Hello,

I am Gilbert and your host for this weeks challenge

All levels of drawing are encouraged to participate!

The goal of this thread is to enable and encourage individuals to practice their drawing skills, learn new techniques and have fun! If you just want to sketch that’s fine. If you want to create a complex, detailed drawing, that’s great too. You will get out of this what you want. The references used are from my own personal reference library of images that I have photographed and I release them here as not under copyright, meaning you can use them as you wish for drawing.

You will be challenged by some aspect of all references most likely as you all will have different strengths and weaknesses in your ability to translate the images to paper.

Reminder:

This is a DRAWING challenge. Therefore please confine your artistic endeavours to some form of drawing: graphite, coloured pencil, pen and ink or charcoal.

There is no ruling on what size your final drawing or sketch should be. Smaller, sketchbook sizes will provide a smaller file size which is easier for loading onto the thread.

If you would like assistance or advice, please ask for it and I will be more than willing to try to guide you.

This challenge will last for one week. At that time, all challenge drawings should be submitted to this thread.

I have offered 6 reference images to choose from. The images are also provided in greyscale. Seeing the images in black and white gives a better sense of basic values.

I have kept the images to simple shapes that still provide challenges. Block out your basic shapes first then work the details into them, rechecking proportion and measurement against other reference points in your drawing.

Here are my pics for this week. I hope you enjoy my selection. I look forward to your artwork.
Click to view attachment Closeup of an eye
Click to view attachment Closeup of an eye in Gray Scale
Click to view attachment Bird of prey
Click to view attachment Bird of prey in Gray Scale
Click to view attachment My cat Fancy
Click to view attachment My cat Fancy in Gray Scale
Click to view attachment Ceramic Snail
Click to view attachment Ceramic Snail in Gray Scale
Click to view attachment My two dogs Sully and Roxy
Click to view attachment My two dogs Sully and Roxy in Gray Scale

excellent photos gil..

Wonderful selection!! So much nature & animals this week... I'll definitely have to make time for at least one.

I'm glade you like my selection. I thought drawing an eye with the reflection would be interesting. Likely since one of the other challenges is with Cats, I thought it would be nice to complement with Fancy. I also have two English Bulldog puppies. The pose they made for the photo caught my eye. Anyway I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Regards,
Gilbert

I'm glade you like my selection. I can't wait to see what you have done.

Regards,
Gilbert

going to try one..wonderful selection Gilbert ..thank you

I just came home, happy to recover my materials for drawing. Here is something to begin. I know that using charcoal with Gilbert is a prococation, but, well, well,...
A good week to everybody !

(aie, too small eyes!)

I have also given the kitty a go..what a luxurious snuggle bug ..I am attempting to try to learn ink..I have no idea how to render a white kitty in black ink..so this is what i came up with..i know, I know..i shall look for more info on how to do this bit of magic

But for now here is my kitty

Click to view attachment

Great Job on Fancy. You have captured the likeness very well.

Black ink! Wow! Fancy is really nice.

Hi Gilbert. What I like most is that you aligned your pets for 'say cheese' pictures. Great job on photographing these guys. I am also tempted by fluffy Fancy.

Hello world, I'm new here. I just started learning how to draw about and half weeks ago. I've been meaning to learn how to draw since forever, but I've just recently started doing something about it. So any input that you guys can give me is greatly appreciated.

Anyways, here is my try at drawing the kitty. It's done on regular printer paper with a good old fashion #2 pencil. I hope you guys like it.
Click to view attachment

cute kitty..


my rendition of the falcon handler..i think i got a lil carried away with the ink there

Click to view attachment

I like your kitty. Does anyone have any pointers for endless2010?

Regards

The drawing is great! Your ink is coming out very well.

Regards

Thanks on the pictures. I can't wait to see your drawing.

Regards,
Gilbert

Here is fancy in CP and oil pastels on Canson Mi teintes pad 8.5x11in.

It's avery quick sketch first time in OP and a close up

Nice Job! I see a real likeness. Thank you

Great pics!
What a furry cat.
Sharpied this one over pencil.

well the kitty is popular and inspiring ppl to draw..so it is doing its job...you will have several versions of your fancy by the end of the week.

you have several cool cats already

No kidding. Cool cats galore. Fancy is a hit.

Nice job! Very expressive. Thanks for sharing!

Regards,
Gilbert

I like how you have created a wing within a wing. Did you do that deliberately?

nope...i went and looked and i dont even see it now...maybe if i squint..stand back..hop on one foot ..

The way I'm looking at it. The bird of prey the falcon, as one wing. The second wing is the person as if he has a wing extending his wing with the falcon. Maybe I'm putting to much in the drawing, but it's what I see.


Excellent work!

i tried the dogs in charcoal. this is derwent tinted charcoal, and not many tints

Click to view attachment

Great job! You draw quickly.

Yeah, I see it too!

I see it too! Very good!

ACK.... I wish I could see it!! whatever it is ...it just happened

Kay , its where you drew the background behind the man and around the bird, rather it was intentional or not you drew it in the shape of a wing...maybe you are so good you just did it subconsiously but it does look intentional.

oliverandjazz: maybe this overlay will help to visualize what they are talking about, it's a neat effect you produced with
the chosen amount of shading...

-hg

ohhhhhhhhh....thanks guys..i see it now..i was trying to find it within the pic..not the black background..i see it now...coool...

nope wasnt on purpose just one of them there things that happen

very nice...i now even without the background can see it in yours too.. good job

endless2010: I think your kitty looks good. You said it's a #2 pencil on printer paper, I recommend trying out
some different pencils types, (soft/hard lead 6b-6h, standard #2 is usually HB, i think),
and maybe some art paper. Also try different mediums, like
pastels and charcoals and markers, till you find the ones you like the best. And just keep drawing, no matter
if you are happy with the outcome or not, it's all practice.
I really like your sig and avatar BTW.

-Best

-HG

p.s. And go through the lessons on this site, they offer GREAT information on the mechanics of drawing. Really well done.

Thanks! I did not mention it, but I think your charcoal dogs came out well, is that
color charcoal on parchment? I did some charcoal work a long time ago, and I'd like
to try it out again. Any recommendations on brand and paper to use?

Best

HG

i like canson mi tientes..that is what that paper was..a peachy color..but there is also aquabee for charcoal that works nicely and comes in some very nice colors..i like the smooth sides of these papers for charcoal.though i am very new to charcoal and have lots to learn

You did great job with this one. I like the falcon especially!

Best Regards
Gilbert

Thanks Gilbert, yes, faces are my nemesis....and I was eager
to "get the lead out" haha, so I did not spend a lot of time on him...
I just sort of winged it....


-HG

I tried Fancy the cat. I just love her expression in your photo. Unfortunately I'm better at short-haired cats than long-hair. This is 2.5" x 3.5" drawing (trade card size)

Great Job! You have captured Fancy very well.

A hello to Sully! (a moment of relax, with my stylo)

An

Sully is so cool! Great Job! Blue Ink! Wow.

Regards,
Gilbert

mindy..you did wonderful on that kitty.. what a fluff ball

and An as usual your ink rendition of the doggy is lovely..you are so talented

Hallo everybody!
I haven't been around for a couple of days and I have started to miss the forum. I decided to have a look at the challenges and, of course, I had to draw the cat, even though it's bed time and I am sleepy. I did a quick one with a pen and I would like to do more - fantastic animal!
Great photos and beautiful drawings apart from Fancy! Thank you.

i love your kitty..it also gives me some insight on rendering a white kitty with ink..thanks sveta..it is lovely

Finally I found some free time and at all places .. Work..
Liquid Pencil and Derwent Intense Pencils.. I love snails !! but not in my garden..

Since Fancy is by now an established celebrity, and I wouldn't be surprised to see her paw at Hollywood walk of Fame,
It's time to move on to some other pictures.
Here is the snail, par example.
20min.sepia and graphite.

hello all,i'm new round here, i saw the challenge and looks a great way to keep people drawing,so.hers's my fast draw contribution...