Botanical art

Not my usual subject matter. At the drawing class I go to, we were given a poinsettia to draw. I was at a loss, so reached for my colour pencils. I was really pleased with the drawing, as far as I got in the morning (mainly the red top) but it looked a bit wishy washy. The tutor suggested going over it with water colour. This worked beautifully, so I completed the drawing, partly from a photograph, but largely from imagination.

The initial drawing. As far as I got in the class. Just colour pencil so far.

Watercolour washed over. It really intensified the colours, so I started blocking in more leaves in colours pencil.

All the plant drawn and painted.

The completed image, using a much nicer pot than the plastic one the plant was really in. The pit is just in pencil. All the rest is over washed with watercolour

Life class drawings

I’ve been attending the Stroud Life Class drop in Saturday sessions quite regularly this autumn. They have had a succession of excellent models, which is such a good experience.

Here I have tried the classic the colour approach, but I haven’t really got the hang of it. I don’t use the paper colour as much add I should.

Here I have tried a careful pencil rendering, but concentrating on the head and hand.

I usually don’t try to draw tattoos. I don’t really know how to, even though most models seem to have them now. But i couldn’t ignore this glorious snake, and I loved the pose, with shoulder shoved right up