Wildlife, Portraits and Pets

Drawing Eyes - WIP

A new 'Stand-up' Desk and a new Studio!

What can I say? It has been a great start to the year so far with renovating my new studio. Ok, so the trim still needs to be done, new blinds up and with some other minor details but overall, it's really looking more like a studio!

If there was one resolution I was going to keep, it was that I wanted to stand more than sit this year. Yes, stand! It seems as though I sit most of the day which is really bad for your health. I sit at my computer, eat, drive, draw etc......so this year I made myself a 'stand-up' desk. The desk was taken from my son's baby diaper change table! My husband went to the hardware store and bought another piece that would match it to extend the top of it. The extension allows the monitor to be further away as well as elevated. I love it!!!

It's a bit hard to get use to at first but the rewards will pay off. I found myself slumping forward, my stomach being crunched up and aches and pains in the back most days. I do have a backup 'high chair' that I'm able to use at my desk as well as for my drafting board or when I paint if needed so I'm not always obligated to stand all the time. There will be days that I will be lazy and just want to sit I'm sure.

Another New Year's resolution is to get more done this year is to design a new updated website which should be completed by the end of this month. The website will showcase a new blog, videos, lessons and so much more. So stay tuned!

Now that I finally have my 'own space' I feel less cluttered and more productive!

Happy New Year!

Melissa

The Group of Twelve

If you are in the Belleville area make sure you drop by
The Group of Twelve exhibition!

Nov. 6th - Dec. 17th, 2010

John M. Parrott Art Gallery
Belleville Public Library
Belleville, Ontario

Twelve of Canada's finest realist artists

Zoran Rnjak, Denis Mayer Jr., Bert Liverance, Melissa Schatzmann,
Gabriel Krekk, Doug Comeau, Cheryl Battistelli, Alan Bateman,
David N. Kitler, Nigel Shaw, Pauline Bradshaw, Danielle Richard

"The Secret"
Graphite Pencil

So I guess I should have posted this awhile ago....like in May! Yes, this drawing has been done for quite awhile now but I guess I must have had quite the busy summer. Well, now that fall is here I will be posting more frequently with some tips and latest drawings.

"The Secret"

"Morning Kiss"
Graphite Pencil
2nd stage

So this is the next stages I have drawn. You will see that I really made some progress in building up the fur with pencils and a kneaded eraser. Sometimes I would use the clickable eraser to take out some fine hairs.

The hair on the back is a lot longer and not so course as the fur down their necks which was a little more challenging to draw.

I'm not quite done yet so come back and see the final drawing.

A new drawing - A Work In Progress.

WIP - Graphite Pencil

Wow, it has been awhile since I have posted here. I have been doing some commissions between the last portrait and this new WIP but haven't had a chance to post them.

This new drawing that I am working on of the two Llama's were taken from a reference photo I had taken at the African Lion Safari last summer. These two were pretty affectionate although when I read up on them I had read different opinions on them. Some people say they are not affectionate at all and others say they are very affectionate. Go figure, eh!

Well, what I can tell you about these two, they were very affectionate. They were around each other all the time with gentle nudges and affectionate touches.

Drawing the teddy-bear like fur on the llamas are actually very tricky to do! I don't think I have had to deal with such thick wool-like fur before....hey, I always like a challenge though!

This is a WIP so be sure to check out my blog soon. I promise I will be posting the next stages.

Melissa

New Portrait Commission

Devan, Heather & Justin

Graphite Pencils

Here my latest portrait drawing. It took awhile to do but it wasn't because it was hard but rather because of my time the past few months. It has been a busy year for sure in working on various projects, drawings and websites. This drawing was comprised with using three separate photos. Heather (mom) in the middle is a childhood friend so it has been a pleasure to be able to draw her and her children in a portrait that she can cherish for the rest of her life.