Dig Deep and Unleash Your Imagination.

What drives you as an artist? I strongly believe that there is a hidden unleashed artist in all of us. We often feel limited or stuck trying to find ourselves. Have you ever had that image stuck in your head that you cannot seem to escape? It follows you everywhere, at work, doing chores, listening to music, and in your dreams. You try to draw it but find yourself making mistakes and wasting mounds of paper. You can’t figure out why you cannot draw a stick figure to save your life when you have drawn portraits,  and landscapes flawlessly in the past. Well Today in this blog I am going to give you a glimpse into how you can begin to make the changes to unleash your potential.

The biggest problem is finding what medium you feel most comfortable with it has to be an extension of you. For me it just happened to be the pencil. The next thing you have to figure out is your style. Each of us has a unique fingerprint, and in art we each have what I like to call an “Art Fingerprint.” An Art fingerprint is an original style that no one on the planet can replicate, almost like your signature. Sure they may try, but all copies will be just that another copy. You have to let go and find your own style to do that you have to take yourself back to that one point in time when you were really excite to finish a piece of art. It could have been when you were a child, in school, or a week ago, but that moment when you caught yourself off guard paused, and smiled at your picture. It’s that excitement you have to get back, and pull into everything you do.

When did art become work, and competitions, and who can sell the most? It’s a pressure that we all face especially in this age of modern sharing on sites like Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and so on. Likes, comments, and shares to the highest bidder. When we don’t see the results we like we fall backwards in fear that our work is maybe not as good as the artist with over 10,000 hits. I will be the first to admit I fell into the category of envy of other artists who hit these numbers because I don’t have the income to pay for ads, or other forms of web advertising. I am going to tell you some wise and great advice that someone very smart once told me… (my wife.) They are just numbers, and do not represent the great artist you are. Remember that as you are fighting an invisible battle online to become viral, because the greatest artists that ever existed were alive WAY before the internet was born.  So do not let competition hold you back. Pressure to succeed in today’s market had me torn, and had me creating art I thought people would like. I changed who I was in the artwork, and it wasn’t me at all. It became only business, and it made me very unhappy. I was un-motivated with no passion to continue drawing the same tired drawings that had no imprint of me in them at all. It was funny how me trying to fit in with the art community and be seen with them was what got me lost in the shuffle. I was just another artist with no originality, and I had lost who I was in the process. I needed to change or I was finished.

So what got me motivated again, the catalyst that broke the mold. It was something as simple as a sketchbook, and freedom. Eliminate the pressure, and just draw. You have to just let loose and let it all come out. No techniques, no references and no hesitation. Just draw the first image that comes to your head. T doesn’t have to be the best image in the world, just enjoy it. You don’t even have to finish it. Then for the next week  I challenge you to do it again, and again. You will start learning how you perceive your imagination. You might even shock yourself a bit, and may be able to find that you had more to show than you thought. The trick is to continue pushing what is hidden within. By just drawing out your thoughts, and experiences you begin to let go of all the pressures the world places on your shoulders.

The next thing you will want to do is refine it. Take the images you drew for the week, and just revisit them all. Ask yourself how you felt when you were drawing them. Find out what motivated you to draw them, this may go deeper in your core than you thought, and bring more than just art out, but I guarantee that you will feel much better when you do.  It may help to write your own journal or blog about each of the seven drawings. Nothing elaborates, but it will help you find out what motivates you to draw, and why you started in the first place. In doing this and remembering your reason for art, you will also come to remember the passion that brought you to art. I want you to carry that passion onto your own new original piece of artwork.

Skin through your artwork in your sketch book and choose your most favorite image. Not the most detailed, but the one that catches your eye. It may be more than one. I want you to incorporate this image into your next large piece. You can even take multiple images new and old from this sketchbook, and compose them into one great image or piece. Take your time on this one, and really enjoy it.  Make it yours and give it your style, your art fingerprint if you will. Place yourself in the scene and picture yourself there. The sights, smells, movements, take it all in and enjoy it. Use references only to refine your image, such as the flowers you drew, or people. Don’t simply copy the image left to right, or up and down like a printer. Move across the paper with randomness, or start from a different spot than you are used to just to get you away from all that technique that locked you down. The point of this is to find out who you are as an artist. In school we learn to look at a picture and make a copy of it, I want you to take that picture right out of your head, and draw it to the paper or canvas.

What it all comes down to is the fear and the challenge. The fear that no one will appreciate your imagination, or understand how you think. To be honest it doesn't matter if they do or don’t. The only person you have to impress is yourself. It’s your art, and your mark on the world. To put it another way do you want to be remembered as the artist who copied other art, or the artist that broke free and decided to do something never before seen. Me I would rather never sell a piece of art and be original and happy doing it, than an artist that just drew pictures that someone else already did. I want you to challenge yourself and bring out the best artist you can be.

 (Then again I would really love to be an original artist and sell artwork too, feel free to check out my website on the links below to find out how you can purchase the originals. :D Cheap plug.)

Thank you, and I hope to see more new great artwork

Derrick Rathgeber-Bruno

http://DerricktheArtist.com

Trouble Getting Started? Tips to Get your Artwork Moving.

One of the most difficult things I have trouble with as an artist is just getting started. To me it’s something that drags me down like quicksand. The struggle of pulling myself together is a fight I deal with daily, and the more I fight to get started I find myself procrastinating more. In my case I feel as if I start one project I am neglecting myself of another. As of now I have split my talents into several different locations, that I am completely scatterbrained at times. It’s as if I am stuck in a dark tunnel with ten paths to choose, and rather than take the chance of taking the wrong path I stay in the same spot. Unfortunately choosing the safe spot moves me nowhere and nothing gets done, and every project suffers.

If you are new to my blog, or website my name is Derrick Rathgeber, and I am a husband, father of four great kids, a colored pencil artist, comic strip writer/artist, blog writer, free online art teacher, web designer, graphic designer, and soon I will try my hand at writing a book. All that is true I have done all those things, and you can find them on my website and right here on this very blog page. What the funny part is that I have put my hat in so many pots that I have overwhelmed myself to the point where I don’t know what I want to do. Each of these things are my hobbies, and I really do enjoy them all equally. I love making people laugh with my comic strips, I love designing characters for my story, and I love drawing detailed pictures with my colored pencils. So how do I choose? When I finish one project, how do I choose what to do next? When I start one I put all my energy into it, energy that I could have put into another one.

This was a problem for me for a very long time. I tried different things, and ultimately what worked best was just being down right organized. First of all my greatest enemy is procrastination. That to this day is the hardest enemy to kick in the rear, but you know what I am learning. I’ll start tomorrow, I never do anything for myself, I am tired, I don’t have what I need and so on. Some great tips to help with this little demon are as follows.

1.  Ask yourself: Is what I am doing now beneficial? What would be more rewarding? How will I feel if I continue to put this off?
2. Put off Procrastination: It may sound funny but think about it. Turn off any devices that may lure you away from your projects ie. Tv, internet, PHONE! All these things will be there later.
3. Reward yourself: I always tell myself if I draw today for x amount of time then I get to have x amount of time to do something I like GUILT FREE.
4.  Break it down: Sometimes we are overwhelmed by a large project. So overwhelmed that we don’t start it. So break it down. Say I am going to sketch it today, color this section tomorrow ect. This also helps you take your time and enjoy your new project.
5. Share your Success: Let people know how important it is to you. Sometimes we feel guilty for taking time from our friends and family. Sometimes they don’t understand what it means for you to be productive. Let them know, and ask for support. Say don’t call around 2-4pm I will be working, or can you watch the kids for a bit. And once you are finished working thank them by giving them your full attention. 

When it comes to deciding on what to work on next that is another hang up us artists deal with. Do we start on that commission piece? Do we draw that picture your mom has been asking for? Do I dare ignore everyone and draw that image bouncing around in my head? Again it answers the question how do I spend my time and energy? In my case I pulled myself so thin at one point that I just fell apart and did nothing. I had to get focused, and combat this problem because I wasn’t getting anything done. So what I did was I got organized. This was very important for me because I was all over the place. I didn’t even know what projects I had half of the time, or what I finished. So these are some of the things I did, that you can do yourself, to get organized.

1. Make a list: Write down a list of projects you have. This can be commissions, drawings you would like to do, blogs, website, ect.
2. Prioritize them: Number these projects from 1-10+ based on which projects you would like to get done, or maybe ones you were putting off that you would like to finish.
3. Make a Time Table: Next to each item write down how much time you need for each project. If it’s unknown it’s not a big problem. Ones that you can finish fast are good ones to knock off in-between larger projects.
4. Make a calendar: This is actually fun. Make yourself a weekly calendar giving yourself that day to work on a specific project, and be sure to add a FREE DAY on this calendar to give you the opportunity to work on projects that are behind, to work on whatever you want,  or just take a day off to rest.
5. Don’t make it Law: If you have to make adjustments it’s okay. Life changes and so can your schedule. So don’t feel guilt about changing the calendar, or missing a day or two. It’s mainly a tool to help you decide on what to work on that day. If your heart is in another project follow it and finish that project, you should never force it.

Once you have everything in perspective you will find your days going much smoother and a lot of guilt that goes along with starting something new will start to pass. You want to get into a good routine of developing yourself as an artist, but also find yourself being productive. Above all try not to make it work. A reason some of us find it hard to start up something new is fear, and worry. We worry that it won’t come out right, or fear that it has become work instead of enjoying it. When you feel that pressure, and fear building up just sketch. Don’t feel obligated to share it, just grab your sketchbook and just draw. This helps relieve that pressure we all feel to be at our very best all of the time. As artists we are our worst judges, and that can do nothing but hold us back.

So today if you are holding back a great new design that can wait, push through the muddiness and get through. Today it’s harder than ever with the many distractions that we face, but we have to close that world off and dive into our imaginations and pull it out. It’s not an easy fight sometimes, but this world of technology needs more creativity. Just remember every time you start a new project you are making the world that much better and more imaginative. That itself is a great reward, and incentive to start today.

Thank you for reading,

Derrick Rathgeber

Feel Free to find me on my website at http://DerricktheArtist.com

Featured Art: Angel of Death by Derrick Rathgeber

Angel of Death

Medium: Colored Pencils/ Bristol Smooth 11" x 14"

Original Price: $150.00 -  Click Here to Buy Now.   

Prints are Available:

http://pixels.com/featured/angel-of-death-derrick-rathgeber.html

 

Angel of Death is a tragic illustration of the original poem by my wife. This 11 x 14 colored pencil drawing shows the dancing of death in the pale moonlight in visual that I can't begin to describe as she did in her poetry. 

Angel of Death

By Patricia Rathgeber

“Come dance in the moonlight, little sister.” He calls

The blades sheen reflects off my pale skin

His shadow grows up against the dark walls

As we dance, the darkness blends and I don’t know where he ends and I begin

A tear against the flesh gives way to liquid crimson

The blood, it streams down to the ground

I watch my life melt away, a stream that glistens

The silence is so loud even though there is no sound

He turns me, dips me and I feel faint

I float like a feather, so light weight

He kisses me, my metallic Saint

The taste of his victory over me, I’ve met my fate

The nirvana of the spins makes me drunk as I slowly lose life

His wings spread wide like a bird of prey with meat in his sight

I can’t refuse his kiss, no strife

Growing weak, I no longer put up a fight

I allow myself to fade in his arms

Taking it all in, my memories flash by so fast

Soaking up all his whispery charms

His kiss, the sin, is my very last

More great poems by Patricia Rathgeber can be found on her website below..

http://www.snsaintalwaysnice.com/

Own the original today.

Http://Derrickr.webs.com

Doubt is a Dangerous Thing

As an artist the worst thing you can face is doubt. Doubt is that nagging fear, or voice in the back of your head that tells you you’re not good enough, or you’ll never reach the level of the other artists on the web. It can come at you in ways that will make you want to quit and burn your artwork. I can honestly say I to this day face doubt strait in the face, and sometimes I do want to quit.

I recently got back into drawing again after a very long hiatus. I had a torn tendon in my drawing wrist that was never allowed to recover properly. When I got injured on the job I was given a brace and set right back to work. Over the years I tried to sketch here and there and my work suffered. My hand would shake, I would drop the pencil, my fingers locked up, and sometimes my wrist felt like it was being torn right off. I couldn’t draw anymore and that sent me into a very angry and dark place. The one thing I thought I was good at was taken from me, and I couldn’t do a thing about it. I doubted that I was ever going to draw again.

One day I found myself digging out my old drawings. I kept a box of my work that survived the rain and the move. I did what I normally would do, and that was pull them out of the box, look at them all and them place them back in the box. To me this was a way of looking back at something I couldn’t get back, and believe me I tried. I would draw out some new drawings, and I was upset that they were out of proportions, and very sketchy. I couldn’t get the look I used to anymore let alone what other artists could do. I think my wife saw me, or heard me because a short time later as a gift she got me a nice sketchbook. She only had one rule that I sketch out whatever comes to my head, and do not share it with anybody, just draw for yourself she said. And I think she was on to something.

Over the next year I did just that. I just started drawing small faces or, weapons, characters and random trees. All short small non detailed drawings, but each one got better. It wasn’t until last year in 2012 that I started rebuilding my portfolio. Something in me snapped and just woke up. I grabbed the largest pice of paper and all the colored pencils I had and created A “Bird in Bloom.” Believe it or not this very large 22×28 piece took me three months to complete, but to me it felt like one of the fasted drawings I have ever done. I was enveloped into getting back to where I used to be as an artist, yet somehow by the end of this piece I was better than I ever was. To put it in perspective the last award I won for a piece of my artwork was in 1999. It was now 2013 and I took this one piece of art and entered it into a show against painters and sculptures. Somehow my RoseArt colored pencil strokes won me Best in Show. This was not a cash prize win, but it was enough to convince me that I was on the right track.

I continued making large pieces and smaller pieces, and I think it wasn’t until the great feedback on the Macaw piece that I found that I may be able to have a career in this. I pushed and shared my work online, and joined various art sites to sell my work. I had high hopes that since I couldn’t work and I wasn’t getting paid by the insurance company that this could be my way of providing. When several months go by and nothing sold DOUBT attacked me again. Every time I would open my email and see all the artists who sold their work, or got a great commission, I would definitely get very envious. Here I am thinking I was good enough to win a juried show, and write lessons for RoseArt; and I cannot even sell one piece of art for my family. It hurt. Sometimes it still does I won’t lie. So Doubt hit again, very hard.

You know what brought me back this time? What keeps me going is all of you. I don’t mean to sound cheesy, but you are at home and you chose to read this. Zillions of things on this internet to laugh at and watch and you choose to read the rantings of a beat up colored pencil artist. I appreciate that. When you message me, or write me to congratulate me, or ask me of all people for advice. It pushes me. When I see you struggle in the same ways that I do, and still succeed. I know doubt is a huge waste of time.
Each of us have a story, and in our stories we have a doubt or fear of succeeding. We cannot let this doubt to come into our artwork, because as an artist you know when you erase too much, or overwork the piece it will be ruined. Take a break and draw something you love in a sketch book that you don’t have to share with the world. Do what you love because you love it, and all that doubt will go away.

I have only one more thing to say and this is the most important piece of advice I can give you.
-When you wishing that you had the ability to draw like that great artist you see posting their masterpieces, somewhere there is an artist looking at your masterpieces wishing they could draw like you. Please support and help each other.

Thank you,
Derrick Rathgeber

Featured Art - Angel of Death by Derrick Rathgeber (DerricktheArtist)

Angel of Death

Medium: Colored Pencils/ Bristol Smooth 11" x 14"

Original Price: $400.00 -  Click Here to Buy Now. 

This purchase qualifies for 60 days same as cash financing with PayPal.  

Prints are Available:

http://pixels.com/featured/angel-of-death-derrick-rathgeber.html

 

Angel of Death is a tragic illustration of the original poem by my wife. This 11 x 14 colored pencil drawing shows the dancing of death in the pale moonlight in visual that I can't begin to describe as she did in her poetry. The poem Angel of Death by Patricia Rathgeber can be found on her blog page.

http://snsaintalwaysnice.tumblr.com/post/51843925243/angel-of-death-by-patricia-rathgeber-come-dance

Own the original today.

Http://Derrickr.webs.com

Originals and Prints for Sale! Starting at $40.00

https://www.facebook.com/DerrickRathgeber/app_309028460694

Prints and Originals starting at $40! 

Shop today right on Facebook!! 

You can also visit my site at http://Derrickr.webs.com for more great artwork to choose from. 

My Last and Final Drawing?

My Last and Final Drawing?

by Derrick Rathgeber

Mermaid Legacy

All of us have that one drawing that you will never Ever sell. That is what this one is for me. I don't mind sharing this drawing with the world digitally, but no one is going to hold this drawing on paper, but me or my wife. This small 8 x 10 pencil drawing of a mermaid was almost the last thing I ever illustrated. It would have been my legacy to the world. 

My last and final drawing was drawn on a piece of old note paper in a hospital in Sun City on May 10th 2009. I was in the hospital for a severe kidney disease called Rhabdomyolysis. 

Let me back up a bit and explain. I was injured back in 2008 when a 150lb steel ladder broke apart and fell on me on the job and a cable service tech. After several attempts to get treated for it, and even more denials from the insurance company I started accumulating a ton of muscle tissue damage that inevitably became permanent. I was forced to go back to work early and taken off my limitations even though my doctor didn't want me to work. After a year of light duty and office work, my parter called in sick when he was on call. Now because the company couldn't get anybody else to fill in they told me either I fix the on-call problems, or I don't have a job anymore. Thinking of my home, and kids I had to work so I had no choice. Looking back on it now I should have told them HELL NO, but then I thought It will hurt like hell but I can sleep it off the next day. 

These were no ordinary job orders, and I can see why my partner "got sick." I did two cable line drops from the pole to the house, one trench for a cable pedestal replacement, and of course the standard installs and disconnects. I worked from 7:00 am - 7:00pm in 110 degree weather with minimal breaks. Needless to say I got home and I don't even remember eating, I just went to bed and slept till noon the next day. 

Feeling completely sore head to toe, and all my torn muscles throbbing, I took my pain medication and decided to do the yoga program I had. It was from the p90x series which was too extreme  but I just did the 10 min warm up because it has all the basic stretch moves. I couldn't even finish it. I was getting dizzy, and told my wife I had to lay down. She let me sleep in the whole day, and around 6:30p.m. I went to the restroom and, not to be too graphic, I pee'd what looked like Coca Cola syrup. It was dark. I yelled to my wife to look, and we were freaked out. She immediately called my sister who is a nurse, and I jumped on the computer to look it up. By the time I found out that it was kidney failure, my sister was yelling at my wife to get me to the hospital NOW. It was weird, as soon as we found out I was already blacking out. 

Forgive me, but I do not remember most of this part. But My wife dragged me from the house to the car, and drove me to the hospital in Blythe, CA. I do remember the doctor telling me to stand up and walk into the back from the wheel chair even though I was blacking out on and off. They would send me into the waiting room until they had a room for me for yet another hour. (This was a prison hospital, and inmates get priority even though its the only hospital for miles.)

After I finally got a room they hooked me up to an i.v. and did blood work. The tests came back and my ck levels were 9,999 basically off the charts. Normal ck levels are within the 100s. The doctor thought was an error and he wanted to release me with some Gatorade for dehydration. If he had I would have been dead. The insurance company made them repeat the test and it was still off the charts, and notified another hospital to take me in. The doctor then apologizes and couldn't even say the diagnosis of Rhabdomyolysis. They were going to fly me by helicoter to Sun City Banner, but unfortunately a young child needed it more so of course I told them go ahead and ship me by ambulance. 

The ambulance ride was another 4 hours to Sun City and once I left I wouldn't see my kids for another two weeks. I hugged them like the last time. My wife rode with me all the way there and my mom and sister watched the kids. I don't remember much of the ride as I faded in and out again. When I got there they were ready for me. They did tests on the hour, and pumped fluids into me. After I found out my liver was also crashing I was terrified. My levels were falling, and climbing, but I wasn't blacking out, just getting weak and dizzy from walking. About a week into it I was told by the nurse if my levels didn't drop any more I would have dialysis. I asked the nurse for some paper and a pencil and asked my wife what would you like for me to draw for you?  

It seemed like a simple question, and I smiled away. But I wasn't sure if I was going to get better. I wanted to draw something for her in case I couldn't do it anymore. I had never been more scared in my life. I have been hit by cars, attacked, heart surgery and I was never scared, but this time I was. I never told anyone that. I drew her a mermaid that I thought she would like to see. Fun sketchy, not perfect. I had to add my swirls, and tribal designs that way she would say yep its him that't how he always drew his characters. Would this be my last I sure hoped not. Now they did take me to dialysis, and my wife said I was gone for hours. I think I was out for hours because I don't remember. They had to flush them completely, and I was not there. 

After another week I finally got the news I wanted to hear. My levels dropped under 1500, and I could go home. I was so thrilled! I got to see my kids again! I got to be home, my home, my bed! I still had to follow up with my doctor for blood work every three days for monitoring, and I was finally taken off work. I guess its true you do have to die to have your work comp company take you seriously. I never told anyone this before but I am sure I did for a minute or two, maybe a dream maybe not. But I am here now and that's what matters. I was home. 

That was much longer than I thought. But it's all true, and this drawing title Mermaid Legacy was nearly my last and final drawing. It would have been my legacy to the world. Now it's a reminder for myself that I am here, and should have died many times over in this experience  but I feel I was kept alive. This drawing wasn't my last drawing but for me it's the first of many many more. I am here still recovering, still hurt, and not treated. But now I can listen to my body and say no to unfair treatment, and fight. I decided no matter my situation I will choose my family, life, and find my reason for being here. I want to help others including other artists, and share my story as and artist. Maybe there is someone who could use it. Just writing it out today helped me. 

Thank you for reading, 

Derrick Rathgeber 

http://Derrickr.Webs.com

You can also view Mermaid Legacy 

on Pinterest at: http://pinterest.com/pin/60869032434725196/ 

Break the Chains That Bind Your Artwork

Breaking boundaries and becoming more creative than you ever thought you could be. That is what today’s blog is all about. I’ll be the first to admit that I changed my entire drawing style to build myself as a professional artist. I honestly felt no one would take me seriously if I kept drawing characters, and creations out of my mind. I tried, I really did. I would post my work online and got nothing back in return. Was this because I wasn’t good enough, or people didn’t like what I had drawn? Now that I look back on it I don’t think so. I think it was because I didn’t believe in myself enough. I held back in a lot of my work and it suffered dramatically. I would spend hours creating a lot of detail in the beginning, and then just tire of the drawing because it wasn’t me. It just didn’t represent me as an artist.

I have felt really chained down as an artist these past few months and as I was looking up a reference shot for my next piece I asked myself why? This picture I am about to draw has already been captured on photograph it’s done. What about all the great pictures in my mind that are trapped in there. I literally had thousands of images screaming to be released onto paper, and I was scared that I would mess them up. There is pressure to create; I always wanted to be original and draw different than everyone else. Even when I would draw from reference I wanted to find a way to change the image, but I really felt bound to make the image look like what I was drawing just because. I know it’s not a good reason but the pressure to be great, and build a portfolio got me thinking I had to make everything believable and real. And then it hit me just the other day why can’t I have the best of both, and make the imagination real and believable.

I found myself with a dilemma. Do I continue to build my portfolio with realistic colored pencil drawings or do I draw for fun. In the end I answered with my gut feeling to do it for me. So my next piece is called Beyond Imagination. At first I started to collect pictures of things I would add to my work I thought to myself that I am doing it again. I was already judging myself, and holding back by using images as a crutch. If I really wanted to release my talent I had to just draw. So in this image I am drawing it from left to right adding all the detail as I go. I started with a dragon, and a witch, and a phoenix. I have no idea what is next, and I don’t care if it makes sense. It’s imagination and fun. I hope you can do the same.

I propose a challenge to everyone. On your next piece, if you want to find out how much you have evolved as an artist, I want you to use everything you have learned to this point and just draw. Lay it all out on the paper. Don’t think about judgment from peers, or from yourself just go. Whatever comes into your mind go for it. The only other rule I ask for is to not use reference shots, photos, or any previous artwork. Make it yours, make it new, and take your time. Sometimes when you hit the professional level you get a following who love your “style.” If so fantastic don’t change. For me although I have gained a lot of praise for my work, it’s time for me to take a step back for a while and brake the chains that bound my imagination. I plan on growing, and releasing all I have to give, I hope you do too. Take the limiters off, and be creative again.

I hope to see some great new creations. Find me on my Facebook page at http://Facebook.com/DerrickRathgeber and share them with me.

Thank you for reading,

Remember to Share, Comment, and Subscribe.

Derrick Rathgeber

http://Derrickr.webs.com

Featured Writer/Artist Site - Sugar & Spice Ain't Always Nice

Sugar & Spice Ain't Always Nice

Patricia Rathgeber

http://www.snsaintalwaysnice.com/

About Sugar & Spice Ain't Always Nice

My name is Patricia, friends call me Tricia. I am 28 years old from southern California. I'm married to Derrick and we have four children. I blog about my life, my thoughts and feelings. At times I can be crude and I don't have a filter, I tend to be blatantly honest. I might be a baker, but I don't sugar coat anything.

I am a writer, reader, runner, baker wife, mother, and Christian. I have Bipolar Type One, suffer from BPD, GAD, Severe Major Depression Disorder, OCD and ADD. I'm a recovering cutter. I am made of sugar and spice, but I ain't always nice. So expect the rantings of a Bipolar Superwoman.

You can also follow Patricia at these great sites:

http://www.facebook.com/SugarSpiceAintAlwaysNice

http://twitter.com/SugarNSpiceAAN

http://snsaintalwaysnice.blogspot.com/

http://snsaintalwaysnice.tumblr.com/

Email at: snsaintalwaysnice@gmail.com

How to Color a Delicious Pink Lady Apple

How to Color a Delicious Pink Lady Apple

by Derrick Rathgeber

RoseArt Colored Pencils we will be using.

·         White

·         Golden Yellow

·         True Orange

·         Bronze Yellow

·         Celery

·         Cardinal Red

·         Cherry Red

·         Raspberry

·         Brown

·         Black

Welcome to the great drawing lessons here on Derrick the Artist. Today I will be teaching you how to color your very own delicious pink lady apple. In this exercise I will give you tips on how to over lay colors, blend them to create lights and shadows, as well as textures.  So let’s get started shall we.

Step 1: If you are comfortable with your drawing skills start off your picture by drawing the apple shape below with the brown colored pencil. Remember your apple does not have to be a perfect shape because no apple is a perfect sphere.

Tips:  A PDF version is available if you would like to skip this step and go right into the coloring. Download the printable version by clicking the link below: 

http://www.4shared.com/office/H4G4z-BY/How_to_Draw_an_Apple_001.html

Step 2: Using the Golden Yellow make dark to light strokes outlining the shine. Start at the base of the step and define the shape of the apple. This color will act as the base and guide for the rest of the colors to come. Next use the Bronze Yellow and darken the yellow areas on the stem and the area around the stem. This will help blend into the green Celery color in the next step.

Tips: Use more pressure on the pencil at the edges and around the shine areas, then slowly raise the pencil up decreasing the pressure of the pencil.

Step 3: Using the Celery color you will go over the Golden Yellow color on the top of the apple. Start from the base of the stem and create line in arcs to the rim of the apple, then fill them in with the Celery green covering a good area of the top, but leave some areas available for the red to come through. Also add some Celery color to the stem as well.

Step 4: Now it’s time to set the base for rest of the apple. Using the True Orange we will start from the stem base and color the apple almost like a pumpkin.  Fill in the top half of the apple leaving small empty spaces along the edge, and along the base of the bottom. Keep a white strip-like area empty along the right side of the apple, as this will act as a reflective shine making the apple look more realistic.

Tips: References are great. If you have an apple at home shine a light on it to see how light shines and reflects on it so you can replicate this effect in your drawing.

Step 5: It’s time to watch your apple come to life. Use the Cardinal Red and cover the apple in nice even strokes with the apple from top to bottom and at a curve. Remember to leave the large shine in the center, and on the right clear. I like to rotate the paper so I can keep my hand still and move only the pencil across the paper. Once the apple is covered evenly begin adding pressure and coloring in areas darker near the edges and the top of the apple. Leave the area near the large shine lightened as shown in the picture.

Tips: Try to keep your pencil stokes in one direction. In this case arc them downward creating the illusion of a round object.  After you have covered the area you can crosshatch to darken areas of the drawing.

Step 6: The candy apple read that makes you drool. That’s what we are going for. So let’s add the next layer of red. This time we are using Cherry Red to help fill in gaps, smooth out our fruit, and generate a one of a kind look. Starting at the borders of the apple we are going to go over the Cardinal Red and start coloring towards the shine lightening our strokes along the way. Also get the top of the apple, and overlay the red partially over the yellows and greens to pull it all together. When you are satisfied with the look of your apple, move on to the next layer of red in the next step. Yep that’s right Three layers of red.

Step 7: This is the last layer of red I promise. Grab the Raspberry Red colored pencil and use heavy pressure along the areas you want to add shadows to. You can use the image as reference or use your gut. Get the areas close to the edges, and highlight the shine on the top near the stem. At this point your apple will have a realistic shine and reflect the paper it is drawn on. As an option also use this color to create a shadow on the floor. Remember where your light is coming from and color your shadow based on that. In this case I have light coming from the rear and the front so the shadow is outlined as shown.

Tips: If your drawing doesn’t look like the image shown do not worry. If I were to draw this again mine would look different too. Remember to enjoy yourself and take your time.

Step 8:  Time to give your apple an earthy look, and finally give that stem some color. Reach for the Brown and fill in the stem from base to top leaving some green color. Remember to color with the stem shape, and for an extra measure of realism sketch some harder lines. Next add a layer of brown across the entire apple, and the shadow. Remember to leave the shines white. Adjust your pressure to the level that you want. This gives the apple some more texture, and colors to capture the eye. 

Tip: If you would like to color the apple with other colors you can use these techniques with most fruit and objects. Simple adjust your color palette, and have fun.

Step 9: We are now heading to the final touch ups. Get a hold of the Black pencil and we will finalize the shadows.  Start off by coloring over the shadow on the ground. Once you are finished start darkening the left side using the shines as a guide to stop. On the right side of the apple you will start from the white strip and go from heavy pressure to light pressure as you meet in the middle. Then add some dark areas in the stem to show that the apple dips in. Once you are satisfied with your look we will move on to the final step. 

Tips: Black is your friend. With colored pencils you can cover other colors without making over shadowing them completely. If you need to go darker simply add another layer.

Step 10: And we are at the finish line! This step is probably one that most people don’t see coming. Go ahead and take the white pencil, and start coloring over the entire apple. You will notice that as you color the colors will not only lighten up but they will blend together and smoothen out. This is probably one of the greatest kept secrets, and now you know. The white colored pencil is probably the most important pencil in your collection. 

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed this lesson. More are available right here on my blog page, and at http://RoseArt.com/Blog. Be sure to check out my website for more updates, and upcoming lessons, and new art. 

Upload your lesson results on my Facebook page. Each month I will giving away great prizes, all you have to do is share your results with me at: http://Facebook.com/DerrickRathgeber. Remember to have fun with it. 

Featured Art: MezmerEyes by Derrick Rathgeber

Featured Art: MezmerEyes

By: Derrick Rathgeber

MezmerEyes is an illustration I drew in my sketchbook in 2011. This piece I can honestly say is one of those drawings that stick with you. It makes you form questions in your head like what is it, and what is it thinking as you stare into it's eyes. I drew these eyes originally going for a cat eye, but as I drew it I noticed that I gave it some human like features like the nose and faint eyebrows. I was mostly playing with the grey and black colors. The actual eyes I was going for was a nice glowing yellow with a small hint of gloss. 

I am proud to say that this was the first drawing that I did post accident that sold a print. It was in a church auction, and I listed the base price at $10. It got a few bids and sold for much more, and the buyer insisted that I sign the piece, as she had faith that I would be big one day. I was of course humbled and didn't think anything of it, but she was pretty serious, and was extremely happy that I signed it for her. I kind of felt like a celebrity for the moment. Kind of cool. 

This drawing is still available for prints, with great framing options from FineArtAmerica.com along with all of my showpieces. Some originals are available as listed. Feel free to view my profile on there and own one that sticks out to you, as low as $40.00! 

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/derrick-rathgeber.html

You can even purchase right off of my Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/DerrickRathgeber/app_309028460694

Thank you for all your support, and enjoy the art. 

Derrick Rathgeber

http://Derrickr.webs.com