Siberian Iris in Coloured Pencil

This is actually an exercise in one of my Billy Showell instructional books (A-Z of Flower Portraits). I did it in watercolour first, but then I decided to also do it in coloured pencil, and I prefer this coloured pencil version.

Coloured Pencil Sketchbooking

Some of my sketchbook pages.

Botanical Work in Coloured Pencils

I'm really enjoying my coloured pencil work at the moment and am making good progress, getting a feel for the techniques and colours.  I'm doing sketchbook work as well as finished pieces.

These are some of my completed exercises worked from my instructional books. This one is an exercise in depicting 3-dimensionality from 'Classic Sketchbook - Botanicals' by Valerie Baines

This one is an exercise on shading white flowers on white paper, from 'Botanical Drawing in Color' by Wendy Hollender. I'm fond of Ox-Eye Daisies so I'm going to work up my own drawing now that I've got the hang of the shading from doing Wendy's version.

Bullfinch in Coloured Pencil

I'm enjoying some good coloured pencil tutorials at the moment. I've just finished this bullfinch under guidance from a video tutorial with Alan Woollett.

More Tutorial Work

A couple more of my paintings done under tuition from Anna Mason's online school.

Realistic Watercolour Tutorials

I've tried a few different online tutorial sites but find I am happiest with Anna Mason's online school, which teaches very realistic watercolour painting. It's not traditional botanical painting as such, but there is a similar focus on detail and realism.

Here's a few more of my paintings, which were all done using Anna's tutorials. I'm doing the beginners courses, so the subjects are quite simple.

Coloured Pencil Advanced Techniques

Wow - coloured pencil work using the advanced layering and burnishing techniques I've just learned is SLOW!  It takes hours and hours to do very little. Quite a lot of patience is required, which is a definite challenge for me. I'm starting to get a feel for it though - this is my first piece done completely solo - no tutorial. Not perfect, but not too bad for a beginner.