Colored Pencil Tips and New Resources for Drawing Pets

Domesticated animals have a prominent presence in our lives, and for good reason. Dogs, cats and even horses have unique personalities that come out as you get to know them. We find humor in their antics and see in them human qualities that connect us. I, for one, can get lost in my dog’s eyes, wondering what it is she’s thinking as she looks back at me. She’s probably thinking about food, but that’s beside the point. I like to tell myself that she has quite a bit more going on behind those bright, brown eyes, and I’m truthfully quite sure that she does.

ShihTzu (colored pencil) by Mark Menendez

Because animals are so beloved to us (and to your current/future clients, perhaps), Mark Menendez has come out with four new DVD workshops with ArtistsNetwork.tv to help teach you how to draw horses, dogs and cats using colored pencil techniques. Here he shares with us two of his tips for using colored pencils. Don’t let the title below fool you; even if you’re experienced with this medium, you may learn something new.

Demonstration on how to draw a horse’s eye, by Mark Menendez (Pin this!)

Using Colored Pencils: Two Things to Know Before You Begin by Mark Menendez

Wash those hands!
Here’s the best advice I can give you: Wash your hands before, during and after working with colored pencils. All paper is sensitive to our natural body oils, so be very careful handling the paper. Also, use a slip sheet to prevent oil smudges. Just wiping your eye or scratching your face will put enough oil on your fingers to ruin a good drawing. Treat your paper with respect.

Create an ideal setting.
Make sure you have a solid surface that supplies ample room for your paper. Most art material stores offer clipboards that are 18×18, which is a perfect size. However, avoid placing the paper under the clips; this will make indentations on your paper. Use artists’ or drafting tape, which has low-tack adhesive, to fix your paper to the clipboard. Rather than using a clipboard, you could purchase a piece of construction hardboard. Never draw on a flat table. When using a drawing board it’s best to sit squarely in a comfortable chair and lean the board against the edge of a table so as to offer you a direct view of the paper. Correct posture will prevent pains in your neck and back, and offer you the best view of your work. Most important is proper lighting; make sure your lighting is satisfactory. ~Mark

Menendez explains how to draw a banty rooster with colored pencil in this digital lesson. (“Pin” this by clicking here.)

Imagine the in-depth instruction you’ll receive when you order your collection of Mark’s newest releases. In this Passion for Pets kit from North Light Shop, you’ll discover DVD workshops on using colored pencils to draw horses, dogs and cats, as well as an entire video on understanding color, form and value. Each DVD comes with a companion PDF, and the kit includes Realistic Pet Portraits in Colored Pencil (eBook). Apply what you learn to create the likeness of pets that are in your life, as well as any subject that you choose to draw with colored pencil. The possibilities are never-ending.

Yours in art,
Cherie
@CherieTweetsArt

 

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