Either go on line or order an art supply catalog from Cheap Joe’s or Blick’s and read about all the different types of pencils there are to draw with.

There are pastel, sketching, woodless graphite pencils, layout ebony pencils, semi hex drawing pencils and sketch and wash pencils.

So now you have a problem, which type of pencil should I chose? My advice is to pick up a soft 2b, a graphite and a set of sketching pencils.   Draw a block 1″x1″ for each different pencil and make different marks with these pencils.  You can make diagonal lines in some squares and crosshatch in others.  Also take the time to darken the corners with each pencil to see what degree of light and darkness it makes.

Now you are ready to select the subject matter.  There are many subjects for drawing in the representations of various living objects such as plants, animals or humans.  Sketches of landscapes, places and scenes may also be the subject in pencil drawing.  There may also be an opportunity to sketch landmarks, such as buildings and monuments.  These are excellent architectural subjects.  As an artist you can use your own imagination and develop this particular type of drawing skill.

Pencils can be used to lay down different types of shades, bring out many variations with their applications.  This provides you with the option to create a perfect shade.

There are also many various drawing materials, these range from inexpensive newspaper grade to the higher quality ones which are more costly.  The texture, hue and strength also vary from one type paper to the other.

Ellene Breedlove Davis

http://ElleneBreedloveDavis.com

http://ElleneBreedloveDavisRadio.com (Wednesdays at 10am on Blog Talk Radio)

http://Twitter.com/ElleneBDavis

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So far we’ve seen the black fox squirrel, the pileated woodpecker and the red head woodpecker, as well as the water birds that we usually see.

My point is I’m in an area that has no super-speed internet for the laptop, but since I don’t want to be behind with my internet marketing  assignments, I include an air card.

This time I also included my watercolor painting supplies.  It’s easy to stretch the paper on gator board before I leave home, and pack the paints, brushes and other supplies in a small box that fit nicely in the car. I actually remembered to include the charts that I’ve made of the colors I intend to use.

Yesterday, I painted my landscape painting.  Here I paint by the window that faces south and looks out over the pond, the light  is good, especially in the morning.

At night I’ve been able to keep up with my internet marketing assignments from my mentor, Connie Ragen Green.  Connie has issued a challenge for her mentees to post 30 blogs in 30 days.  This is April 11, 2010 and this is blog #1.

Thanks to a little planning beforehand, I have been able to paint a watercolor painting, keep up my assignments and really enjoy visiting with my artist friend here.

If you have ever thought you would like to be an artist, I invite you to download the special report – Choosing To Be An Artist – For A Lifetime.  The first chapter is an interview I did with the good friend I was just speaking of. This is at no cost to you.  I would love to have your comments.

“Honor Your Creative Spirit!”

Ellene

Ellene Breedlove Davis

http:///ellenebreedlovedavis

http://ellenebreedlovedavisradio.com (10 am on Wednesday)

http://facebook.com/ellenebdavis

http://twitter.com/ellenebdavis

7 Tips to assist you in letting others know your paintings are for sale.

Question # 1 -  When you are asked “what do you do?’ speak up and say “I’m an Artist”, with pride and excitement.

Question # 2 will likely be “What do you like to paint?”

Question # 3 ” Do you paint plein air or from photos?

Question # 4 ” Do you have a studio?’

Question # 5 “Do you take commissions?”

Question # 6 “Do you teach?”

Question # 7 Do you have a business card?”

Have your answers prepared and be able to talk about them immediately!  All these questions may possibly be leading up to a commission or straight sale.

At the least your conversation with the viewer is building a relationship that can turn into a collector relationship for many years to come.

In the upper right corner of this blog post you will see a picture of an e-book.  I invite you to press this button, register with your name and e-mail and receive “Choosing To Be An Artist – For A Lifetime“.  It’s at no cost, and my gift to you.

This will also entitle you to receive the Valle of Yellow Creek Art Studio Blog that is published each 1st and 3rd Saturday. It’s full of helpful information whether you are a beginning or more advanced artist.

Honor Your Creative Spirit!

Ellene

Ellene Breedlove Davis

http://ElleneBreedloveDavis.com

http://ElleneBreedloveDavisRadio.com

http://twitter.com/ElleneBDavis

http://facebook.com/ElleneBDavis