No. 2 - Letterpress - Mixed Media.

The second piece in the new series. It looks like I'll (finally) be participating in the senior jury this fall. Yeah! Now I just have to find more time to make the work. 

Marker and colored pencil on marker paper. 6" x 6".

Spring (Break).

A new marker and colored pencil drawing on marker paper. 6" x 6"

Jennifer, A Pencil Portrait.

I had all intentions of completing three or four pieces for my independent study course this fall. Four months later, the one drawing I tackled is FINALLY finished. At the urging of my professor, I decided to get out of my (very tiny) comfort zone and work closer to life-size on this portrait of my friend, Jenn. After the reality of my school schedule sunk in, however, I was only able to squeeze in around ten hours of work per week on the drawing. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you can find a couple progress photos of this project. Here are a few detail shots of the finished portrait.

Pencil on paper. 18" in diameter.

Now I need to track down a giant scanner.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Phalaenopsis - Marker & Pencil.

A little marker and pencil drawing I finished up this week. Unfortunately, I had a marker explode about 8 hours in, and the original has a small spattering of brown ink on the white paper area outside of the image area (removed in this image).

7" x 7"

For the next few months, I'm doomed to general studies and occasional art-related assignments. I will do my best to take photographs along the way and post as often as I can.

Liriodendron tulipifera.

A long-time back burner drawing, FINALLY finished. Anyone have a giant scanner? =)

Pencil on paper.

Image size: 9 1/2" x 14"

Paper size: 14" x 17" (cropped in the photo)

An Oldie - What's With The Fan Art?

While waiting for my face to become numb at a recent dental appointment, the conversation drifted to my current projects. My dentist is always kind enough to remember who I am and what I do, so I gave him the rundown on my to-do-before-school-starts list.

As it turns out, the dental assistant working with me that day enjoys both drawing and anime, and it reminded me of this marker and pencil piece I did way back in the day. I was pretty new to the materials and this style of drawing at the time. It isn't spectacular, but I thought I'd share it anyway. As far as the reference photos for this piece goes? No clue. I'm sure I found it after a random google image search for the anime in question (Gungrave). My apologies for the lack of credit.

>.<

Marker & colored pencil on marker paper.

11" x 14"

Moleskine drawing.

I took a little break from a large drawing project this week and spent some time with my neglected sketchbook. I've had this particular book since 2007, and it's pretty wild to see how my style has (and hasn't) changed over the years. 

Here are two recent snippets. 

I love to paint, but nothing is better than a sharp pencil and a clean, blank surface. 

I'll be back to share once my larger project/study is finished. 

Cheers,

Kylene 

Pencil Drawing.

A tiny pencil piece I worked on here and there over the last two days. 

(straight edge clearly needed)

3" x 4 3/8"

Finally Finished - Pencil Drawing.

I am officially registered for classes for both summer and fall, so I've been scrambling to finish up any straggler pieces that have been lying around. This piece was completed in pencil on BFK Rives and is approximately 7" x 7".

Nesting Dolls - 2d

Simple but fun. Ink and watercolors on 5" x 7" watercolor paper.

 

Pencil Portrait - Natalie.

The great thing, for me, is that not working in color means I can work late into the night without having to worry about my light source. Unfortunately, this also translates to really bad iPhone photos along the way (and poor vision, most likely).

Commission piece in pencil.

8" x 8" on 10" x 10" paper.

And, the finished scan.

Mixed Media - Here's to Trying New Things.

This started out in pieces as random sketches in a notebook. I decided to patch them together in one composition, which I then transferred onto good paper by way of my ghetto lightbox. (My acrylic palette balanced upon a lamp which was sitting on the floor).

Unfortunately, I had a mishap with the first attempt that I will be blaming entirely on the miskit, and not  my impetuousness. After a few days, I decided to give the project another go. I transferred the drawing again in pencil, and then redrew my final lines in ink.

After cleaning up the remaining pencil marks, I went in with a small, round brush and laid in thin washes of Speedball, Super Black India Ink (waterproof). Typically, I'm a graphite girl. I like to get my values from pencil shading before spraying with a fixative and then adding in color, but I thought I'd try something new.

The last step was to add washes of watercolor over the values I had created with the ink. I think the next time I try this, I'm going to use a different paper. The softness of this brand didn't hold up very well to all of the harassment. I touched up a few highlight areas with white acrylic paint in the end.

The piece is roughly 6 1/8" x 8 1/4" with a paper/white border of about an inch all of the way around.

I look forward to playing around with this process more when I have time around commission work, and I'll do my best to post about it along the way.

Cheers!

Double Portrait in Pencil.

I've been pretty busy lately (no complaints!), so here is a belated post. 

10" x 10" pencil drawing on a 12" x 12" piece of Rives BFK.

Study - Pencil Drawing.

A tiny study of a chunk of iron pyrite.

Pencil on paper.

5" x 6 1/8"

Colorized in PS.

Around The House - Sketches.

Quick little roughs drawn on blank index cards I found in a box of stuff from college.

Not to jinx it, but A:

The weather is still lovely around here. As someone who spent their early childhood years on the west coast, I could do without snow most of the time. The first snow of the year + a white Christmas and I am ready for Spring to roll back around.

And B:

Little by little, the running is getting easier.

Is it time to start thinking about those New Year's resolutions yet?

Happy Halloween! + A Portrait.

I can't say that I probably won't be tweaking this in the future, but for now, let's call it finished. 

Self Portrait.

Pencil on Rives BFK. 

11" x 14"

I had to scan this in pieces and stitch it back together in photoshop. My scanner makes me want to freak out most days. It's the most unreliable, demonic piece of crap ever. Crappy scan quality aside, I'm almost happy with the way this drawing turned out. If I feel brave, I may attempt to add in some color.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Charcoal Study.

I found this drawing while cleaning out the studio. Circa 2009?

Charcoal and white pastel on toned paper.

While laying in bed last night, unable to sleep, I did the smart thing and grabbed my phone to note an idea I had for a portrait series. I have a bad habit of not writing down thoughts that come to me in the night, inevitably leaving me frustrated the next morning when I no longer remember what my "brilliant" concept was.

Sleepy brains cannot be trusted!

I'm off to work at the house today, but I hope to have a little something (art-related) to share soon.

Pencil Drawings/Sketches.

Busy, busy, busy. Here are a few sketchbook doodles and unfinished drawings in the meantime.

"Polk - WV" - A Mixed Media Drawing.

Things at the new house are coming along nicely. We finally have ceilings and walls painted so it's finally starting to look like a livable space again. Woot!

Here is a little drawing I've been working on for the last week or so, and was able to finish up last night.

4" x 4" on 5" x 5" marker paper.

More Brush Pen Goodness.

Another illustration in progress. Brush pen on Rives BFK.