Drawing for Fun with Black, White, Brown and Grey Conte Pastels on Tan Paper

Using pastel pencils is very different from colored pencils.

Pastels are much softer, can cover an area much faster, and are super dusty. They do not hold a point as long as a colored pencil, and need to be sharpened often. They can create very painterly looks with a more controlled feel.

In the video below I am coloring this printed ink image of a hummingbird using only four colors. Please feel free to download and work along with me if you like. Enjoy!

                                       CLICK HERE to download hummingbird to draw along!

Here's the video! All items I mentioned are listed here and under the video. Click below to watch.
Conte Pastel Pencils:  https://amzn.to/3fhV4RG
Strathmore Tan Toned Paper: https://amzn.to/30k004u
Strathmore Tan Tone Paper (Smaller Pad):  https://amzn.to/3hVrx1R
Conte Sharpener:  https://amzn.to/2EvlliH
Starter Brushes:  https://amzn.to/3k0t9ta
Coloring Dreams Coloring Book (more pretty images):  https://amzn.to/3gp8tJi

Thanks for stopping by! xo

Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail ~ Easter Bunny Coloring Download

Hippety hoppity!

Just a few short weeks until Easter.

I hope you like this Bunnies of Cuteness download. Click HERE for to print Strawberry Bunnies. 

Bunnies of Cuteness!

There is another in my ETSY shop, and every day until Easter I will add another downloadable page.

Have fun! Please share your colored page and share with me--I would love to post your colored pix on my blog and on my fun Facebook page ART by YOU. 

xo

Don't forget the Fancy March Giveaway. Enter HERE.

An Artistic Plan ~ How to Enhance Your Creativity Even as a Beginner + Downloadable Journal Page

Pablo Picasso said "the chief enemy of creativity is good sense."

This is probably true, but as you can tell there are some inherent issues with this statement. I am certainly not trying to argue with the master of creativity who would surely say that his art came before anything else.

But many of you out there live in a home, possibly have a car, have some type of job, and eat on a regular basis. Most would say their family comes before anything. Having good sense allows us to keep our homes and jobs, eat decent meals, and stay out of jail. That being said I cannot be a complete proponent of throwing good sense to the wind.

But if we can laser focus our good sense to our artistic endeavors, I think the advice is perfect.

Rejected

A few years ago I was chosen to illustrate a children's book. The text was lovely and I instantly had an idea of what the pictures should look like. I quickly put together several images and sent them over--and they were just as quickly rejected. 

So I tried again, and again, and again--no luck.

All my great ideas were gone. 

At this point I had nothing to lose. I drew a far more grown up image, but the made me happy. I loved the colors and the whirling dreamy background. I figured what the hell! At least I could go out with a bang.

Accepted

 Those were the pictures that were chosen for the book. 

I had nothing attached to them--no fear, no worries, no preconceived notions. I figured it was already too late, and a tiny voice in the back of my head said the images would never work. So I sent them.

My roundabout point is this: sometimes the thing that gets in our way the most is our own negative thinking. 

So when it comes to art, do what they say in Frozen: LET IT GO!

If any of you are true beginners here is my advice:

* Go out and get whatever you like to create with--markers, paints, yarn, fabric--whatever! (Even if you are scared and you never tried, all the more reason to go for it.)

* Find a magazine or Google article about whatever medium you chose. 

*  Choose a project--a picture, a painting, anything--and copy it. (That's right--copy. You can trace, copy, recreate, or do your own version of anything you see. Some people need this little kick start for their creativity--especially if they have not used it since they were little. Plus copying or tracing actually helps you learn very quickly. Before you know it you'll be itching to create your own stuff.)

*Start right away and DO NOT worry about being perfect.

* Finish it!

* Start another.

* On the same day you start this project, get a notebook or journal--even a piece of paper will do, and write about your artistic dreams each morning. Feel free to tear out the page and rip it up after you write if you are afraid someone will read it. (Great idea from a friend). The point isn't to have a book to read when you are done, but to get your mind on creativity and what it means to you. Just do one page, and try and include one positive thing you are feeling about your creative process. Also, follow Picasso for this too--just write with abandon, write from your soul. This could be something you have waited to do for years. (I have included a downloadable journal page to hopefully inspire you HERE. It is free, and you can rip it up when you are done if you like.)

* Last but not least, do art with kids. Watch how free they are, they are not worried, just happy to be in the creative moment.

I'd love to see your work--especially if you are just starting. I feel art is so important and can be a wonderful way to express yourself.

Here are some words of wisdom that every. single. creative needs to hear. Only two minutes and super worth it. Click HERE

Video Cat

Today's video is How to Draw a Cute Cartoon Cat. If you like it I hope you share it with a young person who likes art too.

Don't forget to enter the Six Shades of Grey Faber-Castell Giveaway HERE for a chance to win SIX Faber-Castell PITT artist pens. Good luck!


xo

Downloadable Turkeys!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Since I won't be eating any turkey tomorrow I drew some that you can download and color--one for the big kids (and adults, let's be real) and one for the little ones.

For the little ones

For the older set, and adults.

Have a wonderful day!

xo

WHO LIKES TO COLOR?!

Happy Katie!!

Do you know a kid who likes to color?

They can join the Out of This World Coloring Club on Facebook! We aren't judging here--we have a few moms who are having a great time coloring our pictures too--but they are not eligible for the prizes during our fun contests--sorry moms!! (Click here for link https://www.facebook.com/groups/478108415587906/?fref=ts )

Jamie's awesome egg!

Pictures from the Out of This World Coloring Book Series are featured--and they have been AWESOME. We have had a striped bunny, a purple haired, candy loving girl named Francine, and a sneaky robot featured on our pages!

There are contests to win, pictures to color, and pages where you can find art drawn by YOU.

The last contest was during Easter, and Francine and the Spy Bunny was featured. The next coloring book will be PENELOPE'S GARDEN, and will feature a spell-casting witch and her friend Heather who can only talk in rhyme.

Penelope and Heather thinking about a spell.

I can't wait until the book is published so I can see all of your work.

I will post a new and printable cartoon to color every week--see on the right column under pages.

I hope you all have fun!!

See you at the club!

XO Dea



Taelor colored a terrific striped bunny :)



Coloring some special eggs.

JP was the grand prize winner of the last contest. Congratulations!!


JOIN HERE!

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/478108415587906/?fref=ts