Graphite Pencil in my Art

I love the look of pencil drawings, monochromatic and pen/ink. There is a simplicity that speaks to my heart. Often in the my own  artwork I will let the pencil show through to the end painting. The fur of the rabbit may show the shadows that have been put in at the very start with pencil as the under coat. The eyelashes or whiskers may be pencil. The tri-colour  hair of deer is made up of pencil under and over paint.

As one of the first art tools as a small child...the pencil is still one of my favorite tools. At the end of the painting I seal both the paint and pencil together with my isolation coat to make the two an integral part of the art.

This half done owl painting is great example, the drawing was very detailed and the paint was very light to let the graphite pencil show through. I just use a standard mechanical pencil for this part. 

The kitten's basket is mostly pencil with only the lightest application of colour on it. This young man's portrait was pencil and graphite powder applied with a paper stumpy plus acrylic paint.  Pencil can be such a cool part of the completed art.  Have to make one of my next painting...show the pencil work.

Grizzly Painting inspiration

This painting was created after a wonderful chance meeting with grizzly down by a river. What good fortune that the river stood like a good neighbor fence between us......we were close enough for me to admire and study him....yet feel comfortable that we were each in our own space. Together we ambled down the river, me delighted and he totally unconcerned just out on a Sunday morning stroll.
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Valerie Rogers Turtle Painting

Just wanted to share a few developmental photos of one of this summers paintings to give some idea of how I approach a painting. 

We have a wonderful local pond where lucky walkers most often can see these painted turtles resting on logs in the sun. I am always delighted to see them and of course have to paint them. 

Here is my step by step process for this particular painting. 

Awesome Art Show and Sale

Wow, it has been an awesome art show at Teyjah'sArt Den in Salmon Arm (751 Marine Park Drive Ne, Salmon Arm.) Love that my paintings are speaking to people and bringing a smile to their faces and hearts. It has been such fun that we are going to continue in the afternoons 1-6:00 for 3 more days till August 21.

 It is such a pleasure to spend time showing what I have created. My studio is a quiet and solitary. So I really love the chance to get to socialize and share. A huge thank you to Teyjah for lending her studio space to me.....it is a wonderful art gallery and studio.  So many visiting artists are so envious of how nice you have made it. And thanks so much to everyone who has stopped by!

Valerie Rogers Art Show

Wildlife & Nature Art Show
I am excited to have an upcoming art show in Salmon Arm, BC.

Teyjah's Art Den is in a new location down at the wharf in Salmon Arm (address 751 Marine Park Drive NE) and I am lucky enough to have an art show there for 10 days in August.

Show times and dates are August 8-18, 2016 afternoons 1:00 - 6:00pm. Sure would like to see you there. Stop in for a visit. Lots of Nature and Wildlife Art.

Kitten paintings

There is lots of kitten paintings out there I am sure but YES I do feel a need to add to that collection every now and then. I just so enjoy recreating that feeling of AWWWW...how intensely fuzzy, delicate and cute their small baby faces are.

There is a warm feeling in my heart when I hug a kitten....and sitting on the floor while they romp and play around me just makes me happy. So here are a couple small kittens paintings to make your heart happy.

Valerie Rogers - BC Wildlife Artist of the Year 2016

It certainly is a great feeling to be chosen as the Artist of the Year 2016 by BC Wildlife Federation. What an honor....to be able to do more by supporting conservation and province wide wildlife protection. The sale of my artwork is helping to fund  their many worthwhile programs. A big thank you to all the volunteers and members  of BC Wildlife Federation who make a difference by protecting our natural habitats and creatures. So great to be a part of that with my artwork.