Losing My Marbles
29cm x 19cm
Coloured pencil and Pan Pastels on wood
What fun I had doing this artwork and it is a reflection of all the things I love - animals, colour and a touch of humour. For those of you who like the background in this artwork, and if you have not already done so, please have a look at the beautiful animal paintings on
Sam Dolmain's Blog. His inspirational art has taught me that it is Ok to be fearless with colour and to put down the colours you love, and not just the colours you see. This is the direction I would like to take with my art, combining realism with bright colours.
Just a note about pencils - those of you who follow my blog would know that I have always been a fan of the oil based pencils such as the Polychromos, but I have found when working on the Gesso on wood, that my old Derwent Studio pencils work best. The Polychromos tend to sit on top of the gesso more and will powder off, whereas it is easier to achieve better colour saturation with the Derwents. This is just my experience and it also depends on your techniques when working with coloured pencils - I tend to push the pencil into the surface with short stabbing strokes, rather than sweeping it across the surface.
15 comments:
And my first thought is, "please don't put those in your mouth, baby!" I know. I am such a mom. This is just beautiful Karen. Oh to have an iota of your talent!
I just love this one Karen, humourous,sweet and thoughtfull all rolled into one. As for the background colours they rock, and I shall have read of Sam Dolmans about that too.
Thank you so much Sherry and Vic, and yes definitely check out Sam's blog - his animals are simply charming and the colours he uses are gorgeous!!! :)
good one Karen. Loks a lot like me without my marbles.
Thanks for the kind comment on my art blog. That green was a challenge
Thank you Gary and your troubles with the green paid off - you would never know it was a challenge!!! :)
What a wonderful combination of colours - it really brings the portrait alive.
Such exciting experiments to be working on Karen, you must be bursting with ideas!
I am Cindy and you know yourself there just aren't enough hours in a day!!! :))
Karen, thanks for the tip on the pencils and blog. My first thought before I read your comments was wow love the background color, it works so well with the subject! I'll have to check out Sam's blog. Very well done and great title.
Thank you Barbara for your lovely words - I'm sure you will fall in love with Sam's charming paintings, especially his cows, and his use of colour always leaves me dancing!!! :)
Im very flattered by your link Karen, but you know you inspire me (and Im sure others) in many ways. Such incredible realism, and each piece you do is so unique and different, you are always coming up with fun ideas. Im very envious and of course I love your humour;o)
You're a darling Sam for your kind words and I guess that's the fantastic part of sharing all our work on-line because there is so much inspiration to be gained. It does take a bit of work maintaining and looking at blogs and art sharing sites, but it is so worth it!!! :)
You always take pencil drawings to a new level Karen...Stunning!
Thank you Deb - I'm always trying to do that and sometimes it works and sometimes not :)
Love it Love it. It's gorgeous. You are so talented Karen.
Talking of inspiration.I think you would inspire so many people with your fabulous work.
Great job.
Thank you Dors and so would yours - Isn't that the wonderful thing about all this internet stuff - there is so much talent to view and share and inspire - I feel for the artists of old - I guess that's why they often lived in communities :)
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