Jessica Crabtree

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Finished! 8×10 charcoal (See details on my Gallery.) Thanks to William Warby for the Creative Commons photograph. Click the tags below to see it step-by-step.

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Better than halfway done…

Snow leopard, stage two. Click photo for larger view.

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The start of my latest sketch (which will be a portrait of a snow leopard). I’m using 2, 4, and 6B charcoal pencils on 80lb Strathmore “Windpower” paper, 9.5×12 (this size is great for 8×10 sketches because you get two wide margins for handling & pencil tests).

If you view the photo up close, you can see what’s left of my reference grid, which I’ll erase as I go along. I nearly always finish the upper left first and move outward, since I’m right-handed.

More to come soon!

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Aoife (pronounced “EE-fa”) is an Irish name meaning “delightful.” This portrait is done 2H/2B & 4B graphite on Strathmore paper.

See more on my Gallery.

“Clint”

Clint, or “Aces High” is a champion jumper owned by Gearoid Mulligan of County Longford, Ireland.

The horse portrait is done in soft graphite, the background is charcoal, on 80lb Strathmore paper. This is the original photo – I had the pleasure of meeting Clint and watching him in action during my recent stay in Ireland. When I took this shot of him, he was on his way to star in a St. Patrick’s Day parade. He’s a handsome, regal-looking fellow, but don’t let his appearance fool you; he was a complete ham!

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The latest sketch in my Gallery. Based on a 1907 photograph of a Qahatika girl (a branch of the Pima people). Graphite, 8×10.

“Do not fail, as you go on, to draw something every day, for no matter how little it is, it will be well worth while, and it will do you a world of good.” (Cennino Cennini)