• WEBSITE HOME
  • BLOG HOME
  • ONLINE CLASSES
  • TEACHERS
  • FREE TUTORIALS
  • BOOKS
  • ABOUT CARLA

Tag Archives: imaginary animals

Pencil Drawings

19 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

bear drawing, bear sketch, imaginary animals, imaginary creatures, pencil drawing, pencil drawings

I spent the day Saturday at my son’s High School gym at a “Holiday Bazaar.” I was selling books!

It was rainy and icky out, and attendance was fairly sparse. Yet, I had the best time meeting those who did brave the weather, as well as going around and chatting with all the other vendors.

I also had ample time to draw! This deer is a collaboration with Liam, who visited twice. I gave him the pencil, and together we sort of “stabbed” the paper in between eraser trips to the mouth. Then I “finished” what he started.

Have a great week!

Red Bunny 2, Guest Post, & Giveaway

13 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

bunny painting, drawing animals, imaginary animals, painting animals, rabbit painting, red bunny, Red bunny painting

“Red Bunny 2,” watercolor and pencil on paper.

**********

Phew! We (Steve and I) made a big deadline last night, and today I’ve been able to paint a bit. I also wanted to let you know that there is a review of “The Art of Silliness” over at the ‘Jumpin Beans blog…

… and also a review and giveaway opportunity over at the Crazed Minds blog:



If you’d like a chance to win a copy “The Art of Silliness,” head on over!

Guest Post over at PJmommy.com

09 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

imaginary animals, pajama mommy, pajamamommy, pjmommy, sketch, The Art of Silliness, The Art of Silliness: A Creativity Book for Everyone

Today I have a guest post over at www.pjmommy.com… there you will find a recent description of me by my son, Wes (17). Too funny!

And here is a recent sketchbook drawing (pencil, but enhanced a bit in Photoshop). Have a great day!

KUOW Interview

29 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

art of sil, imaginary animals, Katy Sewall, KUOW, KUOW interview, owl drawing, picasso, Picasso dog

I wanted to let you know (especially Seattleites) that I’m being interviewed today (Monday, 10/29) on Seattle’s KUOW Public Radio Station (94.9 fm) for their “Weekday” segment around 9:30 am. We’ll be talking about “The Art of Silliness” (due in stores November 6th).

(yay!)

Tune in if you can!

😀

Update: The interview went well. (Well, save for one failed metaphor… um… shoot. Oh well!) Really, though, it was a lot of fun!

Here is host Katy Sewall’s “Picasso Dog,” which she did during the interview:

If you missed the show, you will be able to download it from iTunes in a few days… type “KUOW weekday” in the search box, and it will be the program aired 10/29/12. Or, click here to listen (my segment starts at 35:49)!

Thanks Katy and KUOW!

Demo Pieces from Art Camp for Women

15 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

ACFW, art camp for women, blob hunting, imaginary animals

I just returned home from almost a week away in Colorado. I taught a two-day workshop at Art Camp for Women… a wonderful venue! The images here are demo pieces I did during the workshop.

Seventeen “campers” made three or four artist’s books over the two-day camp.

There were a lot of imaginary animals.

And some blob hunting going on.

I’m pretty sure a good time was had by all!

Tons of photos were taken, and as soon as they show up at the ACFW blog, I’ll send the link.

Thanks to everyone who came, I really enjoyed meeting you!

Bonus! Book Giveaway and Artist Marisa Anne

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

book giveaway, bunny and deer, bunny painting, counting animals, creativethursday.com, deer painting, doe painting, Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals, imaginary animals, marisa anne

Surprise! One more giveaway and artist!

I’ve long been a fan of Marisa Anne’s simple, awesome work. She is an artist, author, and textile designer out of southern California, and has a wonderful website and blog: CreativeThursday.com.

(Images reprinted with permission from Marisa’s blog.)

Sweet and sophisticated!

I was really nervous to ask Marisa to be in the book, but I’m glad I did because she said “yes!”

Marisa is widely licensed and has a new fabric line: Head on over to her website and etsy sites to see more of her wonderful work. Thanks, Marisa, for being part of “Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals!”

BOOK GIVEAWAY
Marisa is giving away a copy of “Imaginary Animals” today over at her blog. Click here to leave a comment!

Day #10 • Book Release Blog Celebration • Artist Lisa Firke and Giveaway

02 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Animals, birds, bunnies, bunny painting, drawing animals, imaginary animals, Lisa Firke, painting animals, rabbit painting, rabbits

Today I bring you some animals creations of Lisa Firke (her name rhymes with “quirky”). Just check out this wonderful rabbit!

(Images reproduced with permission from Lisa’s etsy and flickr sites.)

And this one!

And this “Pea-Turkey”!

And these birds!

I first met Lisa “on-line” last year through some of my classes, and I really enjoyed all the work she was uploading at her flickr site… but when I saw a certain little patterned line drawing, I just HAD to have him in the “Imaginary Animals!” And lucky for me, Lisa said “yes.”

BOOK GIVEAWAY
If you head on over to Lisa’s website today, you might catch a glimpse of the little guy… AND leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of the book. (Remember, leave a comment at HER site!) Update: Lisa’s winner was Tina W.

*************************
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.

Day #6 • Book Release Blog Celebration • Artist Karen O’Brien, and Book Giveaway

28 Friday Sep 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals, drawing animals, imaginary animals, Karen O'Brien, Oaxacan Dotted Elephant, painting animals

Today I’d like to introduce you to Oregon-based Karen O’Brien, a very talented artist and a very nice person to boot! UPDATE: Karen’s winner was Gill W.

(Photos used by permission from Karen’s website and blog.)

A retired nurse, Karen is very prolific and paints richly layered mixed-media paintings, mostly with unique figures, “often with oddly distorted features and eyes that mirror their soulful, quirky nature.”

When I took a class from Karen last fall, I was able to take a peek inside some of her sketchbooks. There was one in particular that I just loved; she had limited her supplies to just black ink, red conte crayon, and pencil (I think!).

Karen has three pieces in “Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals,” including this wonderful drawing of her dog, “Max,” somewhat inspired (I’m pretty sure) by the Oaxacan Dotted Elephant Tutorial:

Thank you, Karen, for agreeing to be in Imaginary Animals!

Book Giveaway!
Today Karen is hosting a book giveaway over at her blog, so head on over and leave a comment (at HER blog) for a chance to win a signed copy!

*************************

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.

Day #5 • Book Release Blog Celebration • Drawing Assignment and Giveaway

27 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 52 Comments

Tags

Animals, art, BLIND CONTOUR DRAWING, Drawing and Painting Imaginary Creatures, drawing animals, elephants, imaginary animals, mixed media, Mixed-Media Workshop, painting animals, stylized animals

Hello! I have one more elephant for you!

One of my Facebook friends, Debbie Denton, posted this cute elephant to my fb page the other day and I thought it would make a GREAT drawing prompt for today’s assignment!

Even though the book is about drawing imaginary and stylized animals, there is a whole section on drawing from life or photo references. Why? Because I know that, for me, the more I look at, study, and draw “real” animals, the more authentic my stylized critters are.

One non-threatening way to draw from life is to do a BLIND CONTOUR DRAWING. This is a classic exercise (found in most drawing books) that is meant to start training your hands and eyes to work together. Also, since you are not allowed to look at your paper at all, you can just throw out from the beginning any stress about the outcome. (In fact, if it doesn’t look weird when you’re done, you probably peeked by accident!)

Here’s how to do it:

BLIND CONTOUR ELEPHANT DRAWING

1. Get a ballpoint pen or other permanent marker and a piece of letter-sized paper.  Scroll the blog post down so the photograph of the elephant is in sight.

2. Now, put pen to paper, take a breath, and pick a point (any point) of the elephant’s outside edge (I started mine at the top of the ear on the left). Then, very slowly, start moving your pen and your eyes at the same speed along the edge of the elephant. Keep your eyes fixed to your reference 100% of the time. Don’t forget to breathe!

3. Draw every curve and bump, and continue drawing both the contour edges and interior lines that define the main elephant parts — legs, ears, trunk, etc. — until you have drawn the entire elephant (again, without peeking!).

3. It will be so tempting to look at your paper when you finish drawing a leg, for example, but make it a game for yourself to NOT look. Just make your best guess as to where to begin again, put pen to paper, and continue.

4. When done, look at your “elephant.” Is it weird and wonky? Perfect! Here’s mine:

So what do you do with drawings like this? Well, nothing! Just set them aside, knowing that the NEXT time you try to draw an elephant from your imagination, you will have a much clearer idea of how an elephant’s foot curves, for example. Try it!

Art Giveaway!
I’m giving away these two little “Blobimals on Clouds,” below. It’s about 4″ x 5″ and created using steps from Chapter 3. Just leave a comment below for a chance to win (BONUS: If you do the above assignment, go ahead and comment twice!) I’ll pick the winner randomly on Sunday, September 30th.

And the winner was commenter #7, Carla Dixon!

Have fun drawing today! And, if you like, you can upload your elephants to the 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.

“Imaginary Animals” Blog Celebration

17 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 33 Comments

Tags

book, Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals, drawing animals, drawing book, imaginary animals, painting animals

Hello! I’ve gotten word from my publisher that my new book is being shipped out this week… yay!

I’m planning a two-week long Blog Celebration… the first day is this coming Sunday, September 23, 2012. Be sure to check here daily for chances to win a copy of the book, some original animal artwork, animal-related tutorials and assignments, and more!

I’ll be busy this week getting everything together… see you on Sunday!

P.S. Note to new readers: You can get the two weeks of blog posts directly in your inbox by subscribing to the blog at the top left column. (You can then unsubscribe after the blog celebration is over if you wish!)

* * * * *
If you’d like to help me spread the word, here is a little blog button (150×270 pixels):

Link the above back to

https://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/

and email me with your snail address [carla@carlasonheim.com] so I can send you a thank-you note!

← Older posts

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts and monthly newsletter by email.

Join 5,883 other followers

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.

Free Art prompts PDF

Books!

Drawing Lab Book Cover

Instagram

No Instagram images were found.

Archives

  • June 2022
  • March 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • carlasonheim.wordpress.com
    • Join 5,883 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • carlasonheim.wordpress.com
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...