Welcome, Bienvenidos!

A Little Quail Whimsey In Colored Pencil

Happy Sunday!
Think I'll call this finished and stop picking at it. I deepened the contrasts and colors to add interest, bring it more into focus.
Another colored pencil session is scheduled at the Kirk Bear Canyon Library on Saturday afternoon Feb. 20, 10 am - noon.  It's free so bring your colored pencils and learn some basic coloring tips.
Read more about class materials and where to get them HERE.
Quail Whimsey - 9x12" Colored Pencil, Strathmore vellum 100 lb
I used a lot of under painting layers in different colors to add depth. The only black used is on the quail, which was also under painted with a warm maroon to keep it from looking flat black.
I  Highly recommend quality pigment rich pencils to work with such as: Koh-I-Noor, Faber Castell, Prismacolor. All available locally in Tucson or online.







The first 20 hours -- how to learn anything | Josh Kaufman | TEDxCSU

What lights you up, lifts you?  Find Your Joy :)



I believe if you have the desire to want to learn how to draw, paint, use colored pencils, then you can do it. 

Often, sheer desire, the will to reach your goals, trumps talent.


Gambel's Quail Whimsy

Havng fun with this colorful little piece in colored pencil. Fanciful, bright and cheerful, this piece makes me smile when I think of these adorable birds.
Gambel's Quail, prickly pear, Variegated Fritillary butterfly.

Another colored pencil session at the Kirk Bear Canyon Library coming Saturday Feb. 13 or 20 in the early afternoon. Contact the library for more details :) Beginners and intermediate.

Gambel's Quail Whimsy - 9x12" colored pencil, Strathmore vellum paper



Little Quail & Colored Pencil Class Jan. 13

Playing with a quick little sketch.  More quail :)
The butterfly has been adjusted in Photoshop. Tracing onto heavy paper today.
The image might be available for this Wed. 13 night colored pencil class at the Kirk Bear Canyon Library.  Fun to color!

Colored Pencil Session Jan.13!

Just a few more days to register for a relaxing two hours of creative coloring! Jan. 13 from 6 pm - 8 pm at the Kirk Bear Canyon Library in Tucson.

Bring your new niftie Christmas giftie coloring books and pencils or create on one of three designs that will be provided. I'll show you how to blend colors and give a bit of info on the pencils & materials.

Oh, and the images provided for this session are copied onto thick, heavy artist quality paper, not the thin paper that most coloring books are printed on. Just saying...  :)
It's one of my pet peeves - the cheap paper most of the adult books are printed on. They bleed, are not acid free, usually too smooth for pencils.

I always think that if you're using good materials you will be much happier with the results. Rich colors come from paint/pencils that are made with more pigment, are more lightfast (fade resistant) hence the cost. Good paper will not bleed as much or at all and is worthy of your efforts.

 Here are some supplies I use and recommend for students:

• Faber Castell Polychromos, Koh-I-Noor Polychromos, or Prismacolor Colored pencils sets. (note: while Prismacolor are acceptable for class, it's not a brand I recommend as much due to the quality control issues with the pencils)

• Mona Lisa oderless paint thinner (and a container to hold it in, like a glass baby food jar)

• Synthetic brushes for blending with the paint thinner. Filbert or straight edge

• Pencil sharpners. Electric or hand held

• Kneaded eraser, clear tape, eraser stick (Derwent pencil eraser)

• Tape for securing your art to your clipboard. Masking or low tack tape

• Heavyweight art paper in medium or smooth or vellum. Strathmore Bristol 100 lb. is an inexpensive paper sold in pads at many art stores

• Clipboard to tape your work to. A size larger than your artwork to tape it to
• Dusting brush to remove dust

For nice coloring experiences I recommend copying the image onto decent artist quality paper like a Strathmore Bristol Vellum 100 lb.  It comes in a pad of 20 sheets or so in several sizes.
Yes, the copiers can handle the heavy paper - up to 140 lb. for most - just feed it through the bypass side and do a test with card stock first.

The materials listed above can be found at these stores:
*(note: the first three offer 40% online coupon off 1 item)
• Michaels
• Aaron Bros
• Hobby Lobby
• Sarnoffs (Tucson local art store)
• Posners (Tucson art store)
• Arizona Art Supply (Tucson art store)
• Dick Blick online ordering

Let's Color!

De-stress after the holidays.
This is an informal, Free mini class where you can play with colored pencils, learn a few blending tips. Coloring is such a relaxing, therapeutic activity - a big reason for the explosion of adult coloring books that are found Everywhere.

Bring your own colored pencils. A set of 24 is recommended. Get a good brand such as: Derwent, Faber-Castell. Prismacolor is also common.
Places to get your pencils: Michaels, Arizona Art Supply, Sarnoffs. Dick Blick for online order. Register with the Kirk Bear Canyon Library in Tucson, limit 10 people.