Member Discussions

Home / Community / Member Discussions / Post

03 November, 2005

WESTERN ARTWORK By Denny Karchner
3,239 Views
17 Comments

PENCIL TECHNIQUES FOR FUR AND ETC-PART II

For those of you who may have not read PART I of this pencil technique tutorial it is titled PENCIL TECHNIQUES FOR FUR AND ETC in this forum. You might want to go back and read it first. For those of you who have, continue on.

Now let the drawing begin. First find a piece of clean scrap of paper to lay your drawing hand on. I usually use the enlarged copy of my reference for this. This is to keep you from smearing your transferred outlines and your artwork as you go. I am right handed so I almost always start my drawings in the upper left-hand corner and work to the lower right corner. Sometimes, depending on the subject, I will start on the main person or animal first, which is usually in the middle of the drawing area. By doing the main item first, you can judge how strong or how "pushed back" you want to do your other elements or background. There are always exceptions. Trial and error is the norm in the art world. In this case I am starting with the main element, the wolf. There isn't much background in this piece so I will let the background till last.

I usually use drawing pencils in the 2B to 6B range. I always have a good pencil sharpener real close by. I sharpen my pencils constantly. If you want good detail, it is almost a must.

17 Comments

WESTERN ARTWORK By Denny Karchner 03 Nov 2005

I start off working lightly first. I draw the actual pencil strokes that represent the hair. These are usually short strokes. Try to glance back and forth often at your reference. Look at the actual hairs. Be sure to draw the hairs in the direction that they grow. This is important.

WESTERN ARTWORK By Denny Karchner 03 Nov 2005

I don't really draw all the hairs but I do enough that it looks like they are all there. I have found that drawing hair in small rows seems to work well. Again, take a good look here at your drawing. Are they starting to look like hair?

WESTERN ARTWORK By Denny Karchner 03 Nov 2005

I will get the drawing to what most people think is done. In this stage, you see more of what looks like actual hair. I just use this as a base for the next step.

WESTERN ARTWORK By Denny Karchner 03 Nov 2005

I then start the process of getting darker and darker as I go. This is where I really start to really look at the reference. I will blur my eyes and stare at it. I have a tendency to see light and dark areas within the reference better this way. I will go into the pencil drawing dark areas and darken them even more, maybe a little more than the reference. In the lighter areas, I will sometimes take a soft, pliable kneaded eraser and go into certain areas and remove some of the graphite, especially in the highlight areas. Again, study the reference. If you are going for the realism and detail, this is the time to see what is "making or breaking" your final rendering. Make your last pencil details to the main element. I now go to the background. In this piece, I will finish up using what has become my "signature background". It is the "basket-type weave". Try not to let your background overpower you main element. You might have to lighten it with the kneaded eraser if it seems too dark. It might even need to be darkened. Do as you see fit.

WESTERN ARTWORK By Denny Karchner 03 Nov 2005

When you think you are done, do as I do, call a "second party" in. It doesn't need to be another artist but someone who has not stared at the artwork for hours or even days like you have. I have found that after working, and working, be it with a pencil or sitting in front of the G4 Mac that you will not see the "obvious". There might be something that a mere mortal can walk right up, take one quick look, point and say, "What the heck is that thing right there?" Something that has stared you in the face the whole time goes unnoticed to you but may be so obvious to others. Use someone to give you that opinion. Sometimes another artist might be better. From this point I make the "last, last" changes now. I have found that I have to make up my mind that I am finishing this piece "now". I have found that the more I keep going back making changes that I have a tendency to "over work" a piece. It was usually better before the changes. Again to a graphic artist "time is money".

WESTERN ARTWORK By Denny Karchner 03 Nov 2005

Over the years I have gone through different pencil styles. Some of those can be seen on my ArtWanted.com site others on my own website Buffalo Graphics (www.buffalographics.net). You might see another style or another technique you like better. Some of my pieces have a rough or looser feel. In the past I have done a lot of my pencil renderings using a much smoother and realistic look. I accomplished this by using a rub stick or tissue to blend a lot. This can be seen in the Toyota Supra, John Lennon and most of my recent Western art pieces.

WESTERN ARTWORK By Denny Karchner 03 Nov 2005

I will probably be doing some other "Tips" if I see anybody shows an interest. Scanning pencil drawings is somewhat of challenge that I can address. I have some PhotoShop techniques that might appeal to some and I would be more then happy to share them also. Just let me know. Feedback is important, be it good or bad, they both teach...

...I do hope that I have been some help to a young person or maybe woke something up in someone's old memories that will bring back the "thrill" of a pencil drawing. If you would happen to have any questions about pencil art or any other art forms that you see on my site, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Thanks for tuning in.

-Denny Karchner-Buffalo Graphics

Sean Lynch 05 Nov 2005

Well ya know I am interested...

Anthony Smith 23 Nov 2005

Great work. I have not yet attempted any animals due to the fear of fur. I use a similar technique for transferring some images for airbrushing and for my graphite on bristol projects. Thanks for the "how to".

jamie winter 07 Dec 2005

I am on board here.... interested.. keep going... and thanks.

joanne nash 17 Oct 2008

Hi your art is amazing im so glad i looked at your profile, i havent got the tecnology that you have but i will definatley be trying some of your tecniques. Im so glad to here that you cannot draw from memory as i thought this was my biggest problem. I take a camera when ever i go anywhere so i can see the detail, but have always had problems with keeping the lines straight. The picture i have applied is a drawing i did a long time ago but free hand but i always thought i did better in black and white what do you think?

Cynthia Adams 17 Dec 2008

I'm interested too..fascinating work...I really need to see more.!!

Stephanie Williams 27 Dec 2008

Very nice! Thanks for the tutorial. I have used a similar technique in the past. Though I mostly draw people, I have one drawing that includes animals. Of course, I did it several years ago, so I look at it now and see so much that could be improved. And it is a "western-style" drawing, come to think of it. That is the only one in my collection of work in that style. It is called "Mitakuye Oyasin". From the sketch I did a woodburning, and gave it to a Native American friend of mine as a gift.

harry abernethy 13 Jan 2009

dude your just tooo good

LouAnn Knight 17 Feb 2009

Super! just read "part !!" and will re read it in order to follow directions!! I've never actually done a pencil picture, since I tend to erase too much and it ends up looking dirty!! specially on a human's mouth!!. But I do agree that getting another's point of view helps tremendously. My hubby is my best critic. He nicely points out the 'flaws' (eye too high.. nose too big, etc etc) But lots of times I just take a picture (digital cameras are super) and in that way get a 'fresh look' at the picture. Then you can see it beside the original reference and spot boo boos. Just another idea. Appreciate your help. Thanks, again... LouAnn