Sea Shells - The Colored Pencil Magazine June 2013 Art Challenge

The June 2013 Art Challenge being held by the Colored Pencil Magazine is from a photo, taken by Sally Ford, of a group of scattered sea shells on sand.   It includes quite a large variety of shells that are quite unique. There is something so beautiful about sea shells and yet so very practical ... when you think about it, they are actually like mobile homes for sea creatures!

I enjoyed this challenge so much that I have created two entries that compliment each other.   With each of these challenges, the artist can choose to use the entire photo, a portion of the photo, or create a composition that is photo inspired.  I decided to "re-arrange" some of my favorite shells and came up with the two following interpretations .....

"Sea Shells #2" completed on 6/29/2013

"Sea Shells #1" completed on 6/18/2013

from the Sea Shells photo by Sally Ford

Both of my Sea Shell compositions are now available to you in my Etsy Shop in ACEO format (2.5" x 3.5");  larger prints can be made upon request.

I hope you enjoy my two latest creations!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

Beach Scene - WIP - Day 2

On this day I took the tracing paper drawing and transferred it to Stonehenge paper (size 9" x 12") with the aid of my trusting, old, dependable light table.  This time I used a terra cotta color pencil to transfer the drawing, it's a bit on the pale side but at least this color will not interfere with the colors I add.

Over the area with the little girl and the sand I placed a sheet of clear fisker plastic, so that I won't be rubbing off skin oils or smudge that part while I am working on the driftwood pieces portion.  I am deviating from the colors in the photo because I like all the different hues and tones of driftwood (I love to collect odd twisted pieces of driftwood when I'm at the coast ... they remind me of beautiful works of art created by Mother Nature).  Some pieces are relatively new and hold some of their original color, whilst other pieces have turned wonderful shades of grey and whitened in light of the sun.   Others have been used in relation to a cozy beach fire and display charred pieces of varying degrees of charcoal and deepest black.  They are each, like us, unique in their shapes, forms and degrees of character.

I began with the first piece of wood and traversed across the page until six pieces have been completed.  Tomorrow is sure to see the addition of more pieces and perhaps the first indications of the ocean in the background.  I figure if I don't do well on the ocean, I can always turn it into a pile of sand!

Happy day!
Karen Anne Brady