Panther

This is one of those drawings that make me feel like I'm doing the kind of work that I'm supposed to be doing. I knew that I was going to draw this Panther as soon as I saw its photo in a magazine. I was totally immersed in the process - looking forward to working on it every step of the way.

It's this kind of work - the kind that brings you to that wonderful place where your concentration is so focused on your artwork - that reminds me of how grateful I am to be able to be an artist and to do the work that is so meaningful to me. I feel truly blessed to be able to do that.

Even though working with colored pencil is a very time consuming process for me, the end result always reminds me that it's worth every moment I spend on creating it. I just love being an artist!

This is colored pencil on Strathmore Illustration board, 8 x 11 inches.

Insect Art

I've always been fascinated with insects and think they're an interesting subject to draw. I like to draw them larger then life to bring out their beautiful colors and detail. My interest in insects is probably the main reason I enjoy doing scientific illustration.
I like drawing from life, using a magnifying glass to get all the fine details. This one was done from a very good quality photo - something that isn't always easy to find.
I have a small insect collection and have found the Internet to be a great source for collecting. I also go to museums to look at insects that are not commonly found where I live.
This is colored pencil on Stonehenge paper, 8 x 11 inches.

Toucan

This little guy was done as an experiment on black paper. I often use a black ink wash for a background on white paper since I have had trouble in the past with getting the intense color that I want. This time I did a value study in shades of white and light grays - I think it worked well. For me, it was a little like drawing in reverse - I had to think about creating more light when I usually concentrate on creating darks.
I also decided to combine the black of the bird with the black background - it tricks your eye into seeing the whole bird even though the only place I used black was on the bottom of his beak. It was not something that I planned and was pleasantly surprised when I finished his chest and saw the effect. I love when that happens!
This is colored pencil done on Strathmore Bristol, 9 x 12 inches.