Home / Archive by category "Hints & Tips" (Page 9)

Hints & Tips

Purdy’s Video :)

Posted on by Zara Toms
Yesterday I shared Purdy's A4 pastel drawing. Here is the full time lapse video. https://youtu.be/l-6MjjZ6GNg Ok... I get asked almost everyday if I have my own Patreon channel and if I can do voice overs with my videos to explain the process. Well, that may be more of a realistic thing for me to do so keep up to date on my social media and here on my blog for updates on that :D. If the o...
Read More

New video tonight!

Posted on by Zara Toms
Later tonight at 6pm I have a new video going live on my Facebook page and YouTube channel. This type of video I don't typically share just because of the editing out all the pauses so there isn't long gaps between me sharpening pencils, swapping colours and replying to messages. I thought I'd share a snippet of Olivers portrait where I am working on the shiniest, glossiest part of his c...
Read More

Cat Fur Tutorial

Posted on by Zara Toms
I receive quite a lot of emails and messages over on my Facebook page from fellow artists asking for advice and mainly if I offer any kind of tuition. Due to the considerable length of time editing full length videos take its not something I have been able to consider at this time. Putting together the full time lapse videos means that I can do these alongside drawing but these slower videos ...
Read More

Giraffe real time clip!

Posted on by Zara Toms
As mentioned yesterday, here is a real time video of me working on my current wildlife painting. I have had such fantastic comments and feedback regarding this piece which I am so very grateful for. https://youtu.be/Ynjul5webOg Ref photo: Russ BridgesMusic by bensound This painting has been a real joy. I cannot wait to get him finished. I still have a fair few hours to go and will need to ...
Read More

Trying something new..

Posted on by Zara Toms
I like trialing new art materials and working out what works with my techniques. I have used colour pencils for many years and used to use Zest It to blend. When I had to change my paper choice I found that the Zest It made the new paper quite slippery. I was using Fabriano hot pressed 140lb watercolour paper but something happened during the production where from what I have been told. So I tria...
Read More

Lets Talk Graphite..

Posted on by Zara Toms
Why is graphite such a good medium?Graphite was the very first medium I practised in when I was a child. I guess from the age I could hold a pencil you could say I had always wanted to scribble on anything ... Likely walls as well much to my mums delight I'm sure haha. - Cheapest option.. Great place to startIf anyone is looking to start creating, drawing etc graphite is a fantastic...
Read More

Real time video!

Posted on by Zara Toms
https://youtu.be/WiY2CPtRhWY Music by bensound Something different to what I normally make in terms of videos. This is a 9 minute video of real time footage. Not sped up at all. So you can see how each pencil stroke is made and how I approach the fur in layers. Last final details are put down when the portrait is near completion but this give a good insight to how I use my pastel pencils on t...
Read More

Levi’s work in progress

Posted on by Zara Toms
Such a sweet little face and those eyes were so much fun to draw. The colour and the shines it makes them look so 3D so I was keen to capture that in the drawing. Later today at 6pm, over at my Facebook page, I will be sharing a longer real time video of me working on the fur around his eyes. Showing exactly how I layer, use the pencils and what shades of pencil I am using the get the midt...
Read More

New technique… New subject :D

Posted on by Zara Toms
New materials..I have always loved working against a black background. It first sparked my interest when I was experimenting with colour pencils on black paper. Only using 1 white and 1 mid tone grey pencils to create the portrait was a good challenge. Just having to focus on values rather than colour. Experimenting can be worth while!Sometimes trialling new things doesn't always work out. Y...
Read More

All in the eyes <3

Posted on by Zara Toms
The soul of any portrait from a pastel drawing to acrylic on canvas I always start with the eyes. They are what makes the portrait feel alive and its the main part that I feel makes that pet look like 'Henry' rather than 'a Cavalier King Charles'. Even darker eyes like Henry here there is still so much depth to capture. The subtle colour with the highlight at the very bottom and the bright hi...
Read More
Top