tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859Fri, 01 Jan 2010 08:25:37 +0000Blog of pencil and charcoal artist Heather Ward.<br> Comments about new and upcoming work, <br> book reviews, and tutorials.http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)Blogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-9082167914759201738Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:20:00 +00002009-12-31T22:11:57.582-07:00charcoaldrawing tipsThe most common way to draw with charcoal is by simply placing it on the paper and moving it around. You can get nice, dark marks or even thin, light ones this way. But there are times when you simply cannot put so little pressure as to get it light enough, especially if you are looking for a smooth, even texture like sky or skin. This is where you need tools to apply the charcoal for you. (You http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/12/drawing-tip-23-applying-charcoal-with.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-8124571791199792231Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:06:00 +00002009-12-24T13:08:52.450-07:00book reviewpyrography/woodburningI don't do a lot of pyrography, but I like it because it is very similar to drawing. There are some big differences, though, starting with the fact that you cannot erase. I don't remember how I discovered woodburning, I just remember that I fell in love with it the first time I tried while going through this book.The author, Sue Walters, is an internationally-known Australian pyrographic artist http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/12/book-review-pyrography-workbook-sue.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-5080192217502405146Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:38:00 +00002009-12-20T16:52:36.393-07:00charcoalexhibitsGosh, I've been a little busy the past month it seems! I am still around, mostly getting Christmas stuff tied up, but I do want to share a piece of good news I got yesterday. My Secret has been accepted to the 2010 Arts in Harmony national exhibit at the Government Center in Elk River, Minnesota, from Feb. 8 through March 25. Stop by if you are in the area!http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-exhibit-in-minnesota.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-6871543870069151393Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:27:00 +00002009-11-19T13:54:31.205-07:00commissionscompleted artcharcoalLast year, I drew one of my cats, Quark. I figured it was high time I drew the other one! (Of course, I now have two additional cats, but I will get to them in due time.) So here is my buddy Lepton, the only male of the four. We let the adults outside in the yard supervised occasionally. Here, Lepton was probably watching a grasshopper. Like the drawing of Quark, this was a relatively quick one. http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/11/cat-in-grass.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-8850284781331727972Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:30:00 +00002009-11-14T16:02:48.098-07:00completed artcharcoalprintsHere they are, mother and baby. Since the last post, I finished the fur, added detail to the mountains, and darkened the water. I am so excited with how this drawing came out that I am going to do a series of mother/baby drawings.Prints and the original are available.http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/11/bear-kiss.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-8602566594079423717Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:53:00 +00002009-11-11T09:57:24.684-07:00charcoalwork in progressI am getting more excited about this piece the more I work on it. The polar bears are really starting to pop! And the baby, which I have no direct photo reference for, is coming along rather well, I think. I am working in two layers for the faces: charcoal applied with the stump for the shadows; and the 2B pencil for detail work. I plan to fade out the pencil so the bodies will be done only with http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/11/wip-polar-bears-update.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-9118942116350122464Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:30:00 +00002009-11-10T17:47:56.553-07:00classesSaturday I taught my first art class, an introduction to the tools and techniques of charcoal. I passed out all the tools I use routinely and the different papers I have tried. I did several demos and we spent the rest of the day experimenting and practicing drawing from several black and white photos I brought of various subjects. The class was well received, and I plan to teach another class inhttp://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/11/charcoal-class-success.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-8596617115921922343Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:45:00 +00002009-11-01T21:49:11.721-07:00calendarsI now have two calendars available on RedBubble. The first is the same as last year's, just updated to 2010 and with a new title, and the second is a collection of work from this year. Take a look!http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/11/2010-calendars.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-7991319705235689006Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:34:00 +00002009-10-31T21:50:24.236-06:00Time for carving fun! I tried a new technique with my pumpkin this year that allowed me to use essentially three values. The mid-tone is achieved by carving away only the top layer of the rind. This allows some light to pass through the flesh of the pumpkin. It is a bit like working on scratchboard, in that you start with the dark background and carve away to get lighter areas. I found I couldn'thttp://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/10/pumpkin-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-2853251828175977634Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:46:00 +00002009-10-29T21:58:46.587-06:00charcoalwork in progressIf there's one thing I've learned about drawing white fur, it's that it is much easier to draw the background first, then erase where the fur goes (especially in the sky). This is how I am approaching this drawing. There is a second reason, and that is I like to do the part of the drawing I'm the least confident in first. I know I can draw the bears. I've never drawn snow-capped mountains or ice http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/10/wip-polar-bears.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-2731844996419285767Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:45:00 +00002009-10-25T14:34:19.225-06:00I took about a week off to visit my family, but now I'm back and ready to start drawing. I don't have much to show yet, but I want to share a little about how I put together a composition. In this case, my idea came from this photo I took at the zoo recently. The polar bears were out waiting for breakfast and I got several good shots of them pacing, but I chose this one (it has been cropped and http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/10/polar-bears-setting-up-composition.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-7474401414469931332Sun, 11 Oct 2009 03:39:00 +00002009-10-10T22:12:28.849-06:00completed artcharcoalprintswaterOkay, here is my first drawing using wet charcoal as described in a previous post. I don't know anything about watercolor, so I asked around. Watermedia do best on rough-textured cold-press paper. But I just can't give up my hot-press smooth bristol. I taped the paper to my easel all the way around to keep it from warping. I drew the geese with my usual pencils, blending stump, and paintbrush (http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/10/tranquility.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-1326910391552956259Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:23:00 +00002009-10-06T21:58:57.910-06:00I recently received an email from the folks at Horse and Wildlife Gifts complimenting me on this blog. They invited me to check out their website, and I love the selection of unique high-quality items. Honestly, I could browse their sculptures and home accents for hours. Here are just a few of the things that caught my eye. Be sure to visit their store website (you never know what you'll find!) http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/10/wildlife-art-you-may-enjoy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-4462717144679100928Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:18:00 +00002009-10-10T22:21:13.619-06:00charcoalwaterdrawing tipsGiven my love of experimentation with charcoal, I'm surprised I never tried this earlier. Perhaps I was afraid, as I love charcoal precisely because it is a dry medium. But it is a wonderfully water-soluble material, and though I routinely paint with charcoal dust, I have never painted with charcoal dust and water. Until now! I don't have any finished drawings (or even in-progress drawings) to http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/09/drawing-tip-22-painting-with-charcoal.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-1921355929925857405Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:43:00 +00002009-09-17T21:50:23.326-06:00completed artcharcoalprintsraptorsI tend to draw primarily mammals, but falcons have a special meaning to me. One of the falcon species native to my area is the peregrine, famous for being the fastest animal on earth, with speeds topping 300mph in their headfirst dives. I wanted to capture this in a drawing.After being nearly wiped out by DDT in the '70s, the peregrine has made a full comeback in population. I recently had the http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/09/dive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-8743509818019686048Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:18:00 +00002009-09-11T12:27:58.786-06:00exhibitsI wanted to share the great news I got late last night, that my penguins have been accepted to the 8th Annual Wildlife Juried Art Competition, put on by the Irving Arts Association of Irving Texas. The exhibit will run from October 4 through October 29, 2009, at the Jaycee Center for the Arts. This will be my first non-local exhibit, and I am rather excited! If you are in the area, check it out!http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/09/new-exhibit-in-texas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-3890402661767711153Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:52:00 +00002009-09-09T22:55:22.432-06:00book reviewAs I've mentioned before, I am a self-taught artist. I search out books to be my teachers, and so far they have taught me many lessons in techniques in different media. This I have been practicing for nearly two years. I decided it's time I learned a thing or two about composition. I knew the basics, such as the rule of thirds, but I wanted something more. After much searching on Amazon, I http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/09/book-review-design-and-composition.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-6226026276687584405Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:10:00 +00002009-09-02T21:19:28.954-06:00completed artcharcoalprintsThis drawing is really more like a painting. With the exceptions of the eyes, nose and mouth, I used charcoal powder with a paintbrush or the chamois to keep the texture light and airy. (Hey, there's a future drawing tip idea!) The wolf depicted is the Alaskan tundra wolf, a subspecies of the gray wolf. 18"x24".Prints are available!http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/09/cold-wind.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-4286903302688095605Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:47:00 +00002009-09-01T21:19:45.919-06:00On a recent recommendation from another art blogger, I've decided to post new photos of my framed work to help convey the scale. Here are four hung over my couch (others on my regular website). Actually, the zebras aren't framed yet but that's what I envision it will look like.http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/09/matter-of-scale.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-4840082679088544742Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:45:00 +00002009-09-24T22:20:07.708-06:00white charcoalcompleted artcharcoalprintslimited editionsHere they are! Gosh, I worked on this one for two months exclusively, but it's finally finished. I have no experience painting to speak of, but it sure felt more like painting than drawing. I hope to include this in my exhibit next summer (June 18 - July 24, 2010!), and I'm considering doing a series of these large-size (30"x30") drawings with other African mammals.Limited edition prints and the http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/08/grazing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-6090706080658842660Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:58:00 +00002009-08-21T16:25:56.081-06:00white charcoalcharcoalwork in progressThe second zebra is on its way to completion. In this photo, the neck was blocked in but the shadows had not been added yet. Just a few more legs to go! And then I will need to figure out the background.http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/08/wip-zebras-coming-along.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-5247892030021532119Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:10:00 +00002009-08-20T21:30:44.041-06:00If you can call my corner of the desk a "studio" at all, then here is the official tour! (Thanks to Glendon Mellow for the idea for this post.) Because I work with pencils, I need very little space to store my supplies. A simple pencil box holds all my graphite, charcoal, Conte, pens, three erasers, three kinds and several sizes of blenders, styli (styluses?), sandpaper, and a folding knife. I http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/08/inside-studio.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-5848852350390945926Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:17:00 +00002009-08-13T21:02:47.665-06:00drawing tipsPencil work can be extremely messy, no matter what type of pencil you use. Even colored pencil will smudge or get on your fingers if you lean on it. I wrote a short post last year about how easy it is to get fingerprints on your charcoal drawings. While searching for a good topic for a new drawing tip, I realized I have let this topic go too long.The key to not ruining a drawing by smudging is, http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/08/drawing-tip-21-preventing-smudging.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-6675487966859026240Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:36:00 +00002009-08-04T14:44:07.608-06:00white charcoalcharcoalwork in progressI finished one of the two zebras last night, minus some minor details. The matboard is "gray," but in good light it appears slightly rosy. I am making quick progress considering the size of the piece (30" square), I'm sure because the large size means the detail is large enough to be able to use larger strokes.On to the next zebra!http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/08/wip-one-zebra-done.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731545597717611859.post-2463225251592080864Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:30:00 +00002009-07-31T22:34:17.608-06:00printsreefAs promised, coral reef prints are available!http://heatherwardwildlifeart.blogspot.com/2009/07/coral-reef-prints.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather M. Ward)0