Time to Fly

Finally starting to do some art from my

recent trip to the swamp. Since this was

one of my favorite images, I thought I

would start with it. I decided to do it in

colored pencil, but I will probably try it in

watercolor as well. They will be very

different in feel and technique. Colored

pencil is very tedious and slow, but lends

itself to fine detail. Watercolor will be more

loose, and kind of "splashy". I may work on

both of them at once....taking breaks from this

time consuming drawing to play around with

the watercolors. It's a tough job...but someone

has to do it!!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

I have been giving out a lot of info about

Champagne's Cajun Swamp Tours. If you are

interested in booking one, here is his number:

337-230-4068 His name is Bryan.

the Cat's out of the Bag

Started working tonight on this drawing of a

cat for a client. I am pretty far along...still needs a

little tweaking. (and a couple more black colored

pencils!) Should be finished soon. I have another one

to do for her of another black cat, and then she wants

one of the two of them together. So, you may be seeing

nothing but black cats on here the next couple of days!

Hope it's good luck, and not bad.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Pet Portraits $100 11 x 14 $250 16 x 20

"Bentley"

This is "Bentley"...a Brussels Griffon, and he belongs to the

same family that I did the drawing of "Sugar" for (several

posts back). And she also wants a larger drawing of the two of

them together. I will have to start on that tomorrow. But for now,

this one is almost finished.

I did sell some artwork on the night of the Open House. I sold one

of the framed photos of Mykonos, and two watercolors. But there

is still lots of work up, ready to view and to buy!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

In the Spirit of Fruit

I received my latest copy of "Southwest Art" magazine,

and was delighted to see some colored pencil in the spotlight.

They sponsored an art contest for those over 31 years old,

and Cecile Baird won first place with her drawing: "Anyway

You Slice It". I also posted a photo of one of her other

outstanding pieces, "Juicy Fruit". I have had the pleasure

of seeing her work in person during several Colored Pencil

juried shows across the nation. I saw the banana piece just

recently during the CPSA convention show in California last

August. It was exquisite. As a colored pencil artist myself,

I am thoroughly impressed and appreciative of her skill and

expertise. I am so glad she won this honor, and I wish her

all the best.

www.cecilebairdart.com

I am continuing to work on the dog portrait, and will post

when finished. I thought you would enjoy seeing this other

wonderful work.

sheltongail@hotmail.com
For info on Pet Portraits: email me or call the

gallery: Pea Patch Gallery 318-628-3560

Boxers and Books

I am a Signature Member of the Colored Pencil Society

of America. That doesn't mean anything to most of you,

but I was very proud when I achieved that honor. And

that is the front of the new book just released that features

one work by each of us in that group. My piece, "Girl's Day

Out" is included in the book, and it was so neat to see it

there. I think you can order the book from Amazon. It

contains some really impressive work.

And that is the progress I have made on the boxer tonight.

I haven't worked on it long..I snuck away for a break at the

movies. "Secretariat" is a real treat, very inspirational and

uplifting. It is very well done artistically, too, from the acting

to the cinematography. Go see it, you will enjoy it.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

A Spring Sunday

Ahhh...a beautiful spring Sunday; a day to worship,

visit with family, relax, and enjoy being outside.

This is the view out of my front door. Enjoy!

I sent in the CPSA entries: "Pop Art" and "A Wrinkle

in Time" (that was the most popular title). The show is

being held in California this year. It rotates around; different

chapters of the organization host it each time. The show is

held in conjunction with the annual convention. There is a

banquet, workshops, and the opening reception for the show.

I have been to several of the conventions: Brea, California,

Chicago, and Memphis. I received my signature status in

Memphis. I stayed at the Peabody Hotel, and enjoyed

watching the ducks. (if you don't know about them...google

Peabody ducks!!). It was a very important goal for me to

receive the signature status. Hopefully I will get into the

show again this year, and will be able to attend the convention.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

More Competition

In the spring, there are always several shows
that I manage to enter. The CPSA (colored pencil
society of America) show deadline is March 31. I
decided I would try to finish this drawing of this
rhino in time.

I took this photo at the San Diego Zoo a couple of
years ago. The CPSA has been having issues with
artists using other people's photos as references for
their work. It has been the subject of a great deal of
discussion. I don't ever have that problem: I take so
many photographs, I will never run out of subject
matter!!

You can look up the CPSA website, and see some of the
fine work that artists submit. There is some really
amazing stuff. I hope this rhino will get to join the ranks.

sheltongail@hotmail.com
www.cpsa.org

Bullet 1

Here's the beginning of the colored pencil
drawing of "Bullet"....will keep working.


In colored pencil drawing, I start with the
lightest colors, and lightly begin to color
with them. Then I gradually build up layers
of color, adding the darker ones as I go.
Because the pencils are transparent, the
under-lying colors show through, and the
drawings seem to glow. This is the method
I like best. I do not burnish my drawings;
that is, bear down until the lead is slick. I
like to leave them with many of the pencil
strokes showing; so that it looks more like
a drawing instead of a painting. Some colored
pencil artists refer to their work as "colored
pencil paintings", but I have always called them
drawings. To each his own....

If you would like more info on drawing with colored
pencils, you can go to the Colored Pencil Society
website: www.cpsa.org I also teach colored
pencil workshops and lessons. Feel free to contact
me at the gallery if you are interested.

sheltongail@hotmail.com