National Elephant

I haven't completed a pen and ink drawing for a long time. I finally had enough staff meetings that I could get some drawing done. This style of drawing, stippling, is labor intensive, but also quite relaxing. As I explore other art mediums, I hope to always squeeze in a drawing or two.

This elephant was photographed at the National Zoo in Washington, so I presume that it is the National Elephant. (Republicans may be pleased by the thought of a national elephant until they realize that it has lived entirely on the government dole.)

Honestly, I was not impressed with the elephant enclosure, it was large but barren. But while I was there, the zoo was constructing an elephant walk way that went throughout the zoo, so that the elephants could go wandering. I'd love to see the elephant enclosure once its completed.

I've included the final sketch and two earlier sketches, too.

This is a Lanner falcon with some creative plumage coloration. I did this earlier this year. I finally got it framed and hung. It's one of my favorites.

Yosemite Falls

If you want to see water in Yosemite Falls, you'll have to look at a photo or a painting 'cause it's pretty dry right now!

Avocado in Pastel

During the summer I had the privilege of meeting each Tuesday night with a small group of artists wanting to explore new styles of art. I was sad to make my leave when I had to return to the world of middle school teaching. However, I felt like working in absentia so I met up with a pastel group in Santa Maria; this is one of several sketches that I completed Tuesday night.

A Few Big Trees

I finished my season in Yosemite yesterday. It was a very good season. I was able to do a lot of art. I went with the intent of learning to work with Pastels. I completed about a dozen drawings. I also joined a weekly art group in which we explored various aspects of design and creativity. Did I mention that it was a very good season?

Seemed appropriate to post this drawing as a tribute to the end of the season. This is a drawing of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia; this is where I work.

 I'm hoping that as I get busy with the school year that I will be disciplined enough to make time for art.

I haven't posted any new art this past month because of a failed computer. Hopefully, the situation is remedied.  This post compares a before and after depiction of a mountain sheep. Originally the subject closely resembled another realistic pastel drawing and I was experimenting with different colored papers. In the end it was pretty boring, so I decided to play around with color. Earlier this summer I read on another blog that "Value does all the work but color gets all the credit." So I decided to see if that were true and play with more abstract colors. Which do you like better?

Big Horn Sheep: Experiment with Colored Paper

I decided to do the same drawing twice on different paper using pastels. The subject was a big horn sheep photo by my buddy Paul. He is  a docent at the LA zoo and provides an endless supply supply of fauna photos and encouragement.

So, of the two nearly completed drawings in the final photo which do you prefer, the golden background or the gray one?