Book Review: Drawing and Painting Flowers with Coloured Pencils - Trudy Friend

Book Title: Drawing and Painting Flowers with Coloured Pencils
Author: Trudy Friend
Publisher: The Search Press www.searchpress.com
ISBN: 978-1-84448-942-8
Published: 2014, Reprinted 2015
Pages: 144, Colour illustrations
RRP: £15.99

Who For: Intermediate amateur and professional artists wishing to try coloured pencils.

In Drawing and Painting Flowers with Coloured Pencils, Trudy Friend demonstrates the versatility and flexibility of coloured pencils. The book guides the reader from starting out with pencils and materials to tackling complicated compositional pieces.

In the first section, Friend introduces her choice of pencils: the Derwent range. She guides the newcomer through the various types and describes their characteristics and possible methods of application. Coloured pencils are not what they used to be many years ago, these days they are a medium for professional work of the highest quality. This is very evident in Friend's many demonstrations which the book is packed with.

The other sections take the reader through a logical and well organised topics. This makes it possible to dip into the sections rather than reading the book cover to cover. Having said this, for the newcomer to coloured pencils, I would advise a good look through the book so that the various techniques are covered. 

There are two key aspects of the book which I really like. First is Friend's approach to using the full range of pencils, water and non-water soluble, in a multimedia technique. Thus making full use of the potential of the medium and achieving impressive results. Beginning artists may find the approach particularly helpful, especially if watercolour is a medium they are familiar with.

Using coloured pencils in a multi-media approach

The second, is the way Friend uses objects to give the flower paintings and drawings substance and context. For example, she uses objects such as a water pump, a pair of old boots, and even a bicycle! The compositions are effective and the various elements support each other. This is particularly useful for artists who may find painting flowers in a 'botanical' style not easy or not what they want. These compositions can also be found in most gardens

Including objects to give context to paintings

Coloured pencils are the medium of the future. More and more professional artists are finding its versatility, and lucky for us manufacturers of art materials are responding to the demand. New and exciting products are being introduced regularly..

The book will serve the reader well as both an instructional and inspirational resource.

Mo Awkati

Why we need so many brands of pencils?

Have you had new pencils for Christmas? Maybe you treated yourself for a new brand of pencils because others spoke of their quality or colours. In any case, you may wonder why we have so many types and brands of pencils.

Pencils, all varieties of pencils, have characteristics peculiar to them. It all depends on the 'recipe' of the manufacturer and the purpose it aims to achieve in the type of pencil produced.

I have a wide range of pencils in my 'collection', but I don't see the seem that a collection, but rather a range of tools in my workshop. There is no one spanner which will fit all nuts and bolts. Same goes for pencils. I get to know my pencils well, by 'playing' with them and pushing them to their limits to see what they are capable of achieving.

So what is the deal then with the different pencils? I try to discover the characteristics and identify the possibilities of the different pencil brands. Of course, the personal preference comes into it, but don't be put off from exploring the brands you are not familiar with.

I have listed below so characteristics to help you discover the potential in your collection of pencils:

- Pigment permanence
- Wax or Oil based
- Soft and crumbly
- Soft and creamy
- Hard and crumbly
- Hard and scratchy
- Waxy and creamy
- Do they sharpen well without breaking
- Do they hold their point well
- Do they lose their point quickly
- How do they behave on different paper surfaces
- Are they water soluble
- Do they retain their colour after applying water
- Does the pigment dissolve well


I'm sure more can be added to the above list, but you can see from the above there are different but very useful characteristics. For example, if the pigment does not fully dissolve is not necessarily a bad thing; think of texture, sand on a beach etc.

Happy New Year! :)

Mo

New colours for Coloursoft, and more products

Derent are introducing an additional set of colours for their Coloursoft pencils. [my personal favourites!].

Available from March onwards, the set comprises 12 new  (and very vibrant) colours developed in co-operation with fashion designer, Nikki Partington.

They will be issued in a 12 pencil tin with a RRP of £19.50

Some of the colours are:

Ivory, Lemon Sorbet, Magenta, Powder Blue, Chartreuse, Seaweed, Henna, and Cinnemon.

Yours truly will be going to the Pencil Museum on 14th March, so I'm hoping to treat myself!

More details from the Derwent website: www.pencils.co.uk

In addition .... (for those who like mixed media with their CP), Derwent have also extended their range of Inktense Blocks to 72 colours, and have introduced some lovely charcoal and graphite blocks (see the review in the April edition of 'Leisure Painter').

Derwent iPhone App

Derwent are once again in the news with the release of their iPhone App. The App gives you easy access to the key features for each range of Derwent pencils, including full colour charts with lightfast ratings. There are also hints/tips video clips for each range.
The App can also tell you where your nearest stockist is located based on your own location, including telephone No. and travel directions, and also features a 'gallery' section into which you can download photos of your own work.
The Derwent iPhone App is available from the iPhone App Store, or via the Derwent website: www.pencils.co.uk

Derwent News

Derwent Pencils are a valued sponsor to UKCPS, so I make no apologies for recommending a visit to their website: www.pencils.co.uk. In particular, it's well worth a look at their own blog : http://www.lovepencils.co.uk , where there is a good review of their new Inktense Blocks - solid blocks of water-soluable Inktense pigment in similar size to a pastel, and there is also a colouring Logo competition for you to enter!

If you are new to Derwent products, then click on the 'Hints & Tips' tag on the homepage for downloadable PDF files on various uses of their pencils, or similarly, click on the 'Contact Us' tag, and then click on the link to Youtube for videos of their products in use.

Alan

Results of Derwent Artists Pencils Competition

Ashness Bridge Winner of Derwent Artists Pencils Competition
A3, Derwent Artists Pencils on Canson Bristol board

copyright Malcolm Cudmore

Derwent have announced the results of the competition to find the new image of Ashness Bridge for the new tins of Derwent Artists Pencils - to be lauched later this year.

Artists is the first coloured pencil range that Derwent developed in the 1930’s and is still one of its best selling pencils today. Ever since its introduction the pencil has been associated with Ashness Bridge, just outside Keswick in the Lake District. This iconic landmark has featured on all Artists Pencil packaging since 1938.
Derwent

The brief was to produce an image which is:

• Completed using Derwent Artists Pencils
• At least A4 size (210mm x 297mm) in portrait format
• Very eye-catching, dynamic and really shows off the Artists pencils range.

Winner: Malcolm Cudmore - The drawing is unusual as this is a downstream perspective of the bridge which was achieved though Malcolm visiting Ashness Bridge to obtain his own reference photographs and find the best view to fulfil the contraints of the brief.

‘I preferred this view – I like high horizons and thought it offered a good dramatic composition. Derwent Artists Pencils lend themselves to my style of drawing, I like to build up form and tone by the application of many layers of separate colour, using as few describing marks as possible. Artists are a round traditional pencil with a wide core and a slightly waxy texture which is ideal for multiple layering and blending allowing me to build up an infinite spectrum of tones and hues’.

Malcolm is a member of UKCPS. He and lives in Lancashire close to the Fylde coast about 5 miles from both Lytham and Blackpool and has a studio in Preston. One of his works 'Reflections 1' was Highly Commended in last year's Annual Exhibition. You can read more about his entry on his blog Malcolm Cudmore Artist in Derwent Artists Pencils Competition and follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ScribbleWizard

Runners Up: Tiffany Budd and Leslie Hawes

Ashness Bridge by (Left) Tiffany Budd and (right) Leslie Hawes

Tiffany Budd is a signature member of UKCPS and commented on her entry in the Flickr Artists Drawing Competition Poll

I like to work in a bold, strong way, blending the pencils on top of each other, and then blending them with either a white pencil or a blender pencil. I wanted to try to recreate the scene in a more contemporary way. I hope I've achieved this!! I have tried different bases to work on, but think a drawing board (like a mount card) works best for me, as you can work it really hard, and it still keeps it's smoothness. The surface does tend to get a bashing!!

You can see more of her work on her website and follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tiffanyjbudd

Leslie Hawes commented on Flickr and her blog

This original drawing is done with Derwent Artists colored pencils on Alphamat, and measures approximately 10" x 12". I have been making art exclusively with Derwent Artists pencils for sixteen years. They were recommended to me by Real Musgrave of Pocket Dragons fame. Once I tried them, I never looked back! The color saturation of the pencils is amazing, making my layering technique very easy to achieve rich color. I love the creamy smooth "feel" of drawing with the Derwent Artists pencils.

You can see more entries to the competition in the Flickr Artists Pencils Competitions Image Pool page.

Below you can find links to the information about the competition and the artists highlighted above.

Links:

• Derwent
• Derwent Artists Pencils Competition - on Flickr
• Derwent News - annoucement of winner
• Malcolm Cudmore - Malcolm Cudmore – Artist
• Tiffany Budd - Wall-Power
• Leslie Hawes - Leslie's Drawing A Day

Derwent - Artists Pencils Competition #2

Derwent have now loaded a reference image onto Flickr for their Artists Pencils Competition.  It's available here.

You can download it in different sizes - just click the 'all sizes' icon just above the top left hand corner of the image to see the options.

This image is in landscape format.  I'm advised by the people at Derwent that:

• People creating an entry for the competition are not required to use this image.  This has only been supplied as people have been asking about copyright issues.
• Derwent are not looking for an exact duplicate of an image but rather are looking for the artist's own interpretation.
• You can find lots of images of Ashness Bridge on the Internet which you can use for guidance in developing your drawing.  
• Derwent are not expecting artists to create a direct copy of any one image.  Developing an image from several different images avoids infringement of copyright and enables you to create your own artistic interpretation of Ashness Bridge
• There's no requirement to include the Derwent logo!

Remember the drawing needs to be completed using Derwent Artists Pencils.

Derwent - Artists Pencils Competition

Derwent Artists pencils were the first colour pencil ever to be developed by Derwent and they are still one of the most popular in the market. In 2010 Derwent intends to unveil a new tin design for Artists Pencils, and have launched a national competition in search of an image to appear on the new tins.

The traditional subject for Artists Pencils that has appeared on the front of the packs since their launch in 1938 has always been Ashness Bridge, near Keswick in the Lake District.

Keeping with tradition, the challenge for this competition is to draw Ashness Bridge with Derwent Artists Pencils.  Derwent want the image to be very eye-catching, dynamic and to really show off the Artists pencils range.

Entries must be 

• in portrait format, 
• drawn with Derwent Artists Pencils 
• at least A4 in size. 
• received by the closing date of January 31st 2010.
  

Rules:
1. All work must be executed in Derwent Artists Pencils
2. Minimum size for entries: A4 (210mm x 297mm)
3. Entries must be submitted unframed and protected in a stiffened envelope
4. The completed entry form must be affixed securely to the back of your work.
5. If you want your drawing returned, you must enclose the correct postage and a reply label. Entries not complying with this rule will not be returned.
6. Every care will be taken of entries, but the organisers cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage during transit, incoming or outgoing, while on the  organiser’s premises or while being judged or exhibited.
7. The winning prize is your image appearing on the iconic tin, and a finished tin of Artist Pencils with your image on the front. No financial alternative will be offered.
8. Derwent reserve the right to commission an artist if a suitable image is not found from the competition.
9. In entering your work you are agreeing to the use of your image by Derwent, in any format and publication.

Full details are set out in the information article (Pdf file) about the competition which can be downloaded from the website (link reproduced below)

Download Article


Derwent are accepting entries online and there are FOUR different ways you can enter the competition

EITHER Add your drawing to the dedicated Flickr group: www.flickr.com/groups/derwentartists (you need to be a member to be able to upload an image))

OR  Upload your entry to the dedicated Facebook Group (http://bit.ly/4rOF1u)  (you need to be a member to be able to upload an image)

OR Email your entry to derwentcompetitions@acco.com (maximum file size 5MB)

OR Post your entry, with your name, address, telephone number and email
address clearly labelled on the back of your envelope to:  Drawing to Artists Competition, Cumberland Pencil Company, Derwent House, Jubilee Road, Lillyhall Business Park, Workington, Cumbria CA14 4HS

You can also follow the competition at twitter.com/derwentpencils

Links:  Derwent Pencils http://www.pencils.co.uk/

An interview with Margaret Edwards

Nature's Own Athletes
15" v 20", coloured pencils on Canford Mi Teintes
copyright Margaret Edwards

This is the second in the series of interviews with the three UKCPS members who have had their work accepted for the Wildlife Artist of the Year 2009 exhibition to be held at the Mall Galleries, London from 1st-6th June 2009.

Today it's the turn of Margaret Edwards

What's your approach to wildlife art? Why are you interested in it?

I have always had a fascination for wildlife, and drawing nature makes it real for me, as I would probably never see many of our wild animals. As the years go by it is clear to me that some of these amazing animals could be lost for ever.

Drawing these creatures keeps them real and hopefully there for people to see and have a conscience about.

How do you generate your reference photos?

My inspiration comes from many areas and whilst some parts of my work are realistic others may be virging on imaginary and thats when that old phrase artististic license comes into play.

Often if I source my reference from books and magazines it won't be copied, it will become a small part of what is finally created. When I have to be realistic, I do use my trusty camera. My daughter has also donated some of her beautiful photos from her trips to Kenya, but again I wouldn't just copy from them. Where is the fun in that?

What's the story behind your piece and why did you choose to enter this one

In my life I have always admired the beauty, speed and grace of cheetahs and get great pleasure from drawing such an amazing big cat. The first oil painting I ever did was of a cheetah and so, for me, cheetahs were the obvious choice for this exhibition.

This drawing was created from a few photographic references, a bit of imagination and a lot of inspiration.

What pencils and support did you use for your artwork and why did you choose them?

My drawing was done with a combination of Derwent Artist, Derwent Studio and also Prismacolor pencils. Prismacolor was mainly used on the fur for that soft effect with an intensity of colour that this pencil gives. Derwent pencils especially Studio are very good for detail. I used Dove Grey 150g paper . Works for me.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background as an artist

I have always drawn and at 18 I went to Art College, then worked in Art and Advertising for some years after which children came along. My drawing took a back seat for some years after and now I have much more time again and thoroughly enjoy being a member of the UKCPS and entering the various exhibitions that I hear of from time to time.

Related posts:

• Three UKCPS members to exhibit in "Wildlife Artist of the Year 2009" (5 April 2009)
  
• Some Winners - and a Competition (26 June 2008)
• An interview with Jonathan Newey (21 April 2009)
  

HM Queen opens new Derwent Factory

HM the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh opened the new Derwent pencil factory at Lillyhall Business Park, Workington, on June 5th - and got a lovely box of pencils for their trouble! Sorry it has taken me a while to get the pics of this up, but Patchings Art Festival was extremely tiring for me. Anyway, many congratulations to our friends at Derwent for such a prestigious opening, and for having a brand spanking new factory where they can produce even more wonderful pencils for us. One good point about the day from our perspective was that Her Majesty was introduced to at least one of our members - David Cook.

More pics on the Derwent site.

The Patchings Festival was very successful for the Society, mainly due to the efforts of Peter Weatherill, again, who made very useful contacts with our friends at Caran d'Ache. They had a special team over including their chief chemist, Eric Vitus, who was giving technical talks each day. Wish I could have gone! But it was also great to see many members, including Janet Pantry, Judith Waugh, Will Johnson, and probably loads of others. By Sunday I was kind of bleary!

I hope you are all now working hard to get your entry for this year's Exhibition finished - you have less than a month!

Bits and Bobs from Bob

Richard Childs, "Hope of Sepilok"

Several short pieces in this blog. Let us start with several big congratulatory cheers, with possibly more to come! First, for members Richard Childs and Jonathan Newey, who have both been accepted into the Mall Galleries Exhibition for the Wildlife Artist of the Year, run by the David Sheppard Wildlife Foundation, between 24th and 28th June this year. The final winner will be announced on the Preview Evening - we are keeping our fingers crossed for both members. Richard's piece is "Hope of Sepilok", which was a prizewinner in the 2008 UKCPS Exhibition, and which has been instrumental in raising a good sum for the Orang-utans in Borneo.

Graham Brace, "Dancing Trees"

Next, congratulations to member Graham Brace, who has a five page article in this month's (May) Artist and Illustrator magazine, with several examples of his beautiful work. Also in this magazine is a reference to the UKCPS Colour Comparison Charts, so we hope for more orders of those.

Next, a request from one of our members, Karen Coulson, to publicise her local art shop, which, despite the name, is in Lymington, Hants! Happy to do so, on recommendation of our members. This very friendly store may soon be stocking the new Luminance pencils from Caran d'Ache that are causing a stir at the moment, but it already has a good stock of Derwent and Caran d'Ache as well as some harder to find papers like the Art Spectrum Colorfix. Clicking on the picture above will take you to their site. See what Peter Weatherill, Nicole Caulfield and others think of Luminance here. While on the subject of members recommendations, if we have any members in North Queensland, Australia - and yes, we do have some in the Antipodes! - they might be interested in contacting Frieda van Aller to talk about visiting artists in the Port Douglas region.

Finally, if you have not already done so, get this book. Arlene Steinberg, known to many of us through "Scribbletalk", has written what I feel sure will become a standard in the coloured pencil world. I received my copy yesterday, and devoured it in one sitting, and am now going through it again to savour it. The best way I can sum it up is to say that Arlene does not just teach you how to become a coloured pencil artist - she shows you how to be an artist. And remember if you buy this book through the Society Book page, we benefit by a few pennies - which we can do with!

New Year, New Opportunities!

A hopefully useful little pocket money idea to spend some of Auntie's Christmas Cash, to kick off the New Year. Some years ago I did a colour conversion chart, comparing colours across a few of the major brands, which UKCPS members will vaguely recall getting a copy of in their joining packs. With the demise of Karismacolor and the arrival of Derwent Coloursoft, I thought it would be worthwhile updating this and this time including swatches of colour. I have done this and some of you may have seen trial packs at the NEC in November. After some tweaking of the printing process and decisions on pricing, the Society is now offering these for sale. I stress that ALL proceeds go to the UKCPS, nothing comes to me.

The charts are divided into approximate colour groups - the Yellow/Orange page is shown above. Where there is possible ambiguity - is Pumpkin Orange an orange or a brown? - colours are repeated on different sheets. The aim is to find replacements for Karisma, so they are in the first column, and I try to match these colours to Derwent Coloursoft, Derwent Artist, Faber Castell Polychromos, Caran d'Ache Supracolour, Lyra Polycolor and Staedtler Karat Aquarelle. With 10 million colours to choose from, it is not surprising that this is a difficult task, and often no proper match is available. Even given the limitations of colour printing though, I believe this chart does give you a good guide where to start looking. One other possible use, for example, would be to try to find a more light-fast alternative to a colour that you know is fugitive in one brand.

Peter Weatherill has kindly agreed to take on all of the mailing and printing of these charts, and the Society is offering them at £5 including postage for UK residents, £6 ($12) including postage to overseas, with a £1 ($2) discount to UKCPS members - quote membership number with order.

To order, please e-mail Peter at wpweatherill@fireflyuk.net - if you have a PayPal account you can also "Send Funds" to this e-mail address. If you need to send a cheque, Peter will give you details. This offer will also appear in the next "Talking Point", but online members have a chance to get theirs early!

For a review of this chart by member Katherine Tyrrell, please have a look at her blog: http://makingamark.blogspot.com/2007/11/coloured-pencils-colour-comparison.html

And a very Happy New Year to all UKCPS Members!

News from Derwent

Take a good look at this lovely box of Derwent Signatures - after December 31st 2007, they will no longer be available. I have just received word from Derwent that their Signature range will be discontinued. I will particularly miss the Signature water-solubles, not just because of their lightfastness, but also because they were lovely pencils. I am reassured that this will not mean that Derwent are easing up on their commitment to bringing us lightfast pencils though. I know the testing they do, I have seen it, and I know that they will strive to bring us the most lightfast pigments that they can source. I also hope they will continue to publish lightfast data on all of their pencils, so that, as producers of fine art, we will know what we are using.

Some much better news from Derwent is that they are extending their wonderful Inktense range from 24 pencils to 72 (71 colours plus a non-soluble outliner), and these should be available from January 2008. So save some of your Christmas money for these!

And a very Merry Christmas, Holiday Greetings, and a Colourful New Year to all CP Artists everywhere!