Raven portrait in progress 1 - Oh those big puppy ears!
I’m starting a new portrait, of Raven. This is the 4th Border Collie portrait I’ve done for Cathy Nearman. Soon I’ll share more of what...
Kevin Roeckl
Jun 231 min read
Happy Summer Solstice!
Prismacolor pencil on “Light Blue” Canson paper. In this piece I used the paper color as the primary color for the artwork. The sky is...
Kevin Roeckl
Jun 211 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 11 - Big dark shapes
The lighting from the window on Wishes’ chest is finished. And her feet and forearm are finished. Now I have a lot of big dark shapes...
Kevin Roeckl
Jun 121 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 10 - The challenges continue
I thought when I finished Wishes' head the rest would be easy. But the values in this piece are going to challenge me all the way...
Kevin Roeckl
Jun 93 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 9 - The rhinestone collar
Wishes’ green rhinestone collar finished. The captions tell how it came about. It was not in the original reference photo. 1 In her photo...
Kevin Roeckl
Jun 53 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 7 - The heart dog
Here is a post about how much a portrait of a loved one can mean. I emailed Alicia asking if she had gotten the 5 “in-progress pics” I...
Kevin Roeckl
May 311 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 6 - Using my "swatches map"
I had to create a “swatches map” to understand those tricky and deceptive values in Wishes’ face. I first showed you my swatches-map in...
Kevin Roeckl
May 284 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 5 - A precarious challenge
In previous posts I talked about the challenge of the values in this difficult piece. In my last one I shared why capturing the...
Kevin Roeckl
May 205 min read
"Summer Sky" - why I chose tan paper for a blue sky
Last Sunday I shared this as a “Happy Mother’s Day” greeting on social media. I thought you'd enjoy seeing the image on the full sheet of...
Kevin Roeckl
May 172 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 4 - The passion behind the portrait
Wishes’ eye is finished. Wishes whole heart and soul was about watchfulness. All of that is captured in her eye. Below is part of what...
Kevin Roeckl
May 152 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 3 - Mood lighting
This is how the portrait looks now. Wishes begins to emerge from the dark grey paper. The values (how light or dark a color is) have to...
Kevin Roeckl
May 91 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 2 - Continuing those tricky values
In my first post I explained why the values (how light or dark a color is) in this portrait are so difficult. The values will continue...
Kevin Roeckl
May 54 min read
Wishes portrait in progress 1 - A very challenging piece
Wishes' portrait will be a challenging artwork. It’s not a complex piece, but it is a challenging one because of the values. (How light...
Kevin Roeckl
May 18 min read
Captain Jack portrait finished!
Captain Jack, best friend of Sindy B. for 16 years. When Sindy first contacted me about a portrait, she told me Captain Jack had been...
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 283 min read
Captain Jack portrait in progress 8 - Making biscuits!
How I chose the colors for Captain Jack’s biscuit. There is no specific “biscuit” color in Prismacolor pencils. 1 The pencil colors I’m...
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 232 min read
Captain Jack portrait in progress 7 - A biscuit story
This is how the portrait looks now. Captain Jack’s face is finished. Next, the biscuit. There is a story about why holding that biscuit...
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 211 min read
Captain Jack portrait in progress 6 - Whisker info
Captain Jack’s forehead and right ear finished. Now working on the intricate detail of his white muzzle and nose. Next, the biscuit....
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 181 min read
Captain Jack portrait in progress 5 - Sweet shining eyes
Captain Jack’s right eye is finished. My last post showed the left eye finished, and described the colors and reflections in an eye that...
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 162 min read
Captain Jack portrait in progress 4 - A window in the eye
You can see all kinds of shapes in the lighting and reflections in an eye. Capturing them accurately is what makes an eye look real. In...
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 152 min read
Captain Jack portrait in progress 3
Left eye finished. His bright, cheerful eye. Sindy cried when I sent her this pic. Captain Jack was her best friend for 16 years and...
Kevin Roeckl
Apr 141 min read
