It's been a while... three cp drawings

[autismart]

Usually I end up feeling embarrassed when I post (because you all are so doggone good) but I realize this is the best place to get constructive critisism. I'm calling these three pictures done so advice would be used on the next and future pieces. I so admire the way people help others in this forum.
I'm trying to get them to post as thumbnails below the message so I hope that works. Here goes

[Chisaii]

The thumbnails seem to work for me. No need to feel embarassed--these are beautiful!! Those seals are adorable and the bg is perfect!

Are these all from ref pics?

What type of pencils and paper did you use? Funny thing--We always ask that here!!

[DesertDarlene]

These are all very good! You obviously have some skill and artistic knowledge.

The only suggestion I have is if you could sharpen the photos of these pictures so that they display more clearly.

[gordoiye]

i think they're all great - i would go much deeper with your colours though, unless it's just the photos that are washed out - hey, never hurts to deepen the values

cheers,
gord

[couturej]

They all look great!

[mdefeiter]

Never feel embarrassed. You're pictures look excellent!

Mariska

[autismart]

Gosh, blush, I never expected such positivity.

Chisaii, They were all free adaptations from reference pictures. I don't remember the source of the ducks and the seals but the heron is a local shot by a friend of mine. I used prismacolors on (not any of the "good" brands that people talk about here) but a paper for finished work (not a sketch pad) but I don't have the paper name. I'm dying to get ahold of some of the paper I read about here.

Desert, I may have talent but have had no training and have just recently picked up colored pencils. My first attempt was a project here, "Water, water everywhere" Thanks for your kind words. I wouldn't know how to sharpen the picture. I scanned the pieces and saved them as jpg's.

Gord, Do you mean just put more layers on, in particular, the ducks or the Heron, when you say deepen the values? Is the seals picture more of an example of deeper values? I'm truly very new at this.

Couturej and Mariska... Thank you so much, it encourages me to do more.

joanne

[eaprescott]

They're all lovely! Keep going!

Ann

[ams]

You definately have talent using cp. These are all lovely.

I like the bird on the post. You have rendered the water and reflections. very well. It looks as if the bird could have had more contrast between the light and dark areas. It would make it look more three-dimensional.

Another thing that might help would be to use more than one color in an area. You can layer colors one over another and it creates a depth of color you can't get with one pencil. The layers should be applied with light to medium pressure.

I also think you will notice quite a difference when you try another paper.

Good job on all of these. I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Anne

[gordoiye]

joanne,

what i mean to say is, pick out your darkest parts and go a lot darker - try using a complementary colour (for the mallard's green head, try indian or tuscan red) - deeper values will bring out the 3-dness of your pics.

cheers,
gord

[DesertDarlene]

Wow, with "no training" your work is very impressive.

If you don't have photo editing software, you might want to get some. Paint usually comes with Microsoft Windows and I think you can sharpen your pictures there. There are also other programs that are free and nearly free such as Gimp and Microsoft Picture It! Express that can sharpen the scans also. You just find wherever the "sharpen" or "unsharp mask" functions are and you can use them to sharpen them up.

Pictures often go "soft" when they are resized or scanned.

Good Luck!

[Chisaii]

Originally Posted by gordoiye

joanne,

what i mean to say is, pick out your darkest parts and go a lot darker - try using a complementary colour (for the mallard's green head, try indian or tuscan red) - deeper values will bring out the 3-dness of your pics.

cheers,
gord

In most cases, Joanne, a full range of values (lights and darks) are more effective no matter what medium you use.

Here is a value scale which gives the range of lightest lights to darkest darks. Since CP is normally layered with multiple colors to give each color area more brilliance, Gord is suggesting you 'push' your colors and values even more. So in order for the darker areas of your mallard to be more pronounced, you need to darken up the top of the head a bit with other dark (complementary) CPs and do the same on his chest area right above the water line.



Newer artists sometimes feel intimidated by going darker but give it a try and you will be surprised!! A great way to help is to put any ref pic you use into grey scale--this gives an overall view of the value scale above.

Good luck and keep up the good work!!