WIP From Graphite to CP

antipodean · #1 04-05-2012, 04:10 AM

Hi: I have a question. After many years of doing graphite drawings I am having a go at some colour. I have taken a graphite drawing of a tiger I did some years ago and am doing it in colour pencil using a light table. I tried scanning the coloured version but the colours looked all wrong. The photo seems to give a better representation but I feel it is a compromise. As you can see, he does'nt have any whiskers. I have read that white can be applied using gouache. So, the question is will this work and how do I apply the paint? Will acrylic paint work? Any comments appreciated. Cheers Glen.

**ocmd123** · #2 04-05-2012, 06:26 AM

Welcome, Glen! This guy is gorgeous. I love the pose, and the expression on his face which could be read as gentle and non-threatening, or, it could be read as 'if you want to run, you'd better do it now'.

Regarding the whiskers, either gouache or acrylic can be used. You just paint it over the top. What pencils and paper did you use? Those two details are very big in the cp world, because the different pencils and surfaces play together differently. Did you enjoy your foray into the world of color? Can we hope to see more colored pencil work from you.....?

antipodean · #3 04-05-2012, 05:57 PM

Thanks for your reply Elaine. I have some acrylic paint so will give that a try. Hopefully I won't mess it up. The drawing is on Canson Classic Cream which I cut to an A3 size. I used the smooth side. Used Faber Castell pencils except for some of the colour on the collar (shades of grey) which where Prismacolor.
I am hoping to carry on with cp as it gives much more scope than graphite. Recently purchased a set of prismacolor pencils which seem to be a popular choice on this site. I have tried this medium before but this time I intend to persist.
Thanks for the welcome and your comments about the drawing itself. Much appreciated. Cheers Glen.

basketmaker · #4 04-05-2012, 06:59 PM

I use white gel pens for teeny tiny details like whiskers. I love your graphite and colored version. It is truly awesome. HOPE to see more from you in cp!

George924 · #5 04-05-2012, 07:05 PM

For very fine detail you can also use white ink, the ink that is used in technical pens, I use it quite often but is not totally opaque. Also, using a soft pastel will work extremely well. When I use the pastel for intricate highlights I will sharpen the pastel and before I apply it I will moisten it with a touch of the tongue.

FromtheDeep · #6 04-05-2012, 07:53 PM

Wow, your tiger portrait is amazine! I love the detail of his face and his huge paws! Good luck with the whiskers -- I agree with the gel pen idea although I've never tried it myself.

Jazz · #7 04-05-2012, 10:04 PM

Welcome Glen to the intoxicating realm of Coloured Pencil -now your here you wont ever want to leave

Your Graphite Tiger is fabulous -he has real presence

I love your CP version -one of the great traits of CP is that you can layer it and achieve all sorts of hues without needing to pick out the pencil of nearest colour match. It tends to lead to a more intense colour with real depth -I was just wondering if you could have done that for the creamy/white areas of your Tiger, instead of choosing grey. Just an observation feel free to take it or leave it

.

I hope we get to see many more CP creations from you as you have real talent

.

Ali

antipodean · #8 04-27-2012, 03:45 AM

Hi: Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Well I haven't made any big changes to this drawing but I wanted to repost it because I was able to get a much better image using my scanner. I did manage to add some whiskers following the advice given by painting them on using acrylic paint. I am wondering if I should add more contrast by darkening the throat region. This would better define the face. But I am not sure what colour(s) to use. I want to avoid using grey as was recommended by Ali. Also considered a background but in the end decided not to. Comments and suggestions always welcomed. Cheers Glen.

gale Prosser Shuba · #9 04-27-2012, 10:55 AM

You did a great job! The color looks fine. Would love to see more of your work.

Candle · #10 04-27-2012, 02:24 PM

This is looking really good, and I like the whiskers you added!
For creating dark tones on the white fur, you might try mixing gray with a blue or purple, something complementary to the oranges you've used. That should give you a nice gray that reads as a full, rich color. I definitley recommend practicing on a test swatch first though.

ArtbyPeggy · #11 04-27-2012, 04:18 PM

This is BEAUTIFUL! Well done Glen

On little critique would be to shadow the top of the eyes a little more.

KarenESP · #12 04-27-2012, 07:04 PM

Absolutely stunning - true nature shining through!

LLKrueger · #13 04-27-2012, 08:46 PM

I really admire both the graphite and colored pencil versions of the tiger. My interpretation of/reaction to the two versions differs. I find the graphite version rather threatening and the colored version much friendlier. Isn't it interesting what color can do to a work of art?

I think you have a great future in colored pencil. Your graphite work has given you the skills to manage values and to render fur in colored pencils, both of which are challenging. Have fun with the colors.

Linda

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