Here's the start of the wolf drawing I've promised my daughter.

It's on 1/4 Imp, Saunders Waterford, 300gsm hot press paper, using clutch and mechanical pencils 5h, 2h, hb, 2b and 4b.

Oh goody Jan
Love your WIP's

love the eyes.

Dors

You are getting a great intensity in the eyes - look fwd to watching it grow.

Sue

This post i will defo keep watching.

Already you have a great drawning. I can only imagine what it will look like when finished.

Greeneyes, when you pic somthing to draw how do you decide where to start?.

Im a real noob when it comes to drawning and am trying to get my standereds up. Iv done alot of the tuts here and there great but its hard to pic a subject thats not a tut and start,

I've been so busy the past couple of days that I haven't had any chance to do more on this. If I get time over the holidays I'll try to get some more done.

Dors, so glad to have your company again

Hi Sue, thanks, take a seat.

Oldat29, good to have you with me on this one, too



I always start with the outline drawing, whether traced or gridded, depending on how quickly I need to do the drawing. This one, I printed the ref at the same size I intended the drawing to be and traced it very lightly. Most of the outline is faded now so I can only just see it, but I then begin with the eyes and work outward from there. Usually, once the facial features are in the correct place, it's pretty straightforward from then on (famous last words ) I hope this helps

My Pleasure.. Jan... I love your work.
Dors

Thanks Dors

Found a bit of time this afternoon, so I've worked on the eye and the surrounding area, laying in the basic fur direction. Looks a bit messy at the moment, but it will improve with time

Hi Jan, welcome to Drawspace though I see you have been a member for quite a while this year. So far your work looks beautiful and I think I have seen you around on Wetcanvas, in the colored pencil forum I believe, right? Anyways, I will be pulling up a chair and watching your wolfie come to life..

Thanks Venus, I've been hanging out a lot in "Drawing and Sketching" at WC for about 16 months. I've done only one drawing in CP's and that was a loooong time ago. I still check in there a lot, though Pull up a nice comfy chair and grab some munchies.......Oh!!! Hang on, you'd better wait until Christmas is over first....wouldn't want you to miss it!!!!


Wishing everyone here a very Merry Christmas XXX

Looks great so far!!

Hope you had a great Christmas Jan
Your Wolf is coming along nicely... those eyes have so much depth.. my chair is pulled up, have the munchies and looking forward to your WIP as always.

Dors

Thanks Jimmer1220

Hi Dors, thanks. I hope you had a great Christmas, too.
Don't mention munchies!!!! I think I've put on about 7lbs over the past week

The wolf looks amazing, much better than I could ever do. Right now I couldn't gain a pound if I wanted/tried to, thanks to swim team that is, we even have practice over christmas break (everyday but christmas and new years day). I hope everybody had the most amazing christmas this year!

Hi Jan, not long done a wolf myself so I know what your going through lol. Yours is looking very good at moment. love the depth and detail you have in your eyes. Will be watching your progress with interest

Good job Christmas comes only once a year Jan... the older we get the harder it is to shed those extra pounds. LOL.

Dors

Thanks guys

I'm hoping to get back to this in the next day or so. As soon as I have something worth showing I'll post it

Well it has been a long time since I last worked on this, but got some done on it today
Here's the long ago promised update. I'm so pleased that I'm getting back the urge to pick up my pencils again at last

This is looking outstanding! Can you give a newbie some insite on how you achive the fur. Are you leaving white of the paper or are you erasing back in between layers??

Hi Airscapes, you just caught me as I was about to switch off my computer and go to bed


In answer to your question, I fill in a section with shading in the direction of the fur growth. I then take out short strokes using my kneaded eraser or the sharp edge of my click eraser. I then shade here and there around the erased "hairs". I tend to do this quite a few times in layers. At first it looks too neat and tidy, but when I feel the depth is almost done, I erase here and there in short strokes veering off slightly to make cross hairs. I keep on adding and erasing until I achieve the desired tones needed.

I hope that makes sense and helps?

Back tomorrow

Yep! You explained that perfectly, thank you very much!

Jan, the fur is coming on beautifully on your wolf. I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

Wow, it is looking great so far!! You are doing a wonderful job on the fur!!!

Hi Jan, love how this is coming along. Glad you have come back to this one. I may be wrong but it looks like you are using the same refernce photo that I used for my drawing of a wolf that I did last year. Love seeing your approach to to this subject. P.S I think you are doing a better job lol

Airscapes, glad to be of help

Jeannette, thanks, great to have you here

Jimmer, thanks, I should have another update ready for tomorrow

Kev, it could well be the same I'm trying not to follow the ref exactly and it's not very clear so I'm having to make a few parts up myself

Here's the promised update.

love the detail you are getting in the fur Jan. Keep up the good work

Looking good Jan,

I love the detail you are getting in the coat.

Sorry Jan... Have the house on the market... Oh gosh It's hard selling and moving... Chair pulled up when I can fine the time.

Love your work in Progress ...coming along just great .... you really are so very tallented.
I will jump in when i can...to see how you are going with this.
I just adore Wolves

Dors.

Thanks Kev and Sue

Hi Dors, thanks, great to see you again. I thought you must have been busy as I haven't seen you around much lately. Good luck with the house!!!

Here's where I've got up to this morning. I've started laying in the tones on the left side. He looks a bit strange, but he'll look better when I put the ear in

Almost had a disaster!!!! I used the soft brush I blend the tones with to add a base tone to the inner left ear, I was a bit distracted but realised in time that the brush was wet!!! My "delilghtful" kitten had been chewing it!!!! He likes to "help"!!!

Hi Jan still looking very good. I read with interest that you use a dry brush for blending I must try this technic myself. I do not usually use blending much in my drawing and if I do I use my fingers which I know is a no no for a lot of artist but I find it works for me plus I find blinding sticks give too much of a harsh look. What type and size of brush do you use?

Thanks Kev. I use a number 6 flat watercolour brush very gently in the direction I'm working in. It works for me You use your finger??? Tut tut

Wow, that fur is coming along fantastic!!!!!

Thanks for the tip on the brush Jan.

I have always been a stump girl myself (colorshaper for pastels which I remove with a brush ) but now I'll have one popped aside with my graphite - I can see the advantage to the flat - can get broad or fine blend depending on what you need .......................hmmmm.....................now where is that brush.

You're really making progress on this drawing now Jan. The values are coming together. Just love that stare...

Thanks Jim and Jeanette, I'm hoping to get more done on it tomorrow

Sue, I find the brush very handy. It's great for blending lightly between layer on skin tones, too. If you use a circular motion it really helps with the transition from tone to tone.

Thank you Jan... It's a busy time selling a home.

I still have my chair pulled up for you WIP...Another master piece...WOW...I love everything about your work..it is so inspiring.

Great work Jan.


Dors.

Looking good!

Thanks Dors and Paulette

Finally got a bit of time to spend on this today, so I've made a start on the ear. It still needs defining, but I'll sort that next time. I've lightened the left side of the face in places, too.

This is awesome Jan..... go girl...

Dors

Wow!!! Amazing! How many hours do you think you have in it now???

Thanks Dors

Thanks Jim, I've lost count of how many hours, but it must be around 11 or 12 at least by now

Here's the next update. It doesn't look as though much more has been done, but the ear is getting better and mainly the highlights are needed there and on the left side of the face.

Looking fab Jan!!

Worth every second, in my opinion

Beautiful!

Wow!!!! Looking great!!!!!!

Thanks everyone

This update is a bit messy. I've stared laying in the fur directions on the lower part of the face and around the snout. He also has the beginnings of a mouth.

Gets better each time I look a it Jan. love the soft fluffy look you have got to the fur

I am soooo envying you right now... the eyes and fur and, well, everything looks so real, like I could just reach out and pet your beautifull wolf and I know it's fur will feel soft and thick under my fingers!

Fur like that drives me insane, I can sort of draw a furry paw and manage to make the "seam" where the different directions of fur meet look ok enough, but a whole head like that... figuring out the fur directions between the eyes and on top of the snout just drives me crazy. I truely hope one day I can draw fur as well as you, preferably without going insane in the process

The wolf is great! Really beautiful.

I'm just wondering if you'll do something in the background or if you'll leave it white. My drawings almost always have white background and I feel they would be better with something instead of just all that white .

Your work is very good, but I believe it would be very cool to have samething (even if it's very simple) in the background.

That looks awesome! I dont think id even know where to begin making the fur look that real!