Young Elephant and Older Sibling WIP-07 and finished!!!

"They Love, They Play, They Mourn - Save Them!"

Hi All,

Well..... I finally.... finished it!!!! 

Title: "They Love, They Play, They Mourn - Save Them"
Medium: 100% Colored Pencil
Surface: Strathmore 500 Bristol Vellum
Size: 16" x 20"
Reference Photo: Was photographed by me while in Botswana
The third piece in my "Save the Elephants" series.

Keep Scribbling!
Gemma

Young Elephant and Older Sibling WIP-06

Work in Progress with Colored Pencils

Hi All,

I'm FINALLY feeling better after about 2 weeks of a really bad flu/cold, it really had me down for the count. We stayed home for both Christmas and New Years because I was feeling so bad. But.... I'm doing great now.

I was able to get more done on the baby elephant. Most of the face is done and I'm now working on his/her ear. 

This is the third piece of my "Save the Elephants" series and I still have a few more in mind to do, in the series, in the near future. The reference photo I used to create this piece, I took while I was in Botswana in an underground hide, along side a watering hole (pond). I took thousands of photos while on that trip, it really was a wonderful experience.

The info on the piece is as follows:
Title: They Love, They Play, They Mourn - Save Them
Medium: 100% Colored Pencil
Surface: Strathmore 500 Bristol Vellum
Size: 16" x 20"
Reference Photo: I took while in Botswana

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

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

CPSA Best of Show and Cippy Award

Hello All,

Well, I just got home from the Colored Pencil Society of America's 25th Annual Exhibition and was blown away to find out that my artwork, "BFFs - Save the Elephants" was awarded the Best of Show and Cippy award.

This award has fulfilled a long-time dream and sought-after goal of mine.  While on the stage and receiving the award, I went numb, started crying and just kept thinking...please... just point me in the direction I am supposed to go.  Needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled!!!

The one thing I would like to say to all of you is to, keep trying, keep your goals in mind and keep working at it.

Don't forget to keep scribbling!!
Gemma

Elephants Work in Progress 5

BFF's - Save the Elephants

Hi All,

Well, this is a long time coming!  I have been working on this piece for a long long time.  When I first started this piece we had some family health issues so it kept getting delayed.  During the time of this creation, my sister passed away, my mother was moved to a Memory Care Center and has recently passed away herself.

This piece will always remind me of my Mother and my Sister.  I will always feel as if the two matriarchs of our family, Dorothy (my mom) and Pam (my sister) are represented in this piece.

This was done on Suede Mat Board, it's 16" x 24", it's 100% colored pencil and the photo was a photo I took of Maggie and Mara, two elephants that live at the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).  I have volunteered there at PAWS for a little over 6 1/2 years and I have always loved these elephants.  I hope I was able to do these two beauties justice!

If you have any questions or comments just speak up.  Don't forget to keep scribbling!!
Gemma

Elephants Work In Progress 04

Work in Progress, BFF's

Hi All,

Well..... I bet you thought I would never have another update on these girls.  It's been very slow going because of some other art commitments and because of family illnesses.

These elephants live in a Sanctuary called Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) where I have volunteered for years.  Their names are Maggie and Mara.

As I said before.... drawing elephant skin can be really really boring so that probably has a lot to do with the slowness of completing this piece.

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

The info on this artwork is as follows:
Photo Reference:  Was taken by me
Title:  BFF's
Size 16" x 24"
Medium:  Colored Pencil on very light tan Suede Matboard

Don't forget to keep Scribbling!!
Gemma

Elephants, Work in Progress 03

Hello All,
Well this has been very slow going but I finally have an update. The finished piece is done from a photo that I took at a wildlife sanctuary where I am a docent. The name of the sanctuary is Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). The reference photo is of two elephants that are always together and their names are Mara and Maggie. I have one of the elephants done so far. One thing I have to say is..... Elephant skin is sooooo boring!!!!! LOL! That probably has a lot to do with why this is taking such a long time.
If you have any question or comments don't hesitate to speak up.
The info on this artwork is as follows: Photo Reference: My Own Title: BFF's Size: 16" x 24" Medium: Colored Pencil on very light tan, Suede Mat Board
Don't forget to keep Scribbling! Gemma

Elephants Work in Progress 02

Hello All, 

Here's an update to my Elephants. I haven't gotten a whole lot done but the skin has lots of details and is somewhat boring to do, LOL. 

This time I scanned it rather than photograph it from my iPhone so the colors are much more truer.

Title: BFF's

Size: 16" x 24"

Medium: Colored Pencil on Suede Mat Board

If you have any comments or questions, don't hesitate to speak up.  Don't forget to Keep Scribbling!  Cheers, Gemma, CPSA, AFC

It's Been A Long Time! Elephants Work in Progress 01

Hello All,

It's been along long time since I have been able to do any artwork.

I am now back at it and hope to stay motivated to get some work done, it does feel good to be back at the drawing table.

I took this photo of a couple of elephants at a sanctuary where I am a docent.  The name of the sanctuary is Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).  These two elephants are Maggie and Mara.  I'm thinking of titling this piece "BFF's" because they are always together.  This piece is being done on light tan Suede Mat Board, it's done with 100% colored pencils and the size is 16" x 24".

Here is the work in progress, it's the upper left corner of the piece.

I had started this piece before and thought it might be interesting to do it on smooth white paper.  I just wasn't happy with the way it was going so I decided to try it, this time, on the Suede Mat Board and I am liking it much better, so far.

Feel free to leave any questions or comments if you want. Good to be back!   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

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

Performing Animal Welfare Society - PAWS

Hi All,

As many of you may know, I volunteer my time as a Docent for the lions at Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).  Every year PAWS has an event called the Grape Stomp.  This event helps raise funds to feed and house all of the animals at the Sanctuary.  The San Andreas PAWS site (Ark2000) has Elephants, Lions, Tigers and Bears living there and can really use all of our help.  This is not only a wonderful cause it is also great fun and chance to see the Sanctuary and Animals.  If any of you live near San Andreas, CA or plan to visit the area October 15, 2011 and would like to attend the Grape Stomp you can find information about the event at the links below:

Grape Stomp Flyer
Performing Animal Welfare Society Website

I will be there by the Lion's habitat so I hope to see many of you there.
Cheers!!
Gemma