Same customers, similar approach, different state. This new pencil commission is looking across a driveway at a vineyard with the Sierra* in the distance. The customers provided current photos of the view, but now the vineyard is gone and almond (or peach? plum? nectarine?) trees are in their place. So, I went exploring on the […]
Instruct me, Please
When working on custom art, which involves combining multiple photos and verbal or written instructions, there must be much communication. My customers for the Texas drawing said to lower the bluebonnets to keep them inside the fence, since if they are outside the fencing, the cattle eat them. I keep accidentally thinking of the bluebonnets […]
More From the Drawing Table
When we last looked at this challenging pencil commission of a Texas scene, it looked like this. When I don’t know where to begin, I just pick something that is somewhat concrete, something with a photo to follow, rather than work on the things I have to make up. So, distant trees, grass, and tractor. […]
Back at the Drawing Table
I told you that I have a very challenging drawing commission. Well yippee skippee, I finally had a pair of minutes to concentrate on the project. It is almost more of a design problem than an is-this-even-possible problem, like those tiny faces back in the winter. (Visible as Item #10 on Ten New Things Learned […]
Custom Art Job—A Map
The owners of a ranch used a hand drawn map to show visitors (for various reasons) how to find the right pastures, and they decided that a pretty map would better serve their purposes. They brought the hand drawn map along with a county map showing property lines and buildings. Think, think, think. How do […]
An Old Drawing Reappears
Someone I’ve never met called and actually left a message. I returned the call to learn about someone (Let’s call her AF) who bought an old home and had seen a pencil drawing of the house. The seller was supposed to leave it behind, but took it away. AF had the foresight to take a […]
Because I Felt Like Drawing
In 1990, I drew the Exeter Woman’s Club. (Yes, that is the correct name—I just work here.) It was part of a set of notecards called Tulare County Landmarks. No one can find the original drawing. All I have is this scan of a notecard with a hole punched in the corner. The club asked […]
A Little Help From My Friend
It is important that we are kind and complimentary to one another in drawing lessons. It is equally important that we are honest. AH is my friend and also one of my drawing students. Since she owns dogs, she saw something a little wrong in my drawing on the dog with the black head. I […]
The Emerging Drawing Continues
While I was waiting to hear if JM approved the house, I began one of the dogs. Just like on the itty-bitty-face drawing, I am leaving a gap between the different subjects to fill in later. (This picture is overexposed on the left side of the house because my giant magnifying light is washing it […]
A Drawing Slowly Emerges
Many years ago, there was a fabulous little place in Lemon Cove called Foothill Fruit. The owner was a terrific baker and sandwich maker, and some mornings I woke up just ravenous for one of her scones and French Roast coffee. I worked there for a few brief months (it used to be necesary to […]