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

Endangered Reflections, Work in Progress 7

Endangered Reflections

Hi All,

Well.... It's finally finished!!!!  This piece was done with 100% Colored Pencils on Suede Mat Board.

Title:  Endangered Reflections
Size:  22" X 12"
Medium:  Colored Pencil
Reference Photo:  My own photo taken while in Montana
Subject:  Amur Leopard

It's part of my Reflections series, number three of the series.

If you have any questions let me know.  Don't forget to keep Scribbling!

Gemma

Endangered Reflections, Work in Progress 6

Endangered Reflections

Hello All,

Sorry I haven't posted an update for a while but I was in Atlanta at the Colored Pencil Society of America convention.  After I got back it took a few days before I could start working on it again.

I am almost finished with the log, I still have some work to do on the left side of it.  I did however, add a little bit of the water and reflections (I just couldn't help myself, I can't wait to get started on the reflections, LOL).

As I mentioned in my past postings this piece is done with 100% colored pencil on suede mat board (light tan).  The size is 12" x 22" and the title is "Endangered Reflections".  

The leopard is an Amur Leopard.  The Amur Leopard is native to the Primorye region of southeastern Russia and the Jilin Province of northeast China.  There are less than 100 of these leopards left in the wild, they are at the verge of becoming extinct.  There are some conservation efforts currently trying to save the species.  If you are interested in reading about them and the conservation efforts, simply Google "Amur Leopard" and you will find quite a bit of information regarding the species

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

Endangered Reflections, Work in Progress 5

Endangered Reflections

Hello All,

Here's another update of my Amur Leopard piece.  This will be part of my "Reflections" series.  This update is only part of the finished piece.  There is a lot more at the bottom of this piece where there will be quite a bit of the reflection.

The piece is 22" x 12", is 100% colored pencils on suede mat board.  I'm using a variety of brands which includes Prismacolor, Lyra Polychromos, Derwent Colorsoft, Derwent Studios and Caran d'Ache Poblo.  I'm also using the White Stabilo All Marking pencil for the whites, this pencil works really well on the suede mat board, it doesn't skip as much as a regular white pencil.

I will now start working on the log that the leopard is standing on and then on to the water and reflections.

If you should have any questions or comments just speak up.

Don't forget to Keep Scribbling!
Gemma

Endangered Reflections, Work in Progress 4

Hello All,

Here's another update to my "Endangered Reflections" piece.

This leopard is an Amur Leopard, which is critically endangered.  There are approximately only 60 left in the wild.  I took the reference photo of this beautiful animal while at a sanctuary in Montana.  He is an incredible animal, it's to bad there are so few left in the wild.

This image of my progress is just a small part of the total piece.  I'm really looking forward to starting on the reflections and the log he's standing on.  I'll start all of that ass soon as I have the leopard done.  I have the background done already I tend to always do the background first, if I don't I at least have it completely planned a head.  Although it may look like the part I have already finished looks like it's done I will continue to tweak it as I go, I find that's necessary as I complete the surrounding areas.

Title:  Endangered Reflections
Size:  22" x 12"
Medium:  Colored Pencil
Surface:  Suede Mat Board
Reference Photo: My photo, take while in Montana.

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

Endangered Reflections, Work in Progress 3

Endangered Reflections, WIP

Hello All,

Here's another update to my "Endangered Reflections" piece.

This leopard is an Amur Leopard, which is critically endangered.  There are approximately only 60 left in the wild.  I took the reference photo of this beautiful animal while at a sanctuary in Montana.  He is an incredible animal, it's to bad there are so few left in the wild.

This image of my progress is just a small part of the total piece.  I'm really looking forward to starting on the reflections and the log he's standing on.  I'll start all of that ass soon as I have the leopard done.  I have the background done already I tend to always do the background first, if I don't I at least have it completely planned a head.  Although it may look like the part I have already finished looks like it's done I will continue to tweak it as I go, I find that's necessary as I complete the surrounding areas.

Title:  Endangered Reflections
Size:  22" x 12"
Medium:  Colored Pencil
Surface:  Suede Mat Board
Reference Photo: My photo, take while in Montana.

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

Endangered Reflections, Work in Progress 2

WIP, Second Update

Hello All,

Here's a small update to my Amur Leopard.  This is just a very small section of the full piece.

Title:  Endangered Reflections
Size:  22" X 12"
Medium:  Colored Pencil
Surface:  Suede Mat Board
Reference Photo:  My photo, taken while in Montana.

Comments are welcome!  Keep Scribbling!!

Gemma

Endangered Reflections

Hello All,

It is so nice to be back working on my artwork for myself; it’s been a long time.  With the book and the Craftsy online course I just haven’t had the time to work on my own stuff.

I took the photo of this Amur Leopard while I was at a wildlife sanctuary in Montana.  This will be one of the “Reflection” series I started a while back.

Size:  22” x 12”
Medium:  Colored Pencil (Prismacolor, Lyra, Colorsoft and Derwent Studios)
Surface:  Champagne colored suede mat board
Title:  Endangered Reflections
Reference:  My own photo

The first image is the reference photo and the second image is just a small section of the piece I'm working on.

I'm still working on this area and still need to push the values a bit more.  I thought I'd post a work in progress of this piece.

It's so nice to be back working at my own art!

Don't forget to keep scribbling!!
Gemma

Best in Show!!

Hi All,

I am absolutely thrilled!!!!  My Cougar titled, "Reflections" was awarded "Best in Show" at the Colors of Humanity Art Gallery, 2014 Animals Exhibition.

It was such a nice surprise to get that news!  If your interested in seeing the rest of the show you can view it online at this link:  2014 Animals Exhibition

I'm still working on the book and hope to have my part of it done this month.  We'll then have to go through some editing and designing the book itself but we are really really close.  I'll be sure to let all of you know when it's done.

I hope all of you are doing well and don't forget to "Keep Scribbling"!

Gemma

Status on My Book!

Hello All,

Many of you have inquired about my own book, The Complete Colored Pencil Guide to Cats; Wild and Domestic.

I had to put the book on hold for a while because of some family illnesses but I am now back on track.  I have completed 6 out of the 8 chapters and hope to have the book completed by the end of the year.

Here's a sneak peak of one of the full projects in the book:

Sunshine at the Window Sill

Don't forget to keep Scribbling!!
Gemma

New Workshops Posted on my Site

Hi All,

I just wanted to let everyone know that I just posted a new workshop on my site.  Here's the link to the workshop page:  http://glassgems.net/workshops.html

Don't forget..... Keep Scribbling!!
Gemma

Animal Totem; Cougar and the Cloud Spirits

Animal Totem; Cougar and the Cloud Spirits

Hi All,

I am thrilled to say that my "Animal Totem" piece will be displayed in the Artists for Conservation Annual Art Exhibition and Festival at Grouse Mountain Resort, North Vancouver, Canada, Sept. 26 thru October 5, 2014.  They selected approximately 200 pieces for the online exhibition and out of the 200 they chose 82 to be displayed in the live exhibition, I feel so honored to have my piece be chosen for that live show.

This piece was done with 100% Colored Pencil on Suede Mat board.  Let me know if you have any questions or comments.  And..... Don't forget............Keep Scribbling!!!!!!

Gemma 

Accepted in the Linus Galleries, Animal Exhibition

Rest Stop

Reflections

 

Hello All,

I am thrilled to announce that both of my pieces titled, "Rest Stop" and "Reflections" was accepted in the Linus Galleries, Animal Exhibition.  Both pieces were done with 100% colored pencil and suede mat board.

Keep Scribbling!
Gemma

Colored Pencil Workshop Cruise

8 Day Bahama Workshop Cruise

Join us on the Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas

March 22-29, 2014

Info & registration: 1-800-253-0116, or http://annkullberg.com/pages/colored-pencil-workshop-cruises

 

$909 includes all three workshops!  (Interior stateroom/double occupancy, price subject to availability, taxes and departure fees are additional; group rate available for guests not taking workshops) 

 

Just the facts: 

Departure Port: New Orleans

Visiting Ports: Key West, Florida,  Nassau - Bahamas, Coco Cay - Bahamas

Workshops conducted on the three "At Sea" days.  No workshops held during port days.

Workshop hours:  9:00 to 3:00  /  Workshop location: Conference Center on board

Instructors:  Ann Kullberg, Gemma Gylling & Gretchen Parker

 

Class size firmly limited to 24. Non-workshop participants are more than welcome.
Bring a spouse, a friend...your mom! 

Animal Art Exhibition - Special Merit

Double Trouble

I am thrilled to hear that my bobcat kittens, titled, Double Trouble, have been selected for a Special Merit Award for the Animals Art Exhibition at the Light Space & Time Gallery.  This piece was done with 100% colored pencils on suede mat board.

Here's the link to the exhibit:  http://www.lightspacetime.com/current-juried-art-exhibition/

Keep Scribbling!!
Gemma