ACEO Flower No. 18: Stage 5

I took a short pause on this piece to give my work table a much needed clean up. But back to the drawing, I started on the two petals applying initial layers of graphite powder. With an empty felt-tipped marker pen which I used as a blender, I trace along the outline of the petals lightly. This creates a shadowed line outside the petals that will add depth and sharpness to the flower.

Fixing the mailing list...

Hi all,

I have noticed that my blog has not been sending out email updates to my mailing list subscribers. I have been trying to correct that and, I think, I found out what went wrong. Hopefully, you will receive all future updates now. I apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for following my work!

Challenge No. 11

I'm working on a new drawing for one of my challenges. I've been working on it for quite some time now. I'll try to post it as soon as it is done. Here is the second and last challenge this month:

A stack of teacups with some dried leaves scattered below it.

I hope you'll have fun with this one and I'll see you next month for another challenge. Now, let's get back to the drawing board!

ACEO Flower No. 18 - Stage 4

Here's the fourth installment. Started working on the three outer petals and added another drop of water. Again, a small mop and flat brush and a 0.5 mm 2B (Faber-Castell) mechanical pencil were used. The clutch pencils I use are just made of plastic making them really affordable, but nonetheless strong enough to withstand rough handling, that is including accidentally being dropped countless of times. Maybe one of these days I'll take some pictures of my tools and post them here.

ACEO Flower No. 18 - Stage 3

Not much progress on this update apart from the two water droplets. Before, I would usually shy away from drawing still life arrangements and flowers with dew or drops of water. I never thought they would be quite easy and fun to do.

Challenge No. 10

It has been quite hectic than usual the past few days. Anyway, tonight I manged to squeeze some time in for another challenge. I have been at work on one of the
previous challenges.

A pair of stemwares (need not be the same kind in a pair and whether either is empty or containing some liquid) on a table with a table napkin.

Enjoy the rest of the evening and happy drawing/painting!

ACEO Flower No. 18 - Stage 2

I'm in the second stage working on the inside petals with brushes and two 0.5 mm 2B (Faber-Castell and Dong-A) mechanical pencils. As you can see, I work on one or two petals at a time not all over the flower. I use a small mop brush to apply the initial layers of graphite tones. Then with a small, flat brush and the mechanical pencils, I applied the succeeding layers, smoothening them out as best I could. Using an 8B Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencil, a few strokes are applied to the shadows on the center petals.

ACEO Flower No. 18 - Work in Progress

I thought I'd share progress scans of the 18th entry into the ACEO flower drawing series. The 13th rose in the line up. I forgot to scan it in the outline stage, but anyway here is the first stage.

Since the time I've started drawing seriously, roughly about eight years ago, my sister, artist Faith and I have gathered quite a handful of artist's pencils in a
variety of grades and brands - from 6H, the hardest to 8B, the softest. Despite all these drawing instruments, I often times use only two 0.5 mm mechanical pencils
loaded with different brands of 2B leads (one creates darker tones similar to an 8B grade pencil), graphite powder shaved from soft pencils like Faber-Castell's 8B and a variety of brushes for blending and applying tones.

A favorite tool of mine is an empty marker pen which, other than to blend, I use to apply graphite or charcoal powder on the smallest areas or edges that needs to have darker tones, like in this drawing, the inside petals.