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

Sleeping Lion Cub WIP - 03 Silent Auction Piece - Finished

Hi All,

I'm calling this one done.  It's done on Ampersand's Pastelbord and it's 100% Colored Pencil.  The nice thing about the pastelbord is you can vanish it when you are finished and does not have to be framed under glass.

This piece is all vanished and ready to go and is 6" X 12".  I've decided to title it "A Lion Sleeps Tonight".  Laurene Puls came up with the title.... Thanks Laurene!

If you should have any questions or comments let me know.
Keep Scribbling!
Gemma

Sleeping Lion Cub WIP - 02 Silent Aution Piece

Hi All,

Here's an update of the piece I'm doing for the Colored Pencil Society of America silent auction.

There's not a whole lot to say about the piece.  It's done in 100% colored pencil on Ampersand's Pastelbord.

I'm close to being done so it looks like I will be finished with this piece in time.... Phew, LOL.  So far I'm happy with the piece.... of course I just love the subject matter, this little guy is so darn cute sleeping with one eye half open.  As usual I'm having a problem with coming up with a title, if any of you have a suggest it would be greatly appreciated.

If you should have any comments or questions just let me know and above all..... Keep Scribbling.

Cheers,
Gemma

Sleeping Lion Cub WIP - 01 Silent Aution Piece

Hi All,

I thought I would post the piece I am creating for the Colored Pencil Society of America Silent Auction. 

This piece is done on white Pastelboard and is 6" x 12" and done with 100% colored pencils.

Here is the first update of the little lion.  If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to speak up.


So far I'm using some new pencils by Jerry's Artarama called SOHO and prismacolor.

If you are wondering at what stage the Ostrich is at.... I had to put that one on the back burner in order to get this piece done in time for the Silent Auction.  This piece has to be done within a month, I will be posting more updates as I progress.

Keep Scribbling, Gemma

Pride's Promise - Professional Image

I got the image back from the professional photographer so I thought I would post it here.

I always have my work professionally digitized. That way in the future if I want to have prints, postcards, notecards and so forth I have a really good image to work from.

I plan on selling giclee' prints on canvas of this one. I haven't decided what size yet but once I do I'll post it here. It will be a limited edition run of 150 prints. As I said I'm not sure of what size but I'm thinking I may have it done in the actual size of the original which is 12" X 20".

As for the Zebras I have the contour drawing done and I started putting in the sky. I really don't have enough done to post yet but will hopefully have something soon.

Pride's Promise - Finished!!

Well I finally finished this one. I'll be taking it in to have it professionally scanned so I will re post it as soon as I get that scan back. This really isn't a great digital file of it. It definitely looks better in person.

I should be starting another piece in the next day or so. I plan on drawing some Zebras. I will post the reference photos that I will be using and show you how I combine several references to get the composition I want. It should be an interesting article. So be sure to check back. I got a sample from Art Boards. They have a board with Arches watercolor paper mounted on it. That is the support I will be using on the zebras. I have never used this before so I'll keep you posted and let you know what I think of the product.

Pride's Promise - Work in Progress, Con't

This week has been a really crazy week for me so I haven't had a chance to work much on this. I did get a chance to put the cubs legs in so I thought I would go a head and post an update. I hope to be able to spend more time on them this week. Things are finally starting to calm down a bit.

I really like the Uart with the sanded surface. I like how I can lay down a medium color and then go back and add the lighter colors and darker colors on top of that. This piece is a good size it's about 12" X 22". I'm using several brands of pencils on it but predominantly the Derwent Studio pencils and the Prismacolor pencils. Here's my update:

Here's a closer look at the area I just finished:

Pride's Promise - Work in Progress, Con't

I wasn't able to do to much on this but I have been able to proceed on the cub some. I have his little face completely done and I'm now starting to work on his body.

It has been such a joy to draw these two. There is a great little story behind them..... when we were in Africa we were following a den of lions. There were 5 females and 10-11 cubs. We followed them down into a sandy dry riverbed. It was cooler down there because it was down in a ravine. We sat there in our Landrover for a while and I took several pictures of the entire den. When we decided to leave the Landrover would not go into 4 wheel drive. We got stuck..... big time! We had to just sit there until the lions decided to leave. Once they left we were able to get out of the vehicle to get it unstuck. Needless to say I have a bunch of pictures of these lions. I'm sure I will be drawing them for a long long time. Enjoy!

Here is close up of the little guys face:

Pride's Promise - Work in Progress

While Bill and I were in Africa I took several pictures of these lions. I have so many reference photos from the trip it's hard to decide which one to work on. I decided on these two for now. This piece is done on UArt 800 (sanded surface paper) and of course, it's done with colored pencils (my favorite medium). Here is the photo I took:

I have the background in and I'm starting to create the Momma lion. When I draw I first draw in the contour drawing. From there I start creating my subject. I tend to finish each little section as I go. Colored Pencil is a very slow medium, I tend to not to get bored with the piece when I work in this fashion.

You can see now how the momma lion is coming along. With the following picture you can see the contour drawing a bit better than in the last photo of the piece.

Now I'm starting to work on the baby. I think this is coming along fairly well. I will probably go back and touch up a few things but so far most of what I have done will stay as you see it here.