ONLINE ART COURSE – ROBIN IN COLOURED PENCILS
This was a very exciting project, requiring more skill than previous projects in the coloured pencils module, because it was a more detailed drawing, and it was also more photo-realistic than previous projects which were more sketchy.
The drawing step by step
As usual, we began by drawing out the subject. I used a graphite pencil (2H) and I erased it back a little at each stage.
Beginning to add colour. People say every drawing has an ugly phase, and this was certainly true during the beginning stages! You just have to press on regardless and be confident that all will be well in the end.
We completed the base layer of colour and began to add some detail.
I really enjoyed dong the fine detail on the bird’s facial features.
The next stage was to add more detail again. I got a bit ahead of Phil at this stage and did quite a bit of work on the wing and tail.
In stage 6, we went back over the bird and intensified the colours with more layers.
Stage 7 involved working on the wing and the tail, but I had already done most of this. I just added some more detail and intensified the darker values a bit.
Stage 8 – working on the legs and the lichen on the branch.
The lichen was the least successful part of my drawing, and I knew I could have done it better. I did work on it a bit more which improved things somewhat, but it wasn’t how I wanted it. The legs and feet were more successful.
The final stage, stage 9, was work on the branch. I was pleased with how this turned out.
After this I looked at what I had done, and thought it looked a bit stark, floating in mid air on the white paper. I asked my hubby what he thought, and he agreed with me that I should add a background.
I wanted to keep this very subtle so as not to distract the eye away from the robin. I chose two shades of pale blue from my Derwent Coloursoft pencil set. These pencils are very soft and waxy and I don’t really like drawing with them, but they are great for backgrounds as they do blend well. I used a very light touch, holding the pencil as far as possible from the tip, and I must have done 5 or 6 passes before I had got the background how I wanted – strong enough to be visible but not to intense. The final step was to go over it with the white Derwent Coloursoft for final soft blending.
This is the result, and my completed drawing.
A few detail shots. I used my Slice knife to scrape the colour away in a few places to create the fine feather detail.
This project was great fun to do. I do prefer the more detailed and blended realistic look to the sketchy style. To achieve this, it takes many hours and many layers, working very lightly and patiently until the final layers when one can apply full pressure and really up those dark values, which makes the drawing leap off the page.
I think my little robin is singing his heart out, glad to be completed!
We are fast approaching the end of the coloured pencils module, with just the self-directed challenge to come. I am sad about this as I really enjoy this medium, and know I shall be pursuing it in the future.
