The Art of Colby Jones
With four cute kids eating popsicles together in the park we had several cameras snapping away at the same time. Ended up with over a dozen versions. I picked four faces based 1) on cuteness, 2) action and 3) how they’d fit together, aethestically, in the drawing. Then I scrunched everybody closer together on the bench. I had already decided to make a pencil drawing. The idea to color the popsicles came out of nowhere.
One of many picturesque farms seen from the roads near the Adirondacks, New York.
Pen on bristol, 8″ X 12″
I started this drawing without a plan, deciding to just let things happen. You can often come up with some exciting finishes by doing this. Other times you wish you had thought it out more. Either way, it’s fun.
The first thing I did was to make a line drawing on the computer. I then copied the line drawing in pencil on charcoal-grade paper.
Next, on a whim, I added shading using a charcoal pencil.
I didn’t like that at all and in an attempt to save the drawing I used a smudge stick to soften the charcoal. It’s not great but it is what it is.
Ashley and Sam, September 2004
In loving memory of my very special grandniece, Ashley.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.
Paul, in his letter to the Romans, 8:18
Digital drawing
Here’s a copy of the Christmas card I sent out this year. It’s difficult to show online because the real thing folds out. So, imagine that you have a piece of paper in your hands and you’re unfolding it.
The cover/first page shows Santa trying to get down a chimney.
The paper unfolds to show two drawings. The top one of an elf packaging toys and the bottom one of reindeer flying.
The card unfolds again to tell about the true Magic of Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all! Or, as we say in Texas, “to y’all.”
This drawing of my Mom as a teen earned it’s title because that’s what she wrote across the photograph the drawing was inspired by.
Chalk and charcoal on color paper, 8″ X 10″
My aunt:
God blessed me to have her in my life. All my thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Joyce May Goble Capehart
April 11, 1933 – November 5, 2009
Some people aren’t sure what I’m talking about when I mention water soluble pencils. They look and work like regular ol’ color pencils except if you dip a paintbrush in water and go over them they dissolve. Regular ol’ pencils will just get wet. In case you were wondering what the pencil drawing (October 21, 2009, “Seated Woman in Color“) looked like before I added the wash, well, here it is. If I were going to leave it as a pencil-only drawing I would have 1) used different paper; this is very coarse watercolor paper, and 2) I would have added a lot more detail. You can see a regular ol’ color pencil example, September 27, 2009, “South Padre“.
