Mountain Lion Work in Progress - 01

 Hello All,

It's been a while since I have posted so I thought I better post a Work In Progress of what I'm working on.

This is a Mountain Lion from Montana.  I took his picture about 3 years ago and have been wanting to do a piece on him for quite some time.

He is done with 100% Colored Pencil on light tan suede mat board.

The first image to the left is of his nose and muzzle.  The next I continued to work on his face, up the bridge of his nose and I put in his eyes.

The next image I am just continuing to put in the rest of his face.

This piece is 12" X 16".  To the right of the mountain lion head will be sky with clouds in the sky.  Hidden in the clouds will be an Indian Chief (head shot as well).  Hopefully this will work out the way I envision it.  I found a picture of an Indian Chief on a public domain site.  I plan on making it obscure so although it will be copied from that site, it is public domain and it will be very different from the original picture.  My plan is to call this piece "Animal Totem".

If you are wondering if I am going to finish the elephants...... I will finish them.  I just had to set them aside because I am working on my book which is the complete colored pencil guide to cats, both wild and domestic.  So..... anything I do right now needs to be cats.  This mountain lion piece will be in the book but only partially.  Parts of the lion will be demoed in the book and there may be a completed shot of it on a filler page.

I hope all of you are having a Happy Holiday, no matter what it is you celebrate.  This is a the time of the year to appreciate one another and I have to say I appreciate all of you!  Don't forget to keep Scribbling!!

Gemma

Sneak Peek to CP Cats Book

Domestic Cat, Green Eye

Hi All,

I know it's been a while since I have posted on my blog so.... I thought I would let you all know what I have been up to.

I have been very busy writing my book "CP Cats, the Complete Colored Pencil Guide to Wild and Domestic Cats".

With all of the requirements to creating a book, I really haven't had much time to do any other drawing.  I thought I would at least post a sneak peak of one of the demos in the book.  This image is the completed drawing for the domestic cat, green eye.

The book will include several exercises on how to do eyes, noses, ears, fur, several complete projects and much much more.  I'll keep you all posted as to when you can pre-order a copy of the book.

If you have any questions, let me know and most of all..... Keep Scribbling!!
Gemma

Sessions with Colored Pencil Masters - Webinar

I am excited to announce that I was just selected as one of TEN TOP Colored Pencil Masters to be featured in a brand new Home Study Course called "Sessions with Colored Pencil Masters". My work will also be featured on Nov. 13 in an International webinar which gives a sneak peek of the course with tips, tricks and shortcuts from top Masters. To sign up for the webinar click here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/220486601 Even if you can't watch it live, sign up so you will get a link to the replay.

 

If you want to buy a copy of this new course at a special low price, go to www.ColorPENCILSecrets.com and use the discount code: GemmaG. You will get $10.00 OFF (even a SALE price). 

I am very excited to announce that my artwork will be in the Sandra Angelo, Colored Pencil Masters home study course.

The home study course includes 3 books and 2 DVD's, you can take it at your pace, at home.  Here's the link regarding the course:  http://www.discoverartwithsandra.com/pages.php?pageid=141

Keep Scribbling!
Gemma

Stokes of Genius, Best of Drawing 4, Art Book

Hi All,

I'm sorry I haven't posted much lately.  I have been really really busy creating my book titled "The Complete Colored Pencil Guide to Cats, Wild and Domestic".  With that being said, I most likely won't be posting much on my blog. I will try to keep you all posted but it won't be as often as before.

Strokes of Genius, Best of Drawing 4

I also wanted to take this opportunity to let you all know that my artwork is featured in the new book titled, "Strokes of Genius, Best of Drawing 4".  The book is now published and available online and in book stores and art stores all over.  Here is the information regarding the Strokes of Genius book;  http://www.northlightshop.com/strokes-of-genius-4.

My artwork will also be featured in the next Strokes of Genius book but that won't be available until next year.

Keep Scribbling!!  Gemma

My New Book

Hi All,

It's official... I just signed the contract to create this book.  The publisher is annkullberg.com.

I have already started working on it but it will most likely take 8-12 months to complete.  I'll let you all know when the you can pre-order / order your copy.

Right now I'm looking for some really great cat photos so I can use them as reference material for the book.  If you have a photo (that you are willing to share) of your cat that is in good focus and is a high resolution file please send it to me at gemma@glassgems.net.

I'm really excited about creating this book... I hope it will be a success.  Don't forget.... Keep Scribbling!!
Gemma

Newfoundland Work in Progress 04

Newfoundland Final Drawing

Hi All,

I'm calling this one done!

I continued to use the same palette.  It's 100% Colored Pencil on Tan Suede Mat Board and it's 12" X 12".

I hope my customer likes it!!

Comments and questions are welcome and don't forget to "Keep Scribbling".

Gemma

Newfoundland Work in Progress 03

Newfoundland Commission WIP 03

Hello Everyone,

Well... things have finally settled down, the CPSA (Colored Pencil Society of America) convention is done and was a great success.  As Convention Director I was kept quite busy with preparing for and working at the convention.  It's always a relief when it's done because it can take up quite a bit of my time.

This piece is coming along quite nicely.  I finally got a chance to work on it and have been able to get quite a bit more done on it.  I do plan on working on this portrait over the next couple of days and hope to complete it during it that time, if not, it maybe about a week after that before I can get back to it.  I love how the dog starts appearing on the surface, I really enjoy watching it evolve.  It almost looks like she is poking her face out and right thru the paper, LOL.

I'm still using the same palette of colors mentioned in the last post with the addition of the following colors:  Chestnut, Indigo Blue, Sky Blue Light, some of the French Greys and Blue Slate.

If you should have any questions or comments please don't hesitate to do so. 

Keep Scribbling!!
Gemma

Newfoundland - Work in Progress 02

Newfoundland Commission WIP 02

Hi All,

Here's the first update of my Newfoundland commission.  It's done on tan Suede Mat Board, it's 12" X 12" and 100% Colored Pencil.  This is image is only part of the total piece, I'm only showing the part I have created so far.  The piece is larger than what is shown here.

So far I have used, all of the Prismacolor Cool and Warm greys, Powder Blue, Cloud Blue, Beige Sienna, Black, White, Putty Beige, Deco Blue, Sienna Brown, Terri Cotta, Dark Umber, Mineral Orange, Peach, True Blue, Slate Gray and Derwent Burnt Carmine.

If you should have any questions or comments don't hesitate to ask and don't forget to "Keep Scribbling".
Gemma

Newfoundland - Work In Progress 01

Newfoundland commission reference photo

Newfoundland commission contour drawing

Hi All,

This is going to be a commission work in progress of a female Newfoundland named Echo.  The owners of Echo asked that I come out to their house to take her pictures.  She was getting quite old and they wanted me to take the pictures of her right away.  It's a good thing I did because she recently passed away.  I took several pictures of her and this is the photo I settled on.  I loved how she was looking up at the owner with such loving eyes.  I sure hope I can do her justice in the rendition of this most regal dog.

 This piece will be 12" X 12", 100% Colored Pencil on tan Suede Mat Board.  At this point all I have done is the contour drawing and transferred it to the suede mat.

I use a grid when creating my contour drawing and then I transfer it to the suede board using transfer paper.

As I mentioned in my last post of the elephants I will be jumping back and forth between the elephants and this piece.  I need to get the elephants done also but I'm having a tough time focusing on the boring skin, LOL.

Please keep checking back, as I will post the progress on both pieces I'm working on.  It will be a bit slow for a while, at least until the CPSA convention is over.  After that I hope to be a lot more steady on my progress on both pieces.

If you have any questions or comments, just speak up and don't forget to "Keep Scribbling".
Gemma

Performing Animal Welfare Society Elephants - WIP02

Upper left area of the drawing.

Hi All,

Sorry for how slow this is going.  As the Conventions Director for the Colored Pencil Society of America, I have been absolutely swamped. This is a really busy time for me because the convention is coming up at the end of this month.

Also... I am having a hard time staying focused on this piece because it is all so much of the same thing over and over again.  It can get a bit boring at times.  So....  with that being said I decided to get started on a commission I need to get done and I will jump back and forth between the two of them, I don't usually do this but I really need to get the commission.  My next post will be the reference photo and the contour drawing of that commission.  I also want to apologize for those of you who have already seen the mobile post of this on Facebook.  This is a much better image of it though.

This really isn't much of an update from the last but I thought I would let you see that progress at this point anyway.  I'm using all of the French Grey's, Chocolate, some of the Warm Grey's, Dark Umber, Light Umber, White, Black, Cloud Blue, Beige Sienna and some of the Browns from my Derwent Studio Pencils.  I think that's about it.  If you should have any questions or comments just let me know. 


Keep Scribbling!!
Gemma

National Wildlife Federation Photo Contest

Hi Everyone!!

I entered a photography contest on the National Wildlife Federation Website.  Can you please go in and vote for my photos for the People's Choice award?  You can vote on all of my photos and you can also vote once a day for as many days as you would like, you will have to register to vote.  I would really really appreciate it if you go in and vote numerous times.  

Here's the link to my photo gallery on the National Wildlife Federation Website:  http://www.nwf.org/PhotoContest/PhotoContestHome.aspx?perma=gemma%40glassgems.net

Thanks so much.... and.... Keep Scribbling!!
Gemma

Performing Animal Welfare Society Elephants - WIP01

Reference Drawing Before Editing out the Cable

Upper Left corner of the Drawing

Hi All,

I thought it might interest you to see my reference drawing prior to editing the cable from the drawing.  I took this picture at the Performing Animal Welfare Society Sanctuary (PAWS).  I used the clone tool in Photoshop to remove the cable (see first image to the left).  You can see the finished reference photo in my previous post.  I plan my reference and composition in Photoshop.  I create a contour drawing from that reference and then transfer it to my support.  I use a grid to create the contour drawing and also use the grid to refer to while creating the colored pencil piece.  I do erase parts of the grid as I go so it won't show up in the drawing.

The second image to the left is my first post of my colored pencil drawing.  This piece will be 16" X 24", it's being done on Strathmore 500 Bristol Vellum and it's 100% colored pencil.  I am using solvent after laying down the first couple of layers.  This scan seems to be showing up more yellow than it is in true life but at least you can get an idea of how I create my artwork as I go. 

I'm using all of the French Grey's, Chocolate, some of the Warm Grey's, Dark Umber, Light Umber, White, Black, Cloud Blue, Beige Sienna and some of the Browns from my Derwent Studio Pencils.  I think that's about it.  If you should have any questions or comments just let me know.

Keep Scribbling!!
Gemma

Performing Animal Welfare Society Elephants - WIP

Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) Elephants

Hello All,

I started a new piece using the photo to the left as my reference photo.  I took this picture of these Elephants at "Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) where I do volunteer work.

It's really interesting how elephants find a life long friend and the elephants at the sanctuary are no different.  These two are always together, the are truly BFF's!  Therefore, I plan to call this piece "BFF (Best Friends Forever)".  I just started working on this piece so I really don't have enough at this time, to share.  It's going to be 100% Colored Pencil and is being done on Strathmore 400 Bristol Vellum, 4 Ply.  This is the first time I have tried working on this paper so we will see how I like it. The size is 16" x 24".

If you should have any questions or comments please let me know and don't forget..... Keep Scribbling!!

Gemma

Flying Rays

Hello All,

For all of you wildlife animal lovers out there.....This Video was forwarded to me.... It is quite amazing so I thought I would share it with all of you.

Flying Rays... Amazing!!

I hope you enjoy the video!!
Keep Scribbling!!
Gemma

"Majestic" 8" X 8", Colored Pencil on Suede Mat Board

Hello Everyone!

I've been very busy developing a new workshop.  This is the finished artwork that will be taught in the workshop.

The first time I will be teaching this workshop will be in May, here locally, in Copperopolis, California.

This piece was done from a reference photo from the Wetcanvas Image Library.  It's 100% Colored Pencil, 8" X 8" and done on Gray Suede Mat Board.

If you are interested in getting more information regarding the workshop go to this link:  http://glassgems.net/WorkshopDocs/2012MayCatWorkshop.pdf

I am donating this piece to the Colored Pencil Society of America for the their Silent Auction.

If you have any questions or comments please let me know.  Don't forget.... Keep Scribbling!!
Gemma

CP Treasures Now on Amazon!

Hi All,

CP Treasures is now available on Amazon!  If you haven't already gotten the book you can order it from Amazon or from AnnKullberg.com.  It's a great Colored Pencil book with lots of CP art and Colored Pencil tips and secrets from over 70 artists.  Here's the link of where you buy the book:

CP Treasures on Amazon! 
CP Treasures on AnnKullberg.com

Enjoy the book and keep scribbling!!
Gemma

New Workshops Posted!

Hello All,

I just posted a couple of workshops on my website.  If you are interested in attending one of my workshops you can find the information at this link:   http://glassgems.net/Workshops.html

One of the workshops is a 4 day workshop titled "The Total Wildlife Workshop".  The class is limited to only 12 students so hurry up and reserve you spot.

Keep Scribbling!
Gemma

New Colored Pencil Book!

Hi All,

I'm sure many of you already know but just in case you haven't heard..... there's a new Colored Pencil Book!!  It's titled "CP Treasures" with a sub title of "Colored Pencil Masterworks From Around The World".  It just so happens that one of my wildlife pieces will be in the book along with lots and lots of great pieces.  I feel honored to have been selected to be in this wonderful book.

You can pre-order the book, it will be published and shipped at the first part of March.  Here's the info to preview and order the book:

Also.... I am now negotiating a new workshop that all of you Colored Pencil Wildlife Artists will just love.  Please keep checking the workshop page on my website to read all about it.  It's not going to be until August, 2013 so you will have lots of time to save for it.  Here's the link to that page:  Gemma Gylling's Colored Pencil workshops.

Keep Scribbling!!

Gemma

Touched by a Mountain Gorilla!!

This is a must see for all of you wildlife lovers out there.  Check out the Gorillas..... this is something that I would love to do.  http://ourlighterside.com/2011/12/27/touched-by-a-wild-mountain-gorilla/

Animal Defenders International Lion Donation, Finished!

Hello Everyone!!

Well.... after a long recovery I think I am almost back to normal.  I am so glad I had the back surgery because things seem to be so much better.  I am told it may take about 4 months for the nerve pain to go completely away but I am far better then before the surgery.

I FINALLY got Simba done!!!!!!!!  It seemed like it took forever but I guess it's understandable with the back issues and surgery.  It's really nice to be back drawing!  

As I mentioned before Simba was done with 100% colored pencils on Suede Mat Board, it's 18" X 14".  Next I plan on having it photographed and then I will have it matted and send it to Animal Defenders International.  I attached an image of the finished piece along with a close up of part of his mane.

I'm happy with the finished piece and I hope that ADI will not only like it but will hopefully be able to use it in some way to help raise money for all of the great work the are doing world wide.  I do plan on selling limited edition prints of him along with some note cards.  I'm pledging 10% of any of the sales I earn from the prints and note cards to ADI.

If any of you should have any questions or comments please don't hesitate to speak up.

 Next I plan on working on a Lion cub.  I will be creating workshop book of the Cub and will be teaching that class in April (date to be determined) in Copperopolis, CA at the Town Hall Arts/Galerie Copper.  I will then be able to offer both the cub and the wolf for future workshops.

 Keep Scribbling!!
Gemma