Ladybug drawing in Oil Pastels
My latest oil pastels art … a ladybug drawing for Drawing 2 class. The assignment was to draw a bug, really up close, using oil pastels. I wish I could post some of the pieces that others did for class too. Several of them were amazing! This one turned out pretty good, I think. I am pleased with how the reflection and shininess worked out, and the water drops seem fairly realistic.
This time I used mostly Sennelier oil pastels. A few Cray-Pas Expressionist were used for coloring in major areas, also some black from that set. But I think from now on I’ll be using Senneliers for the majority of my artwork in oil pastels. They’re richer, blend better, and I also am noticing they actually stick to the paper better.
I didn’t do anything for a background. The green is 100% from the toned paper (Canson Meintes).
I have listed this piece for sale at ArtWanted.
WAIT! There’s more oil pastels goodness here 
Blog post:
“Wet Lips” featuring Oil Pastel Realism
Blog post:
How to Use Oil Pastels- Finally, there’s my new Oil Pastels website! Dedicated to everything oil pastels!
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh very nice work.. I like a surrealistic dots on her/his back… Very cool drops
Yulia’s last blog post..“Breakfast” & “Still-life with the checked drapery.”
Yulia, thanks for your comment. I love your art! Hoping to see the ‘Night Fantasy’ finished soon.
The water spot is amazing. That is superb technique. Feel free to use my photography anytime if you want to base some artwork on it.
~ Kristi
Wow, thanks Kristi! I would love to use some of your photos. I’ll be in touch on that (some time after school semester ends!). Thanks for the comments I appreciate it. – Eric
You’re welcome. I’d love to see some of my photography translated to real art.
~ Kristi
Ps. I don’t see the Commentluv checkbox. It has been working for me on other sites though.
I like to see how you are using the oil pastels… such a soft effect! Really nice…
Sennelier are my favorite – not to mention are the most butteriest on the market! I do occasional oil pastel renderings but with more texture. How do you achieve such a smooth finish? Mineral spirits?
jennifer phillips’s last blog post..Happy Easter Every Bunny!
Hi Jennifer, thanks for the comment!
Indeed Senneliers are my favorite as well. I have yet to try anything like using mineral spirits though. I suppose the smooth finish is more a result of choice of paper.
I just visited your blog briefly – nice work. I love your Road to Lilliano piece!! Added you to my RSS feed.
The thumbnail of this actually looks like a photo, so I guess that is pretty good as I seem to remember pastels are quite chunky.
Do you have a DeviantArt account? That is another good place to sell art. Some people manage to make a living from it.
Soft yet rich. Awesome! And – lol – I love the way she seems to be looking right at you – half expected her to start talking
Animated movie … hmmmm. Keep em coming Eric!
Bets
This is such a great piece Eric! I loved ladybugs as a child – there is such a vibrant cuteness to them! And you captured it so uniquely especially with that background paper.
Now my next question is where is the praying mantis, I would love to see how you did that one
@David – somehow this piece came out less ‘chunky’, I think it’s because the Sennelier pastels are really smooth and buttery. I do have a DeviantArt account, which I probably should be making more use of: http://renkaiart.deviantart.com/
@Bets – thanks! Maybe I should talk to Pixar about creating a new animated ladybug character?
@Evita – Thank you for the comment. The praying mantis piece just wasn’t working out for me. I may pick it back up again after classes are over. But at the moment that one exists in a pile of unfinished pieces
What can I say – I just wasn’t happy with it!
Nice work on this one. I saw the comment you left on my Burning Babylon (http://www.trendyink.net/blog/2009/04/22/reggae-wallpaper-burning-babylon/#comments) post and followed your link here.
peace, keep up the good works,
zOnk.oNe
Hey zOnk thanks for visiting. Yeah I loved that Burning Babylon wallpaper you made! I’m a bit of a reggae fan.. recently discovered Groundation. Ever heard them?
Your DeviantArt sketches are impressive. You have a good eye for details. I am always wondering, are your art people naturally gifted at being able to draw things that actually look like what they are of, is it something they have learned or a bit of both?
When I was a bit younger, I sort of wanted to take the graphical route, but found my calling in programming and other geeky stuff. I always wondered if I would have got good at art if I spent more time doing it. I can generally do a good job on the computer, like my icons, but am pretty bad with a pencil.
I went to school with two children of a relatively well known artist (Peter Edwards) and both of them were very highly regarded back then and I think are both involved in art now. I don’t know if this was upbringing or something else.
The Deviant Art sketches are quite amazing… thanks for sharing the link, and for the wonderful comment on my dancing post.
~ Kristi
I’m not really an art critic, I only received the link to this post from a friend who thought the picture is great, but for what it’s worth I do want to say the photo is impressive. I really thought it is digital art until I read you used oil colours… It looks amazingly photo-like!
Hi Eric! You need to start to attend with this in the future. You have a talent , seriously. it’s like real one. Good job!
Wow I really love the surreal look of the lady bug ready to jump off the page. I am trying to learn more soft strokes in my painting. Like I said, I am learning. These are great.
Salute,
I’m Anna, I’m thirty three old,
I work in a medicalised french rest house. it’s nice to come
with you and I’d would like to improve my english
cheers,
Ann :: maison de retraite
nice one!
I always underestimate this little beastie. On a big Picture – very impressive – I like it, spontaneously.
Good Idea!
Virtuous! Are you a professional artist or is it just a hobby.
First i didn’t recognize, that its a painted picture and not a photography.
Good work!