Portrait of a Cat

Colored pencil on black drawing paper

9"x12"

I created this drawing as an entry for Colored Pencil Magazine's monthly art challenge.  Each month they post a reference photo for everyone to draw and enter into the online contest.  The winners receive gift cards and those who enter every month receive a free subscription.  I really enjoyed this month's reference photo.  I decided to use a dark background and work up to the light values.  I noticed that my drawing seemed to take on the look and attitude of a couple of my favorite kitties and deviated slightly from the reference photo.  (Initial Photograph by: Jay Babin)

Potato Chip Rock WY

Acrylic on canvas board

6"x8"

I recently was invited to join a weekly email group in which a reference photo is sent out and then artists gain inspiration and draw or paint the subject.  Artists then give each other feedback on the pieces.  This was my first painting for the group.  It's of a group of rock formations between Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyoming known as Vedauwoo.  It is one of my favorite sights in the Laramie area and a subject that I have always wanted to paint in the past but had not successfully done so.

 *8/19/14 - 9/1/14 - This painting is currently available for viewing at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.

Starry Dream

Watercolor on watercolor paper

18" x 24"

One of my favorite artist quotes from my favorite artist - Vincent van Gogh.  This was my first time experimenting with watercolors from the tubes and masking fluid.  I definitely will need some more practice with this medium, but I was able to learn a lot about how to manipulate and layer the colors, the limits of the paper I was using, and how important it is to avoid overworking the piece.  I have a lot of admiration for anyone who has been able to master this difficult medium.

Yellow Brick Wall

Colored pencil on sketch paper

9"x12"

I created this drawing as an entry for Colored Pencil Magazine's monthly art challenge.  Each month they post a reference photo for everyone to draw and enter into the online contest.  The winners receive gift cards and those who enter every month receive a free subscription.  Although I did not find the reference photo this month particularly inspiring, I decided that entering each month would be good motivation to develop my skills in colored pencils and gain some much needed feedback to continue to improve in this medium. (Initial
Photograph by: Edward Robertson)