MACAW
Graphite on smooth bristol
14” × 11” (36cm × 28cm)
This area contains extreme contrasts in texture and tone. The beak is very smooth and shiny, and it contains all the tones ranging from black to white.
The eye is shiny, but the area around the eye is extremely rough and textured. This was created with dark pencil lines in a scalloped design. The area was lightly blended and then the light was lifted above the squiggly lines to make the area look raised.
This area closely resembles the texture seen in some of the other animals we have covered. It looks a lot like the skin of the elephants and the rough texture on the turtle. Again, it is all about the contrast of light and dark, and the proper use of the pencil lines to create a texturized appearance.
The feathers overlap like shingles. Because the surfaces overlap, you see a shadow below and reflected light along the edges. The tone in the background helps give the illusion of light reflecting off the surface of the bird.
BURROWING OWLS OF MARCO ISLAND
Graphite on smooth bristol
11” x 14” (28cm x 36cm)
This piece has some interesting lighting with one owl being the focus and the other in the shadows. Lighting like this keeps a drawing from looking ordinary and boring.
This is a study of contrasting tones and textures. The eye appears very shiny due to blending and the lifting of the highlights on top and to the right. The area surrounding the eye looks textured due to the pencil lines. This creates the look of small feathers.
The feathers look like overlapping shingles. There is always darkness below each feather and light along the outer edge.
This area is an illusion of grass and reeds. Because it is closer than the owls, and the owls are the main focus, the reeds appear somewhat blurred with less detail. I created them with the Tuff Stuff eraser by erasing the light shapes out of the darker tones already drawn in.