the Daniel Smith Burnt Sienna which is not as vivid as W&N Bt Sienna.  Daniel Smith's Bt Sienna is more like W&N Light Red but with different characteristics when mixed with other colors.

 

 

Well there you have it..............this has been quite a neat experiment that should help me for future mixing of violets that I like.  I definitely should have done this a long time ago with this brand of paint.  And I'm surprised I haven't because I've always been big on making charts.  I guess I'm getting lazy the older I get.  Live and learn..........right?  :-D

Violets Mixing Chart - Group Example 1

I've started with my violets mixing charts hoping to aid me in the future.  This is using my favorite brand Daniel Smith Artist's Watercolors.

This first group is using Cerulean Blue with the four reds on my palette as shown in the chart.  The red box indicates my favorite out of the group.

I have five six blues so will be adding a chart group for each with the four reds listed here.

Food for Thought - My Own Worst Critic

I woke up this morning logging into my blog and re-read what I wrote last night with my last posting.  The first thing that came to my mind was "I'm my own worst critic and boy was I hard on myself!"

I've been told that numerous times and it's an area I try to work at.......although I don't always succeed.   One reason I've taken to journaling is to help myself learn to experiment and play without fear of failing or meeting someone's high expectations (normally my own) with a formal piece of art or composition.  Illustrating or "cameos" do help in my learning to enjoy the journey but I do find at times me falling off track overly criticizing my practice or play pieces.  This happened last night.

Waking up with a fresh attitude, I decided to do some surfing about being one's own worst critic.  I read several forums where people shared their thoughts and experiences and then came across this site......

The Creative Instinct

One of the articles and free downloads is "Own Worst Critic" and I thought "wow.......that's perfect!"  A self-help reminder for those who, like me, fall victim to this in such a negative way it can hurt their desire to do what they love most.  I know from past experience that if I fall into this negative cycle, it can stop me in my tracks from wanting to do anything regarding my passion for drawing and painting.

If you get a chance, follow the links.  There are other articles of interest on his main site The Creative Instinct you might wish to read as well.  I saw a few I've bookmarked I want to check out.

Flowers - Watercolor/Pen and Ink

I have to say that tonight was not one of my better nights and I know each of us do run into that from time to time.  There are going to be times that no matter what we do, we're not going to be satisfied or we find ourselves feeling really disappointed in our results for whatever reason.  Tonight's my night.

Multi-petal flowers are extremely difficult for me.  I've yet to figure out what it is about them that intimidates me as they do.  I may do OK drawing them but when it comes time to render in paint, that's another story.

Purples or violets are THE most difficult color for me to get right.  I seldom like violets that "I" personally mix.  Normally they are dingy looking to my own eyes.  Even following the guidelines of mixing the right blues with the right reds with warm or cool bias doesn't seem to make a difference for me.  I should probably create a chart of nothing but violets but I've done that before and doesn't seem to make a difference.  Although I don't think I've tried creating a color mixing chart with my Daniel Smith pigments.  Most of my charts are Winsor and Newton.

And reds............hmmmm...........that's another tough one for me.  I'll have a color red in mind but I seldom achieve or pick the right one that I was hoping for.

So if I sound a bit negative with this post....................It's just one of those nights and I know we ALL have them  ;-)

Preliminary Flower Sketches for Watercolor

It's been a super busy last few days.  Either I've not had the time to sit and draw or paint or what little time I had, I didn't have the energy.  Thought I'd better do something before too many more days slipped by.

This evening I did these quick preliminary pencil sketches that I hope to paint in watercolor.  They are flowers we have recently purchased for around the porch with the fuchsia hanging near the hummingbird feeders.

This is actually darker than reality in order to show on screen before taking paint to them.  Used a mechanical pencil on The Langton 140lb Cold Press paper.  Used Photoshop to darken the graphite.

Cat Head from Shapes Taken to the Next Step

Earlier I shared the cat head I did working with basic shapes.  From that I refined or continued working with that head.  The goal was to come close to rendering Sandy's cat shared on sketchingeveryday.com ...... at least with the markings. 

Think I liked it better before I added to it.   :-D

Used the Derwent Light Wash (HB) pencil in the Handbook sketch book.

Dieting

Thought I would watercolor sketch some of the foods I'm eating on my diet started two weeks ago. Hopefully I'll drop what I gained over the winter in time for holiday next month. Then the weight gain cycle will repeat again (I'm sure).

Forgot the shadow on the tomatoes. Oh well......make believe they are hanging ;-)

Is it Watercolor or Gouache

This sheet was done to see if members of the group I'm a part of could tell what medium I used for each of the examples.

Can you?  Did I paint these using watercolor?  Gouache?  Or are they mixed?  (will come back later to give specifics after the group finishes with their answers) ;-)

Mushrooms

This is using The Langton spiral 140lb cold press I absolutely love for painting cameos.

On the left is color play using gouache pigments and bottom right is using watercolors. 

In this situation it would be like comparing apples to oranges because my goals for each were different. 

The gouache cameo was strictly color play wet in wet with various colors filling in the mushrooms.  The watercolor cameo is where I was using transparent pigments trying to form my subject maintaining the whites. 

For a true comparison, I would think I'd have to use opaque watercolors with the goal of color play as I did with the gouache.

Using Shapes to Aid in Sketching

This comes from following exercises of sketching subjects using simple shapes by Sandy on sketchingeveryday.com.

I am trying to visualize shapes when looking at a subject I find difficult sketching free-hand..........particularly faces and features.  Normally I avoid animals or people unless I do so with them facing away.  After trying my hand at her horse's head and recently a cat head using shapes she shared, I went through my photos and tried applying this exercise with the deer.

It took me awhile to get past all the fur and features to depict simple shapes but finally I did somewhat as shown above.  The sketch is from lightly sketching these shapes and then going back to form the deer as close as I could to the photo.

These may not be the shapes another person might see but for me these worked.

I'm a little off I think in the nose/mouth area but definitely closer than what I know I would have achieved without trying this exercise (at least without a lot of erasing and trying again numerous times).   I still need more practice and I think if I can get this concept down, it will help makes things a bit easier with future sketches.

Walking the Beach in Gouache

Walking the Beach in Gouache, a photo by sbwatercolors on Flickr.

Additional play with gouache as I learn how the pigment behaves on paper and mixing together wet in wet. Definitely different than watercolor in the way it moves. I find I'm having to nudge the pigment as it wants to settle rather than spread.

Done in my Hand-book sketch book. Will have to test on regular watercolor paper to see the difference.

Hummingbird in Gouache

First off, I want to again mention Sandy at Sketching Everyday.com.  I've silently followed her for the last couple of years as I love her watercolor sketching technique........favorite subject being the hummingbird.  Sandy has painted several hummingbirds all of which I absolutely love.  Especially those she renders in flight.

One in particular really captured my heart and I've practiced painting this pose a couple of times.  Her painting is stunning with the lost and found areas that makes it magically blend in with its surrounding background area.  The placement of darks and lights is what makes this super appealing to my eyes.  

Take notice to how she rendered the wings in particular.

Here is the link to her painting, August 2009.  (I found it, Sandy)

Although I've tried to emulate her method, I have not been able to render that magic she achieves.  But I won't give up........I'll continue trying until I can at least come close.  She's such an inspiration.

Playing with gouache, I've followed (copied) Sandy's example as shown in the above link.  I'm not unhappy with the results but I feel I can do better in achieving what I hope to achieve.  I'm still learning this medium and not sure yet just what it can do (or not do).

Thank you, Sandy, for permission to share this.

As for those viewing this post..........please DO check out http://www.sketchingeveryday.com/  Not only will you find wonderful examples of her work, Sandy sets challenges encouraging people to follow along and submit to her for sharing on her blog.  Another link to this wonderful artist is:  Sandy Sandy Spiritartist

Holbein Gouache Color Chart

It's going to be a little while before I can really share my thoughts or feelings using these pigments versus watercolor. 

Right off the one thing I really notice with these is you can "feel" the heaviness when applying to paper.  No surprise considering their opaqueness. 

One other note.........it would take a real heavy application for these to cover, fix a passage or hide an error if using white or other light colors.  At least not with the Holbein.  The white barely hid the light pencil mark of the flower shape.  And if one painted over the covered area this gouache covered, the pigment would "reactivate" and mix with what ever you applied on top.

This chart was done in my Hand-book journal sketch book.  I'm sure the pigment will behave a bit differently on true watercolor paper....especially paper that is heavily sized.  This journal book paper is truly for sketching and absorbs water/pigment quickly.

My note (in case you can't read it) deals with vehicle separation when squeezing color from the tubes.  An * was placed next to those pigments this showed up in.  Been a long time since I've dealt with that.  I had problems with vehicle separation in some of the Winsor & Newton watercolor pigments as well as other brands but I don't recall experiencing that with the Daniel Smith line.

Landscape in Gouache

Today has been quite a relaxing day to where I could do whatever I wanted without feeling I had to be somewhere or work on chores.

I'm part of a small group and each month we set up challenges to try and encourage one another to sketch and paint.  There are actually several challenges each month to include a monthly photo, sky photos (day and evening examples), cameo challenge (doodles or illustrations), and a graphite sketch challenge.  It's been awhile since I've felt up to participating and especially painting.

This is from the June's photo challenge and as you can see the notes, I decided to first do this using gouache since I'm playing with the pigments right now becoming familiar with how they behave (at least in my journal book).

Wing Practice - Gouache

Using Sandy's method of sketching but using gouache instead, I played a bit with wings (and tail feathers).  The idea was to use quick brush strokes so not to over-do or over-work.  I still have a ways to go with what I'm trying to accomplish.  Part might be due to paper I'm using because the paper soaks up the water quickly giving very little time to put pigment to paper and it "move" or disburse as maybe on sized watercolor paper.  Then again it could be the one applying pigment to paper and not the paper at all :)

This is from memory using no reference so anatomy or structure may be off a bit.

Trying out Gouache

I received my set of Holbein Artist's Gouache and thought I'd try a quick sketch playing to see how they do in my Hand-book journal book.

The little building is done wet in wet or more like damp on damp and then a few swishes here and there with color after the initial wash dried.

Also trying out my new Noodlers Flex Pen.  Can't get it to work like I know it's capable of working.  I'm not getting the flex giving variations of marks from thin to thick.  I'm learning you can adjust the nib but haven't found the right adjustment yet.  Or maybe it's not the pen but instead the person trying to use it.  ;-)

As for the gouache.......talk about rich pigment.  I'm used to using transparent watercolor so this will be a new venture / experience for me.  This sample doesn't even begin to portray what these pigments are capable of producing.   Time will tell, I'm sure.

Blue Bird in Watercolor

Except via photos seen by other people, I had never seen a blue bird until we started staying up at my son's property.  Now we get to watch them on a daily basis.

We often see them sitting on the cable or telephone lines as they watch the ground.  Then they swoop down and snatch what ever they might see on the ground.

I love their coloring!

This is watercolor using Cerulean plus Cobalt Blue and Burnt Sienna plus a touch of red.  Indigo with Burnt Sienna was used for darker areas.

Added a touch of 005 Micron pen/ink work for detailing.

This guy was up on our telephone line which is a super dark blue but I chose to leave it light so the feet would show.

Derwent Water Soluble Sketching Pencils

I have had my pencils for sometime and have never really used them with water.  After being asked if I used water with these pencils, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to do a simple play.

What I found I like is the results being subtle - at least on this paper and using the Light Wash (HB) that I normally use.  Using brush with a little water makes for a nice tone but leaving some texture showing as well.   I'm sure with the darker pencils, one could achieve some dynamic results combining dry marks with areas washed over.  I'm definitely going to play more using the softer pencils considering I love the Ink and Wash look.  Why I haven't up till now is anyone's guess :-D

Another Hummer for Sandy

I love these guys!!!!  I can sit for hours on end watching and photographing them!  And I'm enjoying recording on paper with pencil too :-D

I took several photos of this little guy close to dark a few evenings ago.  He's sitting on the perch of this feeder and it's almost like he's saying "Hi" to me.  He's very vocal too with a chirp here and there as if talking to me.  Unlike the other two.....one being quiet and very shy and the other with his quick excited chirp as if to scold me for being there.


Here are links to my "tools of the trade" mentioned above for those who might like to check them out.

The Hand-book Artist Journal

Derwent Water Soluble Sketch Pencils

Hummingbird Challenge - sketchingeveryday.com

Sandy on www.sketchingeveryday.com has set a new challenge to be completed by Sunday for those interested in following along.  Please do check out her site and give this a try.  Definitely fun to do!!

Reference photo provided by Sandy.

Completed using Derwent water soluble sketch pencil - Light Wash (HB) in Hand-book sketching book.  (love that paper texture for drawing on)

 

Thank you Sandy for the reference photo and challenge :)

Cute Episode Trailer

It's been years since I've watched any TV but here lately I've been relaxing late evenings watching old discontinued TV show series.  One was called Beautiful People from back 2005 or 2006 and then What About Brian.  The episode trailer or whatever they might call it was cute and on the last show, I decided to capture that on paper.

I wonder who might recognize or remember this?

Mouse in the Seed Can

We were cleaning out this metal garbage can we keep bags of bird seed in and at the bottom we found some spilled seed, a corner piece of one of the packages, part of the string to one of the seed bags and a surprise bonus with this little guy........he was adorable!  How he got in there no one knows.  The lid fits tight and we keep a cinder block on top to keep raccoons out.  Evidently or possibly he was in one of the bags of bird seed when we purchased it.  How long he's been in there is anyone's guess.  It's amazing to me too because there is no water.

This is from a photo I took looking straight down into the can.  His feet were all tucked beneath his body where you couldn't see them.  Kind of reminds me of a cute rubber mouse or one that has a wheel beneath the body that moves it across the floor.

Quick Flower Sketches

Something dawned on me this morning as I stood outside sketching these flowers.  Somewhere along the line I've undergone a transition and I honestly can't say when this happened.

For the longest time I would only draw and paint from photographs.........never on the spot "live."  I just felt photographs were easier for me rather than from live models.  I've challenged myself on various occasions to try using a live model but I would always fall back on photos as my preference.

What I've taken note of this morning is the fact I'm doing more and more work from observing the real thing rather than relying on photos.  For me that is a MAJOR step forward.  Not to say I won't use photos but I guess I'm no longer bound by that as I was in the past.

Maybe that almost 75 Day Sketch Challenge (notice I said almost.....snicker) has helped in ways I didn't expect.  :-)

This first is the last bloom that is fading on my Mother's Day lily given to me by my eldest son and his wife.  I included the remnants of some of the other blooms that once accompanied this last one.

And yesterday we planted these marigolds in front of the house.  Two different varieties of yellow with maroon markings (at least here I spelled it right - I think) - one being a single and the other double.

Do You Know What This Is?

Earlier this Spring before all the leaves filled out, I came across this "thing" attached to a branch.  I am guessing it's a nest of some sort but really not sure.  I wonder if anyone recognizes what this might be.  If so, please share because I'd love to know.

Quick sketch using my Derwent water soluble Sketch pencil - HB 

Hummingbird Profile

Thought before I got busy today that I'd get at least one sketch in.  This is from another of the photos I took a couple nights ago.

These last two posts on same page - one using a mechanical pencil and this one using an HB Sketch pencil.

This was the little guy just sitting there perched on the feeder looking at me almost as if he purposely posed for the shot :-)

Hummingbird Quick Pencil Sketch

Wow have the last few days been busy!!!  Not enough hours in the day. 

Today I did manage to do a quick pencil sketch.  I took several pictures at dusk last evening of one hummingbird that was in a feeding frenzy before the other one chased him off.  He's not shy and was quite the model for me to include my using a flash.

I would have liked to have done a few pages of various poses but I was lucky to get this one done and wanted to share it since I've not posted anything for a couple to few days.

Yorshi

Upon request...........I have tried doing a front view of one of my two little dogs - This time Yorshi is my model who is a Yorki-Shih tzu mix. 

I haven't had much success in the past (I've tried several times) because of the ragga-muffin look of the fur.  Yorshi's fur is wiry and thick whereas Miya's is soft and fine.  Both quite a challenge for me as I'm not real sure of what I'm doing with regards to the fur direction (one of my weak areas).

With this attempt I think I came closer.  Definitely not ready to attempt this in watercolor (maybe next year) :-D

Used a Light Wash (HB) Derwent Sketching pencil for this in my Hand-book sketchbook.

Clover

Tomorrow I return to work and today's stormy so I'm taking advantage by getting more sketching in.

Here's one of a couple varieties of clover growing in the field around us.

Stabilo water soluble pens (two different violets and three different greens) as well as watercolor (Sap Green, Per Green, plus touch Aureolin) with black Micron 03 for final ink detailing.
 

Miya from Pencil to Ink/Wash

Few posts earlier I shared a quick pencil sketch of Miya.  Today I went over with the Tombow marker and waterbrush.

 

The Lonely Daisy - A Survivor

Yesterday walking the field I happened to notice this one white little daisy popping up from the ground.  We had just mowed last week on a low cut and amazed that this little guy managed to survive the blades. 

Not the type daisy one would purchase at a garden center.........these are definitely a wild weed type variety that spreads by runners (or so it seems).

This was done using the Stabilo watercolor pens (primarily black with a touch of green) and small waterbrush in my Hand-book sketchbook.  I am finding I really like the texture of the paper in this book especially for this type of work. 

And I definitely prefer using water soluble pens to standard ink pens simply because I can add form and tone with a little water and brush rather than hatching or other means used with other pens and permanent inks. This method just seems to work better for me.

 

Is it a Duck or a Goose?

This is a watercolor sketch using Sandy's sketching method

My French Ultramarine and Burnt Umber mix leaned towards the blue side (as pretty evident).  I then went to add water soluble ink and ran a waterbrush over it only to find I had used the dark green rather than the black.  Ooops.  :)

Sketch in my Daler Rowney sketch book.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 61

The way I've worked this exercise is not as it was intended.  This should have been done 75 consequtive days but didn't quite work out that way.  But as mentioned in one of my previous posts, I'm determined to finish 75 days worth of sketches..............just kind of stretched out a bit longer than 75 days from the start of this project.

This was at the Columbus Zoo as a prop.  I goofed on this one as I probably should have contoured shaded the neck area of this.  Plus (and I'm laughing as I type this), I should probably grab my Right Side of the Brain book and do some practicing of mirror imaging left and right sides.  This looked really wonky until I added more pen lines to 'try' and balance both sides.

Horse at the Columbus, OH Zoo

I have to admit that I did not use the triangle/square/circle method with this sketch.  Instead I just eye-balled the best I could using one of my photos.  I do feel however that the two previous horse profiles I sketched using the shapes method helped tremendously in my coming close with overall shape and proportions this go around.

As for what breed of horse this is......I have no clue.  He was in the petting area for children.  Here's the photo I did this from and I'm sure those familiar with horses will probably recognize what kind he is.

Here is my sketch using the Tombow marker pen (black) and brush with water (I used a synthetic round #5 rather than a waterbrush for better control of water flow).