~new graphite cat~

[one who sees]

out of necessity, i have had to change venues and start working on something besides cp birds......
i found out the lil shop i sell works at isnt interested in birds...now they just want cats and horses...
so i am quickly trying to get a cat done for tomorrow...cripes!
this is the first stage of this lil fluffy feline..... :o

a bit of placing the eye, nose, and ears...and trying to nail down the patterning of values...and direction of fur right now....
hopefully i can then darken up those values and tighten up the detail a bit...but usually i keep my graphites a bit free, not as tight as cps....i try...not always do i succeed.. :eek:

[Sandy]

Well........it looks like you're working it out just fine!, this is going to be wonderful ows. Beautiful eye & I love how loose you are with graphite it works for you, I however can't seem to loosen up yet........... I love kitty's

Sandy:clap: :clap:

[Denise]

beautiful so far!

[lene]

Hi
Beautiful drawing, lovely loose style - looks like a finished drawing to me with just a bit more contrast around the mouth :)

[Traci]

Great fur texture! I hesitate to say this because I know you're not finished, but the cats' right ear appears a little flat still, seems to me to be on the same plane as the other, not receding much.

[Meisie]

Looking very good!!

Meisie

[eysha]

looking good. will be watching this one too. your birds are lovely owlie.

[oozoo]

I love this style...it's so soft!! I agree about darkening the values, but other than that, this is incredible...do you blend with a stomp/tortillion/finger/whatever? Some graphite artists believe that blending is a sin, and that the gradations of values should be done entirely by lightening the pencil stroke and using harder leads. I disagree, but I always like to hear the opinions of others.

[one who sees]

[i]thank you all for the positive comments....i really appreciate em!

as to blending...i am not against it.....not against using the finger,though ya have to make sure that lil digit is clean!...i would use a qtip or tissue or anything else that would do the trick...
but for this one...i have used two different sized tortillions.....to pull the texture of the hair and softly create those lil middle tones that are on the edges between the contrasts of darks and the paper..though i do use the pencil lightly in areas to create those similar effects...i tend to try to create the ~shadows~ of the hairs by using a tortillion as well...it gives a nice soft blurry lil effect/stroke and that is what i was after...i also tend to vary that stroke...i will use long or short strokes depending on the fur...and in some areas i will just dab the tip to the paper..creating dots or lil other patterns..
hope this answers questions as to how i go about using graphite.....because i am normally very tight in using cp, and pretty tight in painting in oils...i like to keep graphite a bit looser..freer....a bit more fun!

i think i am ready to sign and call this one finished...... :D

[oozoo]

Oh this is so beautiful!! I do have one little nit though...the ear on the left (facing) doesn't read as anchored to the head in the proper place...it almost seems to be coming out of the forehead. The fur on the head to the immediate left of that ear is longer than the fur on the head beneath the ear, and I think that's what is giving that impression. And Traci is right about the perspective of the two ears...they appear equally detailed and valued, so the ear on the left (facing) doesn't recede. If you blurred that ear slightly (or added more sharp detail to the ear closer to us) and lenghtened the fur below it to match the fur on the head to it's left, it might give it more dimension.

As to technique...it is flawless!! Even in graphite this kitty looks soft and touchable. Great job!!

[one who sees]

hmm thanks kiddo!...going to have to go back to the reference and check those hair lengths, i do see that the effect is bringing that ear a bit forward more on the left...and i can easily deepen the value on the ears edge on the right so thats no problem..just a bit more tweaking... :D

thanks for lending me your eyes!..

[Gemma]

I really like the value changes you have on this. I agree with the bit about the ear otherwise the rest of it is wonderful.

Gemma

[lene]

Hi
a lovely soft and beautiful portrait :clap:

[one who sees]

thanks gemma! lene!
i am going to tweak it up a lil bit more...add the corrections mentioned and then frame it up.....

this week is a bit chaotic cause hubby is on vacation and i am not getting any work done! :bangin: i have to wait for next week!......but i cant say that i mind going fishing each day and taking new photos! :D

[Denise]

OWS- this really turned out great...love the softness of it- just like a kitty!

[one who sees]

aw thanks denise!...its one of those soft and fluffy ones..so i guess i have managed to capture that fuzzy fur...thanks!

this is the final version tweaked abit.....i have signed it, before i overwork it.....which is soooo easy to do.... :o

thanks for y'all watching and peeking in..not quite sure what will be next yet..
havent heard from the photographer about using the lilac breasted roller ref...so have to wait on that one....might be a bird next..or another kitty..or a horse..not quite sure... :D

[beth]

:clap: :clap: :clap: Lovely putty-tat, BA!

[one who sees]

thanks beth!...hey girl doncha ever sleep???? :D

[Arlene]

you did an excellent job...like the softness especially.

[Gemma]

Love It!!:clap: :clap: :clap:
Gemma

[Meisie]

Just beautiful! :clap:

Meisie

[one who sees]

Arlene,Gemma and Meisie,
thank you!.....i enjoy using graphite...its when i can ~play~...just be a lil looser than i normally am with other mediums...so its a lot more enjoyable stress wise! :p ..
now i just have to decide what i am doing next!....
my husband is home on vacation this week so very difficult to work on anything...but hopefully by monday i will know what i will be working on next!

[nina]

It's a very lovely drawing!!!
:clap:

[eysha]

Wow, this is just lovely. Great job and a sure winner too.

[Bob Ebdon]

Also Wow! Like everyone else I love the softness you have achieved here, so appropriate to the subject, wonderful:clap: :clap: :clap:

[ArtWench]

Wow! I too love the soft fuzziness that you gave the kitten. It is practically touchable! This style is awesome!