Young Elephant and Older Sibling WIP-05

Work in Progress with Colored Pencils

Hi All,

I haven't had a chance to work much on this, I have a bad cold and just don't feel like drawing. So.... I thought I would at least post what I have so far. Hopefully, I'll start feeling better soon and get the energy to get back on it. I've gotten a good part of the baby elephant done. 

As I've mentioned before this is one part of my "Save the Elephants" series.

Title: "They Love, They Play, They Mourn - Save Them"
Medium: 100% Colored Pencil
Surface: Strathmore 500 Bristol Vellum
Size: 16" x 20"
Reference Photo: My own, taken while I was in Africa

If you should have any questions or comments don't hesitate to speak up.
Keep Scribbling!
Gemma

Young Elephant and Older Sibling WIP-04

Work in Progress in Colored Pencils

Hi All,

Here is the next update on the latest Elephant drawing. This image is a bit better than the last, it's not as dark and truer to the real colors. As I mentioned before it's going slow but I did manage to get the baby elephant's trunk and tusk done and moving up his forehead.

Title: They Love, They Play, They Mourn - Save Them!
Medium: 100% Colored Pencil
Surface: Strathmore 500 Bristol Vellum
Size 16" x 20"
Reference Photo: My own, taken when I was in Africa

If you have have any questions or comments don't hesitate to speak up.
Keep Scribbling,
Gemma

Young Elephant and Older Sibling WIP-03

Work in Progress in Colored Pencils

Hello Again,

Well.... here I am SLOWLY creating elephant skin, LOL. I have now finished the larger elephant in the piece and just got started on the baby elephant.

As I mentioned before, this is part of my "Save the Elephants" series and I have a few more planned for the series. I was fortunate enough to get hundreds of photos of elephants on my last trip to Africa. I love these wonderful creatures and hope that in some small way my series will bring some awareness of the serious plight they are in.

Title: "They Love, They Play, They Mourn - Save Them"
Medium: 100% Colored Pencil
Surface: Strathmore 500 Bristol Vellum
Size: 16" x 20"
Reference Photo: My own photo, taken by me

If you have any questions or comments don't hesitate to speak up.
Keep Scribbling!

Gemma

Young Elephant and Older Sibling WIP-02

Work in Progress, in Colored Pencils

Hello All,

This piece seems to be going slow but it is coming along nicely. I think one of the reasons it's going so slow is because elephant skin can be VERY BORING to draw, LOL! It can be hard to work lots of hours at a time on elephant skin because of that. So... I will keep plugging away on this piece but it may take a while.

Elephants are such incredible animals. Not only are they the largest land animal they are also incredibly intelligent! I think they are one of my favorite animals! They're now listed on the vulnerable list and are close to being considered endangered. My hope is that people will come to understand the impact we are having on the existence of these incredible animals and will stop poaching them and do what they can to respect and save them. That is one of my reasons for creating my "Save the Elephants" series. This piece is the third in the series and I have plans to continue to add to the series.

The piece is done on Strathmore 500 Bristol Vellum. I have to say, I like it but, I like the Pastelmat better.

Title: "They Love, They Play, They Mourn - Save Them"
Medium: 100% Colored Pencil
Size: 16" x 20"
Reference Photo: My own photo, taken by me

If you have any questions or comments don't hesitate to speak up.
Keep Scribbling!

Gemma

Young Elephant and Older Sibling WIP-01

Work in Progress

This is a work in progress (WIP) of a pair of elephants, a baby and an older sibling. I took the reference photo, that I'm using, to create this artwork, while in Botswana. We were in an underground photographic hide so I was able to get some really cool photos at ground level. The hide was located right next to a waterhole, where you can photograph several different species but it is a favorite of the different herds of elephants on the Mashatu wildlife reserve. The photographic hide was the highlight of our trip!

I decided to create this piece on Strathmore

Reference Photo

500 Bristol Velum, so this is a whole new surface for me. So far I'm liking the surface but I have to say, I think I prefer the pastelmat, so... we shall see.

Title: "They Love, They Play, They Mourn - Save Them"
Medium: 100% Colored Pencil
Size: 16" x 20"
Reference Photo: My own photo, taken by me

If you have any questions or comments don't hesitate to speak up.
Keep Scribbling!
Gemma

Mountain Lion with Aspen Tree - "A Sudden Encounter"

A Sudden Encounter

The photo I posted before of "A Sudden Encounter" was a scan that I did and stitched together. I just got my professional digital copy of the piece back and the colors are much more truer to the original. So... I thought I would re-post the piece so that you can see the truer colors.

Title: A Sudden Encounter
Medium: 100% Colored Pencil
Surface: Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card
Size: 26" x 18"

This piece is now available in a limited edition print and greeting cards:
https://gemmagylling.com/prints/print-13/

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

Keep Scribbling!
Gemma

Mountain Lion, with Aspen Tree, WIP-04, Finished!

Well..... I'm calling this one done!
Title: "A Sudden Encounter"
Size: 26" x 18"
Medium: 100% Colored Pencil
Substrate: Clairfontaine Pastelmat Card
If you have any questions or comments don't hesitate to speak up.
Keep Scribbling!
Gemma

"A Sudden Encounter"

Closeup of "A Sudden Encounter"

Mountain Lion, with Aspen Tree, WIP-03

Hello All,

Well...... I'm getting close to finishing this piece. I only have the mountain lion's right arm and and right side behind the tree to do. Then I will do some editing/fixing things, that I think I may have to do. I find it helps me to see the piece in a whole new light when it's posted on the computer. It causes you to look at it in a whole different way and really helps to see the little things you may have missed or just needs fixing.

Here are the details of the piece:
medium: Colored Pencils
surface: Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card,
size: 26" x 18"

I haven't decided on a title yet, but I do have a few in mind, here are some of my thoughts on a title:

"The Art of Survival"
"The Lookout"
"Center of Attention"
"The Silent Sentinel"
"A Sudden Encounter"
"Behind the Scenes"

What are your thoughts on these titles? Don't forget to keep scribbling
Gemma

International Artist Magazine Article

Hi All,

I got a package today in the mail, I was so excited when I opened it up. I've been waiting to announce this fantastic news! What I got in the mail was 10 copies of International Artist Magazine, the October/November issue... you ask why???? Why, 10 copies.... well, because I have an article in this magazine about my art and how I create my art. It had a 10 page article of how I created my wolves titled: Spirit Animals - Alpha Pair. This has been a life long dream of mine, I have always wanted to have my art featured in a major art magazine and here it is, wow! Here are the images of my article. 

If any of you should have any questions about this issue just let me know. Don't forget to keep scribbling!
Gemma

Mountain Lion, With Aspen Tree - WIP-02

Hi All,

Here's an update to the Mountain Lion with the Aspen Tree. I didn't like the background I had before so I added more blue to the whole background. I also finished the upper part of the Aspen Tree and added the Cougars two paws. I still need to refine the paws but for now this is what I have so far. 

For those of you who didn't see the previous post... I took the reference photo while I was in Montana in January of 2018. It was really cold but soooo worth the trip in the snow to get this photo of a life time. I just love it when I'm able to get that one shot that I had no idea I was going to be able to get. To me.... going out and taking the photos is just as much a part of total creation of the final artwork. I love, love, love, taking the photos, then examining all of them and then coming up with that composition which is unique and totally my own.

The final artwork will be 26" x 18", it's done on Clairfontaine Pastelmat Card and done with 100% Colored Pencils. I tend to use a variety of pencil brands both wax based and oil based pencils. I also like to use solvent to help blend and also brushing with a scrubber brush to blend. I then, like to use a ceramic utility knife to scratch out some of the lighter hairs. I haven't added the whiskers yet because I wait to do those at the end.

If you should have any questions or comments don't hesitate to speak up.
Don't forget to keep Scribbling!
Gemma

Mountain Lion, With Aspen Tree - WIP-01

Photo Reference

Hi All,

While in Montana I took the reference photo for this new artwork. This Mountain Lion was so much fun to photograph, she was climbing trees, running all over and just plain having fun. This photo shoot was done in January so there was lots of snow on the ground, she just love the snow and was really enjoying it.

The piece is done with 100% colored pencil on light grey, Clairfontaine Pastelmat Card. The size is 26" x 18" and I don't have a title at this point. This is what I have done so far and will continue to post my updates as I go along. See the progress on my artwork below.

If you should have any questions don't hesitate to ask and comments are welcome. 

Don't forget to Keep Scribbling!
Gemma

Alpha Pair - Wolves - Finished

Spirit Animals - Alpha Pair

Hi All,

Well.... I finally finished it and it's in time to enter it in Colored Pencil Society of America Exhibition. Yayyyyyy!!!

This piece is done with 100% Colored Pencil on Pastelmat Card, it's 16" x 20" and the title is, "Spirit Animals - Alpha Pair". 

It was created from a photo I took while observing a pack of wolves, while in Montana. I really enjoyed watching the interaction amongst wolves and especially the Alpha Pair. The interesting thing is the male is the one who is cowering down to the female. I took several photos of the pack so I hope to do some more of them in the near future.

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

Don't forget to keep Scribbling!
Gemma

Alpha Pair - WIP06 - Wolves

Spirit Animals - Alpha Pair

Hello All,

Here's my next update. I got the black wolf done but I can see some tweaks I need to do. I'm now going to move over to the male wolf's body.

I absolutely have to get this done by the end of the month, this is one of my entries for the Colored Pencil Society of America Exhibition. It sure seems as if I've gotten a ton of interruptions this past couple of months but I think I can really dedicate  some time this month to finish it.

I think I can.... I think I can.... I think I can.... LOL!

This piece is done with 100% colored pencil on pastelmat card and is 20" x 16". It's done from a photo I took while in Montana in January of 2018. If you have any questions or comments let me know.

Don't for get to keep scribbling! Gemma

Workshop Books on Amazon

Hello Everyone,

Good news... 4 of my workshop books are now available on Amazon as a Kindle ebook. For those of you who don't have a kindle you can still view it with a Kindle App on your devices. You can just search for Gemma Gylling, on Amazon and you will see the books that are now available. I also have them available, as softcover book, on my website, the projects that require suede mat board will have a piece of suede mat board included, go to My Website.

Don't forget to Keep Scribbling!
Gemma

Alpha Pair - WIP05 - Wolves

Spirit Animals - The Alpha Pair

Hello All,

Here's the next update to my Alpha Pair drawing. It's going slow, because I have been soooo busy. Hopefully after this week I can spend a lot more time on it.

This piece is done with Colored Pencils on white, Clairefontaine Pastelmat and it's 20" x 16". It's created from a photo that I took while in Montana at Triple D Wildlife. This is just a portion of the entire piece, the composition when finished will look like the reference photo crop. An image of the reference photo is below.

This pair of wolves were the alpha pair of a pack of wolves I was photographing. I was so interested in the interaction between the two... it was so much fun watching them and photographing them.

I did decide on a title, I'm going to call it "Spirit Animals - The Alpha Pair". If you should have any questions or comments please let me know.

Don't forget to keep Scribbling!

Gemma

New SOAR Workshop coming up!

Good News! I'm going to be teaching a workshop in Cedar Rapids, IA, June 29-30, 2019. 

Come join us! 
Go to this link for more info: 

https://annkullberg.com/pages/soar

Alpha Pair - WIP04 - Wolves

Alpha Pair

Hello All,

Here is the next update on the piece I'm working on. This piece is done from a photo I took in January 2018 at Triple D Wildlife in Kalispell, Montana. It was such a thrill to be able to photograph the animals in the snow.

This piece is "20 x 16", it's 100% colored pencil, on Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card (white).

At this time I don't have a title but I am considering several, here's a list of what I've thought of:

Trust Your Instincts - The Alpha Pair
Call of the Wild - The Alpha Pair
Power of Instincts - The Alpha Pair
Spirit Animals - The Alpha Pair 
Power of Leadership - The Alpha Pair

Reference Photo

As you can see I want the words The Alpha Pair in the title because I just seem to like that or at least away to tell the viewer that these two are in fact an alpha pair. When photographing them I was actually taking photos of a pack of wolves but I was so interested in the interaction of this pair, I took a lot of photos of just them. If you want, you can help me to decide on which title to choose or if you have another suggestion let me know.

The second image is the reference photo and it's the full composition of the piece, the update is only a portion of the full piece.

Keep Scribbling!
Gemma

Alpha Pair - Wolves - WIP03

Hello again, here is the last two updates for now. See original post, Alpha Pair - WIP01, for reference photo and details. 

Keep Scribbling, Gemma

Alpha Pair - Wolves - WIP 02

Hello Again,

Here is the next three updates to the Alpha Pair of Wolves, I'm still trying to come up with a good title.

This piece is being done on Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card, it's 100% colored pencil and the size is 20" x 16".

Any questions or comments are welcome.

Keep Scribbling!
Gemma

Alpha Pair - Wolves - WIP 01

 Hello Everyone!

Well, well, well.... it's been forever since I posted here. There really isn't any excuse but I just thought I would mention, I was having a big problem with my website. I had to redesign it and it took two times, redesigning before I finally decided to change hosts and go for complete new software to do it. Then I had to start all over again and there was a huge learning curve. So.... between that, joining the SOAR with Ann, program, teaching workshops and lots more, I just haven't been here. So sorry!

I'll try to catch up on some of my comings and goings but for now I thought I would show you my newest piece I'm working on.

The top image is the photo I'm working from. I took this photo while in Montana at Triple D, in the snow, last January. While I was there I was taking a photography workshop with Kathleen Reeder (at kathleenreader.com), I highly recommend her workshops she's the one who I went with for another photography workshop to Africa. I'll try to post some images, later, that I took while there. That's another whole new story I have to get caught up on.

This pair of wolves were the alpha pair of a pack of wolves I was photographing. I was so interested in the interaction between the two... it was so much fun watching them and photographing them.

The next image is where I started, creating the snow in the background. As you can see, I decided to take my creative license to leave out and add a bit here and there that I thought would enhance the overall composition.

Then I started working on the female wolf, she is the black wolf. As you can see, I have just posted the progress as I continue along so there is not much to say about it. 

One thing I would like to mention is that it is difficult to capture the artwork the way it really is at this point because there is so much contrast between the dark wolf and the white paper, but the images will improve as I get more of the surrounding area in.

I'll be creating a few more posts because I have actually got 11 total progress shots. 

This piece is done with 100% colored pencil on white Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card and it's 20" x 16".

If you have any comments or questions let me know.

Keep Scribbling!
Gemma