Here are a couple of new drawings I did for an MSPCA art show and fundraiser. I haven't done much with charcoal in a while, and I'd forgotten just how much I love it. I generally start by working in powdered charcoal, adding and erasing until I get roughly what I'm looking for, and then I start adding in the darks with compressed charcoal. The last thing I did was add those highlights with white charcoal since the white just doesn't erase as nicely as regular charcoal does. With white charcoal, you pretty much have to get it right on the first try. This might be partly because I already have regular charcoal everywhere - all over myself, the floor, the walls, the red dog - by the time I get around to breaking out the white charcoal.
Labrador Retriever Portrait
I'm thinking about doing a series of these charcoal dog portraits (like the above portrait of the Lab). I really enjoy doing them and they actually go pretty quickly. This guy only took about 2 hours. The original Labrador Retriever Portrait is available so if you're interested in purchasing it, send me an email.
Beagle Sketch
Beagle Sketch is just a little 8x10 charcoal drawing that I did as a donation to the MSPCA Hair of the Dog fundraiser. Nothing special, just some more messing around with powdered and compressed charcoal. original is sold, but prints are available if you're interested.
