I will be starting a Workshop on drawing animals in coloured pencil. This will be a simple portrait piece of an animal head that will provide you with the information that you need to create your own animal drawing using coloured pencils.

This workshop will show you how to create an animal head, how to make eyes look realistic, create detailed fur, wet noses and soft feathers.

Anyone can join in, the start date for the Workshop will be next Monday, November 3rd and will run for two weeks, ending November 16th. I will have the demo piece up online on Monday morning and then the fun can begin!

The materials you will need are:

Coloured pencils (minimum of 24, any brand)
Poster putty
Good quality white drawing paper maximum 9 x 12
Electric pencil sharpener or a strong arm and a hand one
A reference image of an animal. It should be a clear colour photo of head and shoulders or you can crop it accordingly.

If you would like to join in, just let me know here please. I would like to limit this to a maximum of 12 people right now, just to make it a little easier for me to provide individual guidance.

I look forward to working with you all on this.

Participants

Mumwood
Ernest
oliverandjazz
Elena
Goldlaus
danielgutiny
kev2grey
NancyB
Kaly
Paulette
Daddy
Fredbo51

I'd love to join in. I enjoy drawing animals and could do with as many hints as possible.
Norma

I am totally in!

me 2

I would love being able to drawing felines.So I am in, too.

I would like to join in too.

mmm its a great idea!

Please count me in I love drawing fur and would love be able to draw fur in colour

Excellent, we've got 7 so far, Room for five more....

You can choose your animal photograph and post it here. If you're unsure of whether its suitable or not, I'll try and help you with your selection. And if you're really stuck, I have some good close up images of my own animals that people can use.

Please add me to the list, looking forward to this one.

add me too please!!!

i ve see you added me thanks!

Daniela, I thought you had already posted to add your name to this, otherwise why would I have put your name on the list? Hmmmmmm, perhaps I'm cracking up! LOL Good that you're there though.

Thanks Jeanette,
I will love to join too

I think I will have to buy some colored pencils. I only have 15 watercolored pencils, and 12 very old and small/wasted colored pencils

Can I use the watercolored pencils but dry?? or should I get some coloured pencils?

Clara, great that you'll join in.

Yes you could use the watercolour pencils dry,but with 15 you may be limited in the range of colours you can produce. So I'd suggest that you buy some coloured pencils - a box of 24 is recommended. You don't have to buy an expensive brand for learning. If you really enjoy coloured pencil, then invest in some professional quality one.

great, I'll buy some more water coloured pencils then, they sell them in open market so I can buy as many as I want to

the ones I have are " derwent " so I think they are quite good.

I have now 24 Derwent water coloured pencils so I guess I'm ready to go.

That should fit the bill nicely Clara.

Thats great Clara..Jeanette, i am having trouble choosing an animal..what do you think would best suit the workshop..which by the way i want to thank you so much for holding.

I would be interested in joining in.
I was just thinking today, that it is time to start getting some critiques on what I am doing with my colour pencils, this works in perfect.

Kay, choose a simple head to start with - cats are popular and I know you enjoy them so that may be a good starting point.

A cropped close up image such as this would work. You need to be able to see the eyes and fur clearly.

Click to view attachment

Paulette, great that you can join in. I'll add you to the list.

Please include me in the list, I´m ready to learn.

Jeanette -- will this work (original is 1500x2000px, nice and sharp)

Click to view attachment

that is a beautiful kitty..may i use her?

This sounds great I would love join in on this workshop
Animals are pretty fun for me to draw

Here is my feline,
Click to view attachment

a calico cat.



I have another one available but we can always do the same cat more people. It will be great.

Click to view attachment

Oh, Elena what wonderful cats. I would like to draw the second one. I couldn't find a picture with so wide open eyes. Here are my cats. The red one is dead since 25 years so I scanned the photo. The both on the other pic are dead too. They died last year and I think I can't draw them. So your second cat looks a bit like my little ones and her eye has two colors thats nice too. But I also think for learning it could be good to draw the same, so please let me know what I should do. Thanks

http://www.drawspace.com/forums/style_imag.../attach_add.png

http://www.drawspace.com/forums/style_imag.../attach_add.png

Hi
Do you have any good ones of dogs? My pet, Dusty, who is my avator, never sits for a camera. That one I did before is very rare - she always turns her head away! I know there are some nice cats shown, but I really prefer dogs.
Norma

You're in Daddy.

Ernest, that photo looks good to me. I don't see the fur and eye detail really clearly in it, but if you have a hi resolution one that you can work from, it shouldn't be a problem.

Kay, this is my own cat, Tripod and yes you may use it.

Fredbo, great that you can join in, I think you complete the final number for the workshop.

Fabulous photo Elena, just perfect for drawing.

Goldlaus, I think the first photo would work best. The second photo of the kittens isn't clear enough on their faces provide the detail that you need and may frustrate you a little. But I have no problems with people using the same image if they want and the other person agrees.

Noma, have a look here to see if you can find a reference that appeals to you.

I'm in the process of rewriting a tutorial, as the original one that I had did a disappearing act when I changed computers. So frustrating... However, things are slated to go ahead as planned.

I would love to join in but I'm not going to have time these next two weeks, but I'll be watching what you all do.

As I can't join in properly maybe I can just help with a few photos of my own animals past and present. In order they are Jax, Zacharie, Kizzie and Kalagh and Jax again.

The cats are brother and sister but he's sadly no longer with us. I always joked the two black spots on his head are where his devil's horns snapped off! The one of Kalagh the Shih Tsu was taken on haircut day which is when her head always looks so big compared to her body - the angle I took it doesn't help either but the look on her face says it all. She's the alpha female in the house and has a HUGE attitude. The last one is of Jax again I think is the best for showing the eyes and may be a challenge for the shading and sheen of her coat? She wasn't best pleased either as this was her haircut day as well! She's a rescue who was nearly put to sleep for being vicious after being taken in from owners who beat her badly. An elderly lady rescued her and then we took her in when the lady became terminally ill.

I hope they are of use to someone - Good Luck ;-)

how is this one Jeanette?

I think its the best photo I have.

Click to view attachment

Flooz, those are great photos, thanks for sharing them and letting people use them for this project.

Clara, its a nice photo, but its not giving you as much detail as you need and you may have to make up the detail as you go along or use the knowledge that you'll gain to work on it.

no Problem, I'l just check out one of those free photo sites and pic a photo from there.
thanks

Hello Flooz, I´d like to use Kalagh´s foto for this drawing workshop. Thanks for the opportunity to use the pictures of your pets.

I like both of these. Which one would be best? Norma
I'm really looking forward to this!

Kalagh says "do justice to my good looks - a girl has her admirers you know and I am 11 now!"

awww...kalagh is adorable..i am excited for this thread too.

i have decided to pick the tiger..my sister is an LSU fan so if it comes out nicely i can frame it with some gold and purple (their colors) and send it to her for a gift

Click to view attachment

Thanks Kay - I'm not sure adorable is the right word as she's a little minx!

Anyhow, I've told Kalagh and Jax of the interest shown in their photos (judging by the downloads) and that they are being immortalised around the world in glorious technicolour. I've now got a right couple of Diva's on my hands and they complained I've not captured their best sides. They've now engaged a publicist and wanted to 'sit' for new poses at lunchtime (1pm here in UK) so here they are . . . Queen Kalagh first (she insisted) and then Princess Jax who has always been content to play second fiddle except where food is concerned. These photos costs me treats and the promise of an extra walk later so make the most of this!!! I'm off to study the small print in the contract I was forced to sign.

oh flooz..that is just too cute..

The first one definitely Norma. It has the detail you'll need to get a good drawing.

The tiger's gorgeous Kay.

Flooz, see what you've started?? You know they'll just increase the demands don't you? heheh They are cuties alright...

hello

Flooz, wonderful pics you have there beware, our pets can easily dominate our lifes!!!!!they are in charge!!!
I asked kay if I could draw her tiger too, and she has agreed Thanks Kay

So now I have everything I need....ecxept for my scanner/printer, but hopefully it will be back middle of next week

I'm going to be following along, so all of you had better do a good job so that I can learn.

Jeanette do you have a favorite paper that you like to use for animal portraits?

Gulp....no pressure now at all Jeanne....

I don't know if I can pinpoint one Nancy because it varies so much depending on the animal I'm doing or simply my mood. I use a lot of toned paper at the moment - the smooth side of Canson mi-tientes which works well for coloured pencil. You can get a lot of different colours, some pale, some dark.

I also use Bristol smooth or vellum. You just need to be lighthanded with them to get the layers you want.

Stonehenge is good too, but can be a bit soft and colours 'disappear' in it sometimes.

Any of these papers would work well Nancy.

This looks like fun! I will be following too, watching and learning. You have some great images to use.
Can't wait for you guys to start!

I did a horse, and a dog and a kitten
Daniela

Very cute Daniela. I like the contours and shapes.

In this workshop we'll be concentrating on drawing more realistic animals and learning about how to draw fur and body parts that will make your animals come to life. Have you chosen a reference image to use yet?

Hi Jeanette,
If its not too late I'd really like to get in or the workshop.
I'd like to use one of the photos of my dauther's chocolate lab, Rhaja although the eyes
are washed out by the flash. Click to view attachment Click to view attachment

I love the pose and would like to try one of them. Just let me know if
you think I should try another photo. Thanks much !

Tom

Tom, the numbers in the class were restricted to 12 which has been filled now. But.....on go on, what's one more?

Flash photos are difficult to draw from sometimes, but at least you have some strong shadows in these, you can use other images to make up the eyes. Either photo should be ok. Chocolate labs are fabulous, I love the colour of them.

Thanks so much, Jeanette. Sounds great. Can't wait to get started !