Old Tradition - Stage 5

Started to work on the wooden surface. I had so much fun doing the wood grains and adding that tiny water drop on the teacup. I think I'll probably add a couple more droplets to the side to give a little more character to the cup.

Challenge No. 3

It's been a couple of Sundays since the last challenge, but I still haven't finished my version of it. Knowing my speed - I finish a piece in about 2 weeks... if I'm lucky, I think I'll make it somewhat easier on myself by putting up a challenge only twice a month. Even after this time, there is no guarantee that I'll finish one, since I divide my time to work on some ACEO (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) flower drawings and also my nursing duties.

In the meantime, let's get busy with this:

 A close up of a leaf or a bunch of leaves (any kind) on a branch with some random water droplets running down on them.

Old Tradition - Stage 4

I wonder what acid-free paper other pencil/charcoal artists use - I always use the smoother side of a Canson  C' a Grain paper. At times, it can be frustrating to work on as it can become somewhat rough after reworking an area with a kneaded eraser a couple of times (I usually do this when I'm not satisfied with how it looks) but it's the only acid-free charcoal paper I can afford at the moment.

Old Tradition - Stage 3

Here, I started rendering the pouring tea and spout (part of a genuine looking Chinese teapot). The teacup is actually from a tea set including four or five other cups, the teapot and a tray. I'm not quite fond of drinking tea, but the utensils used to serve it really make interesting subjects.

Old Tradition - Stage 2

 Charcoal on Canson Grain paper

6 x 8

Before I forget, like in the previous post, this is my little interpretation of "Challenge No. 2". The background is a concrete wall - at least, that is how I hope it will look like. I think, cracked, unpainted concrete seem to have more character and drama than perfect, white ones. And adding some random scratches and patches of dark areas to it further contribute to the oldness of its appearance.

The drawing's title sounds fitting for the the subjects - crackly concrete wall and tea being served in a small teacup...hmmm...

Old Tradition - Stage 1

 Charcoal on Canson Grain paper

6 x 8"

This is a work in progress of the piece I'm currently working on. While still in the outline stage, I adjusted the marks of the pouring liquid since mom said that a thinner stream of liquid (actually, it's tea) looks much better than a thicker one ... hope you can see the ghost pencil strokes of the previous outline.  

Sunlit Rose 2

 

"Sunlit Rose 2"

Charcoal on Canson Grain paper

7 x 5"

US$50 (plus US$10 shipping via Registered Airmail)

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(Clicking the link will bring you to its own page on my Etsy shop)

I was in the hospital last March during dad's confinement due to his stroke. While there, I managed to start this drawing, completing about half of it before he was discharged. I only sat down to finish it at home this May after adjusting myself to my new duties.

I like to experiment with ways to render the background more artistically other than the usual solid black and simple white backgrounds. I grew tired of the monotony of rendering it the same way time and again.

Challenge No. 2

Here's another still life challenge:

Some liquid (any beverage you prefer or just water) being poured into a cup or any porcelain ware you wish to use in your drawing/painting.

I haven't tried to capture pouring liquids in a drawing before, so I think it's a good time to try something new for a change. Next week, I'll be sharing a drawing I did during the past months I was not active.

Meanwhile, keep on drawing/painting!

Challenge No. 1 - Morning Refreshments

 "Morning Refreshments"

Charcoal on Canson Grain paper

7.5 x 5.5"

US$55 (plus US$10 shipping via Registered Airmail)

Buy

(Clicking the link will bring you to its own page on my Etsy shop)

It's been so long since I posted this challenge, but it's just this past three weeks that I managed to start working on the challenge. It took me about that long to finish the drawing. Those fallen petals were not intentionally plucked from the rose to achieve the desired arrangement prior to taking the photograph. I really liked how the sunshine gave light to the subjects. I think I'm quite happy with how the drawing turned out!

Been away from my blog a long time

I haven't been able to post for a long time now. My dad had a stroke last month and I have to work full time helping my mom nurse him back to health after his discharge from the hospital this past March. Now, I'm able to do a little work here and there but I will not be able to post weekly for a while until my dad becomes a little more stable than he is now.

Meanwhile, happy drawing.