Australian Pelicans

Apr. 2nd, 2008 at 8:15 PM

Today, I decided to re-do the pelican drawing I did in pencils over the weekend. This time, in pen and ink, and watercolor. I like this version a lot better (so much better, in fact, that I'm not going to post the colored pencil version). I drew it from a photo I took in Australia, btw (this one, if anyone is interested). It's drawn/painted on cold-press watercolor paper, and think I'd have been a bit happier if I'd used hot-press or bristol (both of which are much smoother). Still, it's not bad, considering I've done no artwork at all since leaving Pennsylvania. :)

Australian Pelicans:

Australian Pelicans by ~Herebedragons66 on deviant ART

ETA: I forgot to mention that doing this reminded me how much I adore pen and ink, so I splurged today and bought myself a set of Rapidograph pens (the artists set). I had a set years ago, but they disappeared somewhere, years ago. Originally, I'd planned to get just one (the 3x0, .25), but in looking around I discovered that I could buy the one pen for about $25, or a set of 7 pens (in different sizes) for under $50 (oh how I love eBay). So, I can hardly wait for my new pens to arrive!

Current Mood: sleepy

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( 8 comments — Leave a comment )

dilettantiquity

Apr. 3rd, 2008 03:31 am (UTC)

I love it! I grew up in a town where these were really common birds, and you've got the expression down perfectly.

velvetbutter dislikes them intensely because he says that they're always scaring him with the evil eye. :D

Edited at 2008-04-03 03:34 am (UTC)

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here_be_dragons

Apr. 3rd, 2008 04:01 am (UTC)

LOL! I could see why he would think that. There really is something about the way they look at you - a sort of "knowing" look that could be creepy, or charming, depending on your point of view, I guess. I really like them, but then I like pelicans in general. The ones we have here aren't *quite* as charismatic, though. :D I might do some other pelican artwork - I have a few other photos which might lend themselves to being drawn or painted.

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cscottd

Apr. 3rd, 2008 06:47 am (UTC)

Nice!

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tmkr

Apr. 3rd, 2008 06:57 pm (UTC)

That's amazing. I'm always in awe of people that can draw/paint/get anything on paper besides random geometric shapes. :)

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here_be_dragons

Apr. 4th, 2008 06:45 pm (UTC)

I felt like that for a long time, convinced that drawing was just something I couldn't do. I still feel like I have a long way to go before I'll be satisfied with my work, but just picking up a pencil and drawing something feels really good. If you're interested in doing some artwork, I'd recommend "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain." She explains not only why so many adults have a hard time "seeing" things in the way which allows them to put them onto paper, but also some techniques for switching gears so that you can begin to draw.

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tmkr

Apr. 5th, 2008 05:16 pm (UTC)

That's interesting. Now were you able to draw as a child? It seems like Connor can draw... (From which I generalize that you 2 have the talent. ;) ) Me, I was never able to. When I have the time, I'll definitely check out that book, though.

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here_be_dragons

Apr. 5th, 2008 06:54 pm (UTC)

This is an interesting question . . . for sure, I have only recently believed that I could draw. In the past, I was never satisfied with my efforts. My childhood drawings were pretty much what you'd expect from a little kid. In high school, though, I did do some artwork - but mostly I was copying other things. I've always been pretty good at that. Drawing from life, though, was never my strong point. And I still can't draw out of my imagination (I'm hoping to get to that point, though. I wanna draw dragons)! So, I think that probably I had more "skill" than I admitted, but I was so insecure about it I never really let myself believe I could draw. I think this might be a fairly common thing, btw. Drawing is less about what you do with your hand than it is about the way you see things - and being able to see things in a new way is what's helping me now. Do have a look at the book; I think you'll enjoy it. :)

I recently found some of the stuff I drew in high school. Maybe I'll post a bit of it. Some of it is . . . decent. :D

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tmkr

Apr. 7th, 2008 06:51 am (UTC)

Oh, I'm never satisfied with my efforts. However, I have objective feedback - my art teachers never gave me higher than a C for anything relating to graphically depicting...anything. :) I couldn't even copy from something.

I'll have to see what I can do about checking out that book, though. At the moment, it's hard for me to fathom that there's any hope for me, given how little I think of my skills, and especially my gimpy left hand. It's intriguing to think that I might be wrong...

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