Let's Not Go Swimming.

Just a bit of polishing up, I didn't want to overdo this one.  He looks almost friendly.  

However, I think I'll watch from here.  Thankyouverymuch.

It's Hammerhead Time!

After bringing the scan into photoshop, I set a gradient layer to overlay to add dimension to the drawing.  I thought I'd leave a small amount of paper texture with the pencil lines instead of cleaning up everything.  I'm liking the "sunshine'.  Tomorrow I'll add the final details. Stay tuned for the big finish!

Hammerhead Pencil Drawing

I did it!  I looked at enough pictures of hammerhead sharks to actually draw some.  In the process, I learned that there are nine species of hammerheads, but only three are dangerous to humans.  This is one of those three, the scalloped hammerhead. They school during the day, and are solitary at night. Females give birth to live pups but don't care for them at all.  I can't say honestly say I'd want to cuddle them, but they are graceful, striking creatures.  Large liquid eyes that can see 360 degrees really set them apart.

Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks drawn with 7H and HB Pencils on Canson Recycled Drawing Paper. 

Peacock Feathers

I'm working on the hammer heads, but in the mean time, the ocean seems to be slipping into my other illustrations.  Take these peacock feathers for example:

I drew three individual feathers with colored pencils.  I then scanned and arranged them in photoshop, with minor color changes and editing. I like how soft they look, almost like they are floating on water, or in it.

What's keeping me from the hammerheads.

Besides the terror in their eyes, that is. I have been working in a non-marine illustration. 

 Some legendary dancers for Touch A Dream Dance Studio's spring program cover.  Enjoy: 

Michael Jackson, The Supremes, Ana Pavlova and Ben Vereen

Blue Spotted Ribbon Tailed Stingray Illustration

I made a few modifications to the original drawing, to keep with the pollywog vibe these bottom dwellers give off.  Their eyes are especially frog-like.  They don't get much bigger than a foot across. They are venomous, but tend to flee when threatened.  I'm not terribly scared of this fish anymore, mostly because I know where they live, and that there aren't that many of them left.

Stingray Drawing

I finally worked up the nerve to draw a stingray.  My husband was with me at the time, humming the "Jaws" tune.  Yep,  I'll be over my fears in no time, with such support.  Anyway,  I used a 7B and HB pencils on this blue spotted ribbon tail ray (Taeniura lymma). I took me about an hour, most of it spent in composition.