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Tag Archives: animal drawings

For Cat Eyes Only

23 Thursday Apr 2015

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

animal, animal drawings, art, Carla Sonheim, cat, Drawing, drawing tutorial, realism

cateyephoto
This post is adapted from For Your Eyes Only (Lesson 12 in Drawing Lab)

Hello!

Even though I love drawing stylized animals the most, I believe drawing from life as much as possible makes my stylized work more “authentic.”

If you want to practice drawing realistically, eyes are a fantastic place to start.

What are some of the most fascinating eyes out there? Cat eyes! Almond-shaped, other-worldly and appearing to gaze beyond mere human experience.

Assignment: Draw 4 Variations of a Cat Eye

We are going to draw four different cat-eyes, the first one using only pencil, the second with pen and ink, the third with vine charcoal, and the fourth in color, using colored pencil.

Materials:
Your sketchbook
Pencil
Kneaded rubber eraser
Felt tip pen
Vine charcoal
Small set of colored pencils

Instructions:

1. With your pencil, draw a grid with four rectangles and lightly sketch the basic shape of the cat-eye in each box. Try to make them all the same size, and as accurate as you can (though you can adjust as you go, so there is no need to spend too much time erasing at this point)! I’ve worked small; the outer edge of the frame is about 5.5 inches.

cateyes1

2. In the first box, use your pencil for shading and cross-hatching and building up value (lights and darks). Keep your eraser handy and use it to pull out highlights. Reference your photo often!

3. Repeat the above step for the three other eyes, now using pen, vine charcoal, and colored pencils. Look at the all subtle variations in the iris. Be as detailed as you like.

cateyes2small

4. This is a chance to play around with different media and let your intuition guide you. The assignment should take no more than a half hour total; try to let go of perfection and just do your best!

Taking it Further:
Once you practice drawing realistic eyes, drawing stylized ones will become even more fun:

yellowcatsml

Have a wonderful day!

Minnesota Art Retreat • August 15-18

11 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

animal drawings, art of silliness, Artwork, figure drawing, Midwest Art & Lettering Retreat, Minnesota Art Retreat, rabbit drawing

I was happy to receive an email last week from the organizer of the Midwest Art & Lettering Retreat that the four-day workshop in August is nearly filled (there’s three spots left).

Here’s the class description:

midwest-PM

The class is four days long. In the mornings we’ll draw, doing a series of serious and silly drawings (mostly silly) from life, from photos, and from imagination:

day10bunny2

day11lilies

deer

We’ll even draw from the live figure on the fourth morning!

10minpose1

In the afternoons we’ll add color and collage and turn those drawings into a multi-layered, mixed-media book (or series of books): QY8058_094

birdbook

I think it will be so fun! I’ve never taught a four-day workshop before, and look forward to the more leisurely pace.

Have a great week!

Pencil Porcupine

11 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

animal drawings, drawing animals, porcupine, porcupine drawing

drawtest3

Have a wonderful weekend!

Day #9 • Book Release Blog Celebration • Artist Dar Hosta and Giveaway

01 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

animal drawings, animal paintings, bird drawings, Cranky Birds, Dar Hosta, painting animals

It’s Monday. And Mondays are sometimes Cranky Days. Enter Dar Hosta Cranky Birds!

(Photos used by permission from Dar’s blog.)

Cranky Birds are the brainchild of my friend Dar Hosta, a children’s book author, illustrator, and educator from New Jersey.

These birds are so funny. They say what they think. Well, they say what you and I think, and daren’t say.

But don’t be afraid of Dar, because she swears it’s not really her — it’s the BIRDS! From her website:

Dar Hosta is a nice, well-mannered children’s book author who is neither cranky, nor a bird. 

You would like her.  Lots of people do.

She does, however, have a flock of birds who rant about lots of things.

In general, they are nice birds. They are just a little cranky.

I’m so happy have been able to include one of Dar’s Cranky Birds in the book. Go here to see more….

Art Assignment and Book Giveaway!
Are you a Cranky Bird today? Then head on over to Dar’s 52 Mondays Blog. Dar has created an assignment for you (and me… see it on her blog), and also has a copy of “Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals” to give away, so head on over!

(And if you do make your own Cranky Bird, you can upload it at the new Drawing and Painting Imaginary Creatures flickr group!)

*************************
This post is part of a Two-Week Book Release Celebration for my new book, “Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals: A Mixed-Media Workshop with Carla Sonheim.” For the schedule, which includes book and art giveaways, contributing artists features, tutorials, and assignments, click here.

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Hello! I A Seattle-based artist who works with drawing, watercolor, and mixed-media. Hosts online art classes with 15 talented teachers through Carla Sonheim Presents: carlasonheim.com. Author of three instructional art books. Grateful grandma. Read more here.

Books!

Drawing Lab Book Cover

Instagram

Hope you had a great weekend! . #onlineartclass #wordsandpictures #2020wordsandpictures #carlasonheimpresents #mixedmedia #mixedmediaart #draw #paint #linkinbio
Wow! Martha Rich is a creative force and it was so wonderful meeting her in Philadelphia a few weeks ago. She is going to be teaching in 2020 in our yearlong class, Words and Pictures… a year of drawing, painting, writing, lettering, comics, mixed-media and more. Please join us! @martharich63 #onlineartclass #wordsandpictures #2020wordsandpictures #carlasonheimpresents #mixedmedia #mixedmediaart #draw #paint #linkinbio
Hi. . . I hope you don’t mind, I’m going to be sharing a lot this month about our 2020 yearlong class, Words and Pictures… a year of drawing, painting, writing, lettering, comics, mixed-media and more. Please join us! #onlineartclass #wordsandpictures #2020wordsandpictures #carlasonheimpresents #mixedmedia #mixedmediaart #draw #paint #linkinbio
This beautiful sketchbook page is by Susy Pilgrim Waters, one of my favorite artists EVER! She is going to be teaching in our 2020 yearlong class, Words and Pictures… a year of drawing, painting, writing, lettering, comics, mixed-media and more. Please join us! @carlasonheim @ pilgrimwaters #onlineartclass #wordsandpictures #2020wordsandpictures #carlasonheimpresents #mixedmedia #mixedmediaart #draw #paint #linkinbio
Mixed media on index card divider! Colored ink, colored pencil, gesso, ballpoint pen. From Words and Pictures yearlong class. . #onlineartclass #wordsandpictures #2020wordsandpictures #carlasonheimpresents #mixedmedia #mixedmediaart #draw #paint #linkinbio @carlasonheim @ sarajofrieden @ pilgrimwaters @beinginthemaking @ martharich63 @ ozge.samanci @ seattlelasky @ greg.stump @andreadaquino_pictures @ barizaki @catb.studio @ alohadudenyc @ brandonvosika @austinenglishdrawings
Please join us for our 2020 yearlong online class, Words and Pictures! 22 lessons in mixed media, drawing, painting and writing... with 15 guest artists! Link in bio. . #onlineartclass #wordsandpictures #2020wordsandpictures #carlasonheimpresents #mixedmedia #mixedmediaart #draw #paint #linkinbio @carlasonheim @ sarajofrieden @ pilgrimwaters @beinginthemaking @ martharich63 @ ozge.samanci @ seattlelasky @ greg.stump @andreadaquino_pictures @ barizaki @catb.studio @ alohadudenyc @ brandonvosika @austinenglishdrawings

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