More fun combining Pyrography with Colour

Adding a Splash of Colour
12x12 inches
Pyrography, Inktense pencils & Coloured Pencil
on Cradled Birch Ply

The Intrepid Friendship
12x12 inches
Pyrography, coloured pencil and ink on
Cradled Birch Ply

Oh what fun I am having combining the pyrography with the coloured pencils and colour. I have had a wonderful pyrography artist me to alert me to the fact that pyrography can fade over time, which alarmed me quite a bit. The fading isn't consistent and can be unpredictable. This is one of the reasons that I am combining the coloured pencil with the woodburning. Apart from loving colour of course, I darken the darkest darks and brighten some areas, so that if there is any fading of the burned marks over time, the overall integrity of the image should be maintained. I just love the combination of texture and rustic look that the wood burning gives and even more so when combined with a bit of colour. I think I might be hooked :)

A little bit of Trompe L'oeil

The Scribe
8x10 inches
ballpoint pen, Faber Castell Pitt Pens and Promarkers
on Ampersand Claybord. 

I have always had a fascination for Trompe L'Oeil artworks and thought I would revisit this genre, by redoing an older piece of mine. I am loving working on the Claybord, but unfortunately the coloured pencils do not come out with level of vibrancy that I'm after when working on this surface and so it feels a bit strange for me to be completing artworks without even reaching for a coloured pencil. The background was underpainted using the Black Promarker and I then went over this with the black ballpoint pen for a nice consistent black. The rest of the squirrel was done combining the ballpoint pen with the Faber Castell Pitt pens and also using a blade and fibre glass brush and blade to scratch into the Claybord surface for more realistic fur. 

Reference photo for the squirrel provided with kind permission by http://www.flickr.com/photos/mandj98/1924302163/in/set-72157594327779035/. The format for this artworks was inspired by the beautiful artworks of Marina Dieul:)

Falling in love with the humble ballpoint pen

Contentment
8x10 inches
Coloured Ballpoint pen on Ampersand Claybord

I was doing some research the other day in preparation for a new artwork and stumbled across some ballpoint pen drawings which really inspired me to pick up the ballpoint pens and attempt another drawing using this medium. I attempted one a few years ago, but combined it with ink and inktense pencils so it couldn't really be called a ballpoint pen drawing. This time, after trying the pens on an assortment of papers, I tried them out on the Ampersand Claybord, which really helped with some of the problems you can come across when using pens. At least if you make a mistake or get one of those unsightly blobs of ink, you can very gently scratch off the surface and resume your drawing and this is a huge plus. There are some concerns about whether drawings done with ballpoint pens could fade over time. I have sprayed this one with 7 generous coats of varnish and am going to hang onto it for 6-12 months and then rescan it to see whether there actually is any fading. You can view a speed drawing of this artwork on YouTube. The reference photo for this gorgeous tiger was provided with kind permission of DigitalART2 on Flickr.  I found this piece really exciting to work on, and will be experimenting with a few more pieces - so watch this space :)

Having fun with Markers and Coloured Pencils

Here's Looking at You Kid
8x10 inches
Coloured Pencil and Markers on
Fabriano Artistico Paper

This tutorial was created in response to a special request from an artist wanting to know how I use markers and coloured pencils together in the one artwork. You can also watch a speed drawing of this process on YouTube at http://youtu.be/_zqZFyO05Yk. The markers are used first to underpaint the entire area, which I find speeds up the drawing process and also gives extra depth and vibrancy to your artworks. This beautiful Rainbow Lorikeet is one of a pair that come and visit Mum several times a day and often bring their young ones along as well. The 19 page tutorial is available from either my Website or Etsy Store

Latest Artwork, Speed drawing and Tutorial

Emerald Eyes in Scratch Art
5x7 inches
Scratch Art, ink, inktense pencils and coloured pencil on
 Ampersand Scratchbord

This latest artwork and tutorial was created in response to a client who asked to see a speed drawing and tutorial on scratch art. This artwork is available as a speed drawing on YouTube and as a 24 page step by step tutorial on my website at either my website or my Etsy Store. The reference photo for this gorgeous kitty was provided with kind permission by Whiskymac on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiskymac/104255109/in/set-793880

Latest Drawing Tutorial - Nature's Gifts

Here is my latest step by step drawing tutorial and for those of you who also like to see the process of creating an artwork, you can also view the Speed Drawing of this at http://youtu.be/SokrF9IQAFk. I hope to have a speed drawing to accompany most of the tutorials I create from this point forward. This tutorial is available from either my Website or in USD as an instant download from my Etsy Store.

You might also notice that I have now added a Subscribe button to the side bar for anyone who would like to receive my monthly newsletter which is full of drawing hints and tips and often has discount codes as well.

Last artwork for 2013 and Season's Greetings

Bunny Banquet
12x17 inches
Coloured pencil and ink on Fabriano Artistico Paper

This will be my last artwork for 2013 as I pack up my 'studio' in readiness for Christmas and the arrival of lot's of interstate family. Sadly, my poor blog has been neglected this year as many other commitments have kept me away from blogging. My goal for 2014 is to post more blog posts, more WIP's and hopefully some Speed Drawing videos (once I spend the holidays working out how to do it). I wish you all a very safe and Happy Christmas and holiday season and look forward to sharing more art and news in 2014 :)

Refuge

Refuge
8x10 inces
Coloured pencils and zest-it with white ink
 highlights on Watercolour Canvas

As we are currently surrounded by so many bush fires, this is a reflection on the comfort, protection and salvation that water brings to those caught up in the heat, smoke and ash of the fires, and is dedicated to all those wonderful fire fighters who put themselves out there to protect the property and lives of others. May all those caught up in the fires stay safe and be given strength.

Newsletter Launch

I often get asked by artists to let them know when knew drawing tutorials are released and also for hints and tips for working with coloured pencils. Over, the weekend, whilst at our youngest son's soccer breakup, it suddenly occurred to me that a newsletter would provide the perfect way of keeping everyone up to date. I spent much of the weekend compiling an email distribution list and putting together this first, short newsletter. I am hoping to make them a little longer and more informative in the future, but just wanted to put the feelers out for this first one. If you would like to be added to the email list, you can either send me an email, or message me via Facebook with you email address. I am planning to make this a monthly issue and would love to hear if you have any ideas for tutorials or questions you think everyone might like to know about. Happy drawing. :)

Getting your coloured pencils to pop on a black background

Full o' Beans
9x12 inches
Coloured pencil, Gouache and white ink on Black Mat Board

I have spent the last couple of weeks redoing this piece over and over. I love working on a black background, but get a bit frustrated with the way some of the coloured pencil colours, particularly the reds, lose their vibrance when working on a black background. I decided to underpaint with a white medium. Underpainting with white coloured pencil is quite ineffective and really doesn't add to the vibrancy of colours added in subsequent layers. So I experimented with white acrylic, Gouache, gesso, Colourfix primer and white watercolour. None of them gave me 100% satisfactory results. The jellybeans needed to look smooth and glossy and some of the more textured primers such as the gesso and colourfix made it hard to achieve that smoothness. The pencil didn't apply as well as I wanted over the acrylic or Gouache either. I have dabbled with the Golden Drawing ground, but find it a little too slick for coloured pencils and some of the vibrancy of colour is lost. So, I tried diluting the Gouache with the Drawing ground. The chalkiness of the Gouache was reduced with the slickness of the ground and vice versa. I still wouldn't say that this is the perfect solution, but it was the best of all the options I tried. Back to the drawing board to find that elusive magic formula!!! :)

Fun on Black

Hitching a Ride
9x12 inches
Coloured pencil on black mat board

Warts and All
8x10 inches
Coloured pencil on Black Paper

It has been a while since I have had the chance to do either art or blogging and finally I can get back into both. We had a lovely family holiday in Melbourne last month and then our eldest son and his lovely fiance had quite a large engagement party, so we have had lots of lovely things going on. I have a bit of an addiction at the moment for working on a black background - I just love the contrast that can be achieved the way the colours really stand out. 

I have been asked by several people how I get the colours to look so bright. Last year I put together a series of coloured pencil charts ( which are available from my website at http://www.miniatureartbykhull.com/tutorials_36.html) and one of the things I did when creating these charts was to do a swatch for every single colour in for four different brands of pencil on 6 different surfaces, including the black. This really helped me to work out which brands and indeed which colours stand out the most on the black surface. I have to say my all-time favourite for working on the darker surfaces are the Caran D'ache Pablo's. They give vibrant colour and layer really well. Both of these artworks were done using mostly Pablo's and then Verithins were used for the detail and the Faber Castell Polychromos were used for burnishing and polishing.

Lucy tutorial and first art demonstration

Meet Lucy - this gorgeous kitty is the subject of my latest artwork and art tutorial and a huge thank you to Viola on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/aoa-/6942317269/in/set-721576230430 for allowing me to use her wonderful reference photo of Lucy. This artwork will be the subject of my first Art demonstration for the Nepean Art Society tonight, which I am extremely excited and just a teeny bit (!!!) nervous. Hopefully all who attend with get something worthwhile from the demonstration. If you would like to try your hand at drawing Lucy, you can find the 19 page step by step tutorial from my website

Ebay Store Closing

After receiving an email from Ebay to say that the subscription for stores is now increasing from $25 per month to $50 per month, plus you still need to pay a listing fee, plus they still take 7% of the final value fee, I have no choice other than to close the Ebay store I have held for 5 years. I do hope this doesn't cause any inconvenience to my loyal and much valued customers. You can still purchase all my art tutorials and commissioned portraits from my website at www.karenhullart.com or from my Etsy store. If you have any problems with either of these sites, please don't hesitate to contact me directly. I will also be adding to my tutorials on a regular basis and they are being added to a range of new sites over the coming months.