Tag: artist

YouTube Channel Updates & New Work

I’ve been working on improving the youtube channel, and recently learning to make better, more eye catching thumbnails. The keywords are more tricky, and peoples’ interest are always fickle.

I’m maintaining the style of fantasy, women, and reptiles, which seems to attract a decent amount of attention. I haven’t really seen anything else quite like what I’m doing. Women and dragons are another route to take every so often. Can’t go wrong with dragons.

As I type this, I have my bearded dragon soaking in his designated tub while I’m updating things online. My desk is also a mess, with two new artworks on top of each other, bills near by, an open package of batteries, and color pencils and tools spread everywhere.You can also see where I’ve utilized one of my reptile clamp-lamp fixtures as a spotlight for my videos. I usually have it attached to the tripod for filming, but has the habit of falling if not clamped on properly.

Despite my potentially dangerous workspace, I have managed to make a few decent new videos. Here are the latest.

 

And I have new products coming this week that will be available through my Etsy shop. They will be 11″ x 17″ art posters of some of the best pieces in my collection. I will update as soon as they come in.

 

 

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Putting The Word Out

I have yet to officially publish my Patreon page, but it shouldn’t be long before it’s ready. Here is my introduction video to get you familiar with the ideas behind what I’m doing. I will post the link when ready soon. Keep your eyes on this spot.

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Blank Canvases Painted

I posted some time back about a bunch of new canvases I had drawn designs on, and now they have been finished. I had another festival event last night, but no sales. However, I am learner to improve my table set up and preparing to get a tent and lights for other events.

In the meantime, here are all the new pieces.

Manatee Pair #2 11
Manatee Pair #2
11″ x 14″
Leopard Dolphins 11
Leopard Dolphins
11″ x 14″
(Interesting pattern lends itself to the name.)
Hammerhead Shark #4 11
Hammerhead Shark #4
11″ x 14″
Octopus #4 12
Octopus #4
12″ x 16″
Octopus #5 12
Octopus #5
12″ x 16″
Seahorse Duet 12
Seahorse Duet
12″ x 16″
(My Mom’s favorite piece so far)
Manta Ray & Remora Fish 12
Manta Ray & Remora Fish
12″ x 16″

I have yet to paint the dragons I have on two other canvases, and I have some more realistic paintings I’m working on for a rabbit rescue organization in my area. I had several people ask me about painting their dogs, so that may be another avenue I will be working with as I get more canvases.

I will post again soon. Thanks for reading!

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New work & Instagram

Sorry for the long wait between posts. I had to deal with the death of my Grandmother a few weeks back, and a lot has been going on after that. I will dedicate a post to her soon. I’m just not ready yet. Have to get everything written down for it.

In the meantime, I did get myself an Instagram account to spread my work out in the world. You can find me at the screen name “angela_deriso“. If you want updated art on the go, that’s where I’ll be posting it.

I’ve been working on some new pieces on canvases ranging from 11″ x 14″ to 12″ x 16”, and larger. Here are a few unpainted but drawn designs I have going at the moment.

Octopus frontal pose
Octopus frontal pose
A seahorse pair
A seahorse pair
Octopus side pose
Octopus side pose
Manta Ray. Remora fish were added later.
Manta Ray. Remora fish were added later.
Manatees
Manatees
Dolphins
Dolphins
Moray Eels- Flotsom & Jettsom
Moray Eels- Flotsom & Jettsom

 

And since I had extra canvases… Dragons. 😀 I’m excited to see how they’ll turn out.

Dragon2
Dragon2
Dragon1
Dragon1

 

I also ended up making a gift of one of my paintings to my brother. He has loved my previous octopi paintings, so I sent him one in secret! He loved it, and called me just to say so. Definitely going to be trying this color scheme with a few other octopi.

octi-fire

 

I have been working on all of these in the last week, and my wrist has been twinging. Went and got a wrist wrap-thing to help. Only problem is that I can’t wear it to do the work. It restricts mobility somewhat.

More finished paintings will be posted soon.

PS:

I forgot this one was done.

Seaturtle with Jellies 16" x 20"
Seaturtle with Jellies
16″ x 20″

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Artworks & Photo References

Most of the time, I prefer to use photo references to do my work. It helps me get accurate shadows, light, and overall color scheme of the animals or landscape. There are things I’ve drawn from mental memory or fantasy, but they do require a bit of knowledge in terms of anatomy, and lighting.

 

gotort-fingt2-4

 

 

Pelican Trio 14" x 17" on bristol boardpclose1pclose3

 

 

"Baranoff Oak"baranoffoak4

 

pair seaturtlesgreen_sea_turtle_1pc325686

Now, when I have used photos/images from online sources such as Google search, I may use the pose of the animal, but change the background and/or colors of the animal to avoid full on copying. Remember, if you want a reference for an entire image, I suggest getting either royalty free stock images, or taking photos yourself.

You don’t need a high end camera in order to get decent shots to work from. I personally use a Sony Cyber-shot(DSC-W20) which does a fine job of getting me the images I need. I can’t zoom in from far away and get fine details, but if I can get close enough, I can get what I need.

That’s it for this week.

~ Angela

 

 

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Commissions I’ve Done

I’d like to share a few commissions I’ve done in the past and recent, as well as some background on them.

When I first started doing professional art commissions in 2008, most of the jobs came through online contacts. Then, as word of mouth traveled, I began getting a few local jobs here and there.

Pickles

This was one of the first. I received this request from an online parrot forum. The owner of “Pickles” wanted a portrait of her quaker parrot, and she supplied an image of the bird perched among some branches. I took artistic license with the rest of the colors.

barn-horsesSunny

These two pieces feature a family’s horses and a very old barn on their property. One horse got his own portrait. I actually went out to the family’s home and visited the property and horses to get good photos to work from. The horses were very beautiful and charming in person. These pieces were given as Christmas gifts that year. (2008 I believe.)

Mojo

Another pet bird portrait requested from an online forum member. This client wanted day lilies and hibiscus flowers in the background, as well as the bird’s hatch date. 9″ x 12″ on bristol board, 2009.

ryo-ohki3

This commission was one of my more unusual requests. An old friend from high school wanted a piece with a character from a Japanese anime series called “Tenchi Muyo”, that we both used to watch. He asked for the character to be in a certain pose and appear more realistic. I added the suggested maple tree. 5″ x 6″ on bristol board, 2014.

osprey-comm-finblueheron-comm-fin

These two pieces were done for a client wanting Christmas gifts for his children, who are fond of these two bird species. Both were done on 9″ x 12″ colored pastel paper, 2014.

greyfox-commission

This piece was done for a neighbor who had a frame and requested something to fit just right. He wanted a gray fox in the woods, so that’s what I gave him.  15″ x 16″ on bristol board, 2012.

Next post will have my photos of the CRAFT ART Festival in St. Pete, Florida! Stay tuned!

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Using Colored Paper

One of the nicest things to have as an artist, is a variety of canvases and colors. With most of my color pencil work, I have used white paper (bristol board), but a few years back I discovered quality colored paper that others were using. I was immediately intrigued, and ordered a pad for myself. The colors will really pop off the paper with these sheets. These papers can be used as canvas for color pencil, charcoal, graphite, and pastels.

Canson has a a few different pads under the name Mi-Tienes, with various tones to choose from in each pad. You can see and purchase them here  http://www.dickblick.com/products/canson-mi-teintes-pads/

Canson Mi-Tienes

One of the interesting things about working on one of the darker toned papers is that you already have some shadow built into your canvas. You can start your work with a simple outline, and add highlights first, and then minimal shadows later on. With most paper media, I start shadows first, then mid-tones, and lastly highlights. Another added benefit to colored paper is that you don’t necessarily have to fill in every corner, since the canvas is already rich with tone.

Here are a few in process photos of work done on colored paper. Having your highlights done ahead of time can really put things in perspective while you are working with the rest of the colors in the palette.

Dolphin Touch progress photoWhite Ibis photoSeaturtle progress photo

And here are just a few finished pieces done on the Mi-Tienes paper.
Bella

The paper also has a different texture on each side; one smooth, and one waffle-y. “Bella” was done on the rougher textured side. Not what I initially wanted for the piece, but it worked out.

double-trouble cardinalsgrayfoxwhiteibis

I’m currently working on a few pieces using this paper. My pad will need replacing soon, and I’m curious to try the other color tones in the Mi-Tienes series. I recommend them to anyone using color pencil. I also have a few large poster sized sheet of paper I have yet to use. I haven’t tackled a piece that big yet, but I have them on hand for the challenge eventually.

Sorry my post this week was a bit late. I just have a few things on my plate that have been hectic. I’ll be back on schedule for next week!

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New Projects

After having taken a break from colored pencil illustrations (or having a block that lasted months), I’m getting back into the swing of being artistic.

Taking plenty of photos of local wildlife and places has helped me build a set of ideas to work from.

Starting a piece on 14″ x 17″ bristol board, and the subject is pelicans. I managed to get some great shots of them while they were waiting below a local pier waiting for scraps from fishermen.

Here’s the start of it, just pencil outlines of the birds so far.

20140801_154615

 

 

 

20140801_154626

And a snapshot of my work desk.

That’s it for now. 🙂

 

 

 

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Greetings!

Hello to all who may find their way here. I am Angela, and I also happen to be an artist. I work in colored pencils for illustrations, and polymer clay for my sculptures. Thus the name “Pencils and Clay”.

I have been creative since the age of five, and now at 28, I am trying to become a self employed artist. I know the road is hard, but I believe that I should be what I am and do what I seem to have the best skills at. I’m actually tired of trying to be anything else, because it just doesn’t seem to work out very well.

I will be posting more about the processes of my work, materials involved, and much more soon. This is just the first short introductory entry, so hardly the last. 🙂

If I have peaked your interest in what I do, please visit http://vivid-dreams.jimdo.com/

Thank you for visiting and feel free to stay tuned!

~ Angela DeRiso

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