S.A. Lomas Pencil Art Blog
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Exhibition - Kirby Library - 21/11/2011
I currently have two of my pictures on display at Kirkby Library. The current exhibition is a range of artwork by local artist in various mediums. Well worth a visit if you are in the area. The exhibition runs until the 14th January 2012. Kirkby Library
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Picking up the pencils again - 08/11/2011
It had been a long time once again since I have managed to do any art at all. It has not been a good year really. What with burst pipes, swine flu and my daughter with various illnesses being in and out of hospital I have been worried sick and have had neither the time nor the inclination to do any art. However over the last month or so despite my daughter’s health still being a concern I did manage to pick up the pencils and finish the mermaid. I am not completely happy with her. I think having such a big break has made me lose the flow with this one and I think I was rusty. I did not enjoy finishing it off and this was possibly due to how I am feeling but I had hoped turning back to art might give my mind another focus for a while.
I am not sure the background works nor the bubbles but at least it got me to pick up the pencils and I am at least now looking forward to a new project. No idea what that will be as yet. Got a few ideas floating around.
As for the mermaid here are the last couple of stages.
Mermaid - Work In Progress – Stage 9
I finished of the tail, giving the end a seaweed effect and began the background.  Stage 9
Mermaid - Work In Progress – Stage 10
Background complete and bubbles added. Mermaid is now finished.
 Stage 10 Apologies for not being very detailed about this project on the last two stages but I just never had the time for all the reasons above. Hope you at least enjoy seeing her finished at long last.
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Radio Interview for Local Merseyside Group of the UKCPS and promotation of Coloured Pencils as a fine art medium - 28/06/2011
Do you have an interest in Coloured Pencils or ever fancied trying this medium for the first time? Or are you a beginner looking to extend your skills or simply a pencil artist looking for a local group? If so the following radio interview may be of interest to you. Details below.
I have been been invited to be interviewed on my local BBC station, Radio Merseyside (95.8 FM 1485AM & DAB), on this coming Saturday the 2nd July 2011. The programme is hosted by Helen Jones and is local interest based. It starts at 3pm, with my interview starting a 5pm for 15 minutes.
Anyone outside the Merseyside receiving area can listen live on-line at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001v984/episodes/upcoming via BBC iPlayer. I will be discussing setting up a local group of the UKCPS (UK Coloured Pencil Society) within the Merseside area. Who the UKCPS are and promoting coloured pencils as a fine art medium.
I have never done a live interview before and to be honest I am more than a little terrified. However I really hope it may generate enough interest to finally get a local Coloured Pencil group going in Merseyside.
If you miss the interview but would still be interested in joining a local Merseyside group for Coloured Pencils then please contact me with your details and expressions of interest via my contact page. |
Kev Grey Exhibition - 13/02/2011
 Had a great night last night at the Opening Night for an exhibition of drawings by Kev Grey. It was held in the wonderful Bold Street Coffee (89 Bold Street Liverpool L1 4HF) with fantastic live music by Serious Sam Barrett. So if you want to take a look at Kev's drawings, which are available for purchase, while having a wonderful coffee and a bite to eat then I would highly recommend a visit. Exhibition open from 13th Feburary - 11th March 2011 |
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Mermaid - Work In Progress - Stage 8 - 16/01/2011
Using the same colours as the hair I began to add the fins. I also put in some rough colour on the tail to act as a guide to the colour graduation I will use on the tail. I added a jellyfish and a mini swimming Lamb Banana (you may have to be from Liverpool to know about the wonderful Lamb Banana) to the background.
This stage took about 4 hours.
 Stage 8 |
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Mermaid - Work In Progress - Stage 7 - 15/01/2011
Using the same colours as before I added some extra length to the hair on the left side. I then completed the other side of the hair.
Approx another 2 hours work. %20right%20side%20of%20the%20hair.jpg) Stage 7 Stage 7 - (close-up) |
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Mad About Liverpool Exhibition - The Gallery, Clayton Square. Liverpool - 15/01/2011
If you would like to go and see and possibly buy some art from local Liverpool artists then why not go along to the following event. The Gallery is fabulous and I highly recommend a visit.
Mad About Liverpool 2011! 13 January - 3 February 2011 Our you 'Mad About Liverpool?' The Gallery's annual Open exhibition of Liverpool's finest artists about the greatest city in the world! Contact 07902697816 for more details or contact Madelainartz via the website: http://www.madelainartz.com/index.htm Open: Wednesdays - Saturdays from 12.30 onwards |
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Mermaid - Work In Progress - Stage 6 - 14/01/2011
I adore doing hair but I was unsure at this stage what colour to do the mermaids hair. Then it struck me as appropriate to try to incorporate the colours of coral into her hair. So I arranged a selection of pinks and oranges with white for highlights and lightening the colours as required. The pinks I used were Coloursoft Blush Pink (C180), Cranberry (C150), Deep Red (C180), Inktense Shiraz (I06), Chilli Red (I05). Oranges Coloursoft Pale Orange (C060), Blood Orange (C090), Bright Orange (C080), Inktense (I03). White Coloursoft (C720).
2 hours work.
 %20left%20side%20of%20the%20hair.jpg) |
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Mermaid - Work In Progress - Stage 5 - 13/01/2011
Once again using the same skin tone colours another 1 hours work to continue with the arms and lower body.  -%20lower%20body%20and%20arms.jpg) Stage 5 Stage 5 - (close-Up) |
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Mermaid - Work In Progress - Stage 4 - 10/01/2011
I am afraid that I have been unable to do much since I last posted for a couple of reasons. First I had a pipe burst on the 27th December due to the freezing weather we had over Christmas, which flooded my downstairs. A couple of days later I got swine flu. So I felt yuck and my flooring has now all been ripped up downstairs and huge industrial blowers are installed to dry up all the mositure. However I am finally beginning to feel better and I did have a couple of updates ready to post before all this happened so here is the first one. Using the same colours as I did for skin on the face I continued down the arms and upper body. I added the Inktense Apple Green used in the eye for the nails. If I am doing an arm I imagine the structure beneath the arm. Such as the bones and the muscles. Then when I do the strokes with the pencil I try to mould them around the structure. So I curve my strokes to follow the shapes and contours of the arm. The same goes for the face or any other part of the body, always imagine the structure underneath. That way you will give a fuller more rounded appearance to the limbs, body or face and prevent them from looking flat or one-dimensional.
Another 1 hours work.   Stage 4 Stage 4 - (close-up) |
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Mermaid - Work In Progress - Stage 3 - 30/12/2010
I did the eye next using Derwent Inktense. You can get a nice strong colour using Inktense once you wet it slightly. For the iris I used Apple Green (I14) and Teal Green (I13). The pupil was in Ink Black (I22). Highlights added with Antique White (2300). Eye rim and lashes in Bark (I20)
For the lips I used Coloursoft Blush Pink (C180) as the base and Inktense Chilli Red (I05) for the darker shading. I used the Inktense Bark to outline the lips and have decided this will be a good colour to use on the rest of any outlining requires as it the nose, limbs etc.
The same colour as used for the lips was used for the blush on the cheeks.
For the skin I used a base of Coloursoft White (C720) with added tones using Coloursoft Peach (C560), Ochre (C590), Brown Earth (C630) and Iced Blue (C350). I added the blue to add the reflection of the blue water into the skin.
This stage took about 1 hour.
  Stage 3 Stage 3 - (close-up) |
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Mermaid - Work In Progress - Stage 2 - 21/12/2010
Using Derwent Coloursoft in white I sketched an outline for the light in the sea (Stage 2a)
I continued with the light adding Derwent Coloursoft in Baby Blue (C340), Iced Blue (C350), Blue (C330), Bright Lilac (C260) and Pale Lavender (C230)
Believe it or not this stage took me 2 hours. I do spend sometimes thinking and therefore no action but either way I just have to admit I am SLOW!
  Stage 2a Stage 2b |
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Mermaid - Work In Progress - Stage 1 - 20/12/2010
I have been toying with the idea of doing a mermaid for sometime. I finally decided to get down to it and see what I could produce. I find the initial composing stage the most difficult. When one uses a reference photo and is doing a straight copy without any alterations this initial composing stage is not required.
During the composing stage I have to try and gather and put into some kind of order all the ideas that are flying about in my head. I know I want to do a mermaid but what will it look like. What pose, what hair, one mermaid or two, male of female urrghhhh! You get the picture, scrambled egg brain. So it can take me sometime to pull all my thoughts together and finally get down to doing a rough sketch.
I do my first sketch on rough paper and then when I have more of an idea of what I want I transfer my ideas onto tracing paper. Sometimes depending on how well the idea as formed in my head I will go straight onto the tracing paper as I did with this drawing of the mermaid. Any rubbing outs and alterations can then be made on the tracing paper. Once I am happy with the initial rough outline sketch on the tracing paper I turn over the tracing paper and rub pastel pencils over the outlines on the reverse side. The picture is then simply ready to transfer onto my chosen support by simply retracing the image on the right side over your support.
Once I have got to this stage I can finally relax for a little bit. Now the fun can begin as I hope to breath life into the picture through the coloured pencils.
 For the mermaid I chose Daler & Rowney Ingres A3 16 x 12 inches in blue. I have only used this support for one other picture so I shall be learning as I go along. Mermaid - Stage 1 - (outline sketch) |
Chinese Dragon Fine Art Card - 14/12/2010
 Have not got any real art done for some time. What with Christmas shopping to do on my days off, a sick Guinea Pig and my own coughs and sneezes it has been rather a non starter. All I have managed is one small art card. I love doing cards when I am not in the mood for doing something too complicated and taxing.
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Handing in day for Christmas Open At liverpool Academy of Arts. - 15/11/2010
I handed in two pieces of work into the Liverpool Academy this afternoon for their annual Christmas Open. Works to be exhibited are Kinky Boots and Horsing Around. The Liverpool Academy of Arts it situated just a 5 minute walk from Liverpool Central Station at 32 Seal Street, Liverpool L1 4BE. Telephone 0151-709-0735. The exhibition will be open to the public from 23rd November – 9th December 2010. Opening hours Monday – Friday 12 – 4pm. |
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NEW - Original fine art hand drawn greeting cards and bookmarks - 08/11/2010
Original Fine Art Greeting Cards and Bookmarks are now available. Each card and bookmark is an original (not a print) hand drawn in coloured pencils. Making these a unique and very special gift. Cards come complete with envelope. Bookmarks are un-laminated but can be laminated for free on request. |
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Open evening for Latin Liverpool - Spice Up Your Life exhibition. - 04/11/2010
Tonight I went to the Open Evening for Liverpool Latin - Spice Up Your Life -Exhibition - Part of the Liverpool Biennial, at the Gallery, Clayton Square, Liverpool, L1 1QR. The Latin Exhibition is being held from the 4th –21st November 2010. Once again we were provided with live entertainment and complimentary drinks. I also had a chance to have a look at the wonderful photographs that were on display of Steve McQueen, which are part of the Steve McQueen exhibition that is being held at The Gallery. Details for this exhibition is below.
The Steve McQueen – Tribute to the King of Cool! Photographic and book signing by Steve McQueen’s widow Barbara McQueen and Co author Marshall Terrill On the 6th November 3 – 5pm
So if you either a fan of Steve McQueen or Latin art get along to the Gallery and have a look on what is on offer.
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Exhibition - Liverpool Latin - 4th - 21st November 2010 - 02/11/2010
If you would like to view La danza de la pasion up close and personal then please come along to the -
The Gallery, First Floor, Clayton Square, Shopping Centre, Liverpool L1 1QR.
Liverpool Latin - To Spice Up Your Life - Part of the Liverpool Biennial
4th - 21st November 2010 Opening Times – Thursday – Sunday 12.30 – 6pm (Late Night Thursday)
I really love The Gallery it a lovely feel and vibe to it. Madelaina the owner is really friendly and makes you feel right at home. So if you are in the area and have the time please come along.
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La danza de la pasion - Work in progress stage 6 - 01/11/2010
Work in progress stage 6  On the 29th I framed the picture ready for delivery to The Gallery. I find framing or rather choosing the right frame a real challenge. I bad frame can ruin any artwork. Many artists therefore prefer to leave this tricky and vital stage to the wonderful professional framers. However although I had my first couple of pictures that I entered into exhibitions professional framed, I have since framed all my artwork myself. The reason is twofold. Firstly cost. As a rather new artist I simply could not afford the cost involved for professional framing. Secondly I purchased a couple of books about DIY framing and armed with that knowledge took to framing myself. For La danza de la pasion I choose a double mount in brown and then cream with a gold frame to complement the colours within the picture. Stage 6 |
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La danza de la pasion - Work in progress stage 5 - 01/11/2010
Work in progress stage 5
 On the 28th October I worked on the dancers for another six and a half hours and finally completed the artwork. The skirt of the dress with its ruffles was a challenge due to the intricate detail required. It was hard going due to having to complete the picture ready for the hand in date for The Gallery. So I was up till the small wee hours most evenings, which did not leave me feeling to bright for work the following mornings. However even though I was tired I was pleased with the finished result.I am always most grateful for any feedback or comments about any of my artwork. So if would like to comment on this piece or indeed on any of my work in my Gallery please email me or leave your message via my contact page.
Stage 5 |
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La danza de la pasion - Work in progress stage 4 - 01/11/2010
Work in progress stage 4.
On the 26th October |
La danza de la pasion - Work in progress stage 3 - 25/10/2010
Work in progress Stage 3
Worked on the picture for another 5 hours. I went horribly wrong on the female’s right arm and had to spend most of that time rectifying my mistake. At one stage I was about to give up and decide I had just made a disaster of it. The problem being I went too dark and the arm just looked lifeless. Now too light it not too bad with coloured pencils but too dark can be a real problem. It is very difficult to go lighter over dark with pencils. You can also quite easily apply too many layers so the paper loses its tooth and once the paper is overloaded it simply cannot take anymore colour. I used a putty rubber to lift off as much colour as I could and then began the difficult task of trying to rework the arm. I huge amount of patience and muttering from me eventually got the arm back on track. Pheew weee that was a close one. Stage 3 |
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La danza de la pasion - Work in progress stage 2 - 24/10/2010
Work in progress stage 2. Another two and a half hours work last night.
   Stage 2a Stage 2b Stage 2C
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La danza de la pasion – Dance of passion stage 1 - 23/10/2010
Work in progress stage 1
 Next week is the handing in date for the Latin Exhibition at The Gallery, Clayton Square, Liverpool. I just have not been able to find the time to get some artwork done at all lately. However thanks to Ren telling me to sit down and draw the other night I finally got started.
3 hours later this is the result so far. I am using brown pastlemat as the support. So far I have used Derwent Coloursoft and Inktense coloured pencils.
I had hoped to get at least two pieces completed for this exhibition but at this rate I will be lucky to get this one finished. So best be off and get drawing!
Stage 1 |
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Private View For the Open Exhibition at The Gallery - 18/10/2010
On Thursday 14th October I went to the Private View For the Open Exhibition at The Gallery, which is situated on the First Floor, Clayton Square, Shopping Centre, Liverpool L1 1QR.
I was thrilled to see two of my drawings were displayed in the window. My other three pieces were displayed in the main gallery space along side the work of other local artists.
My two friends Lisa and Gill came along to offer support. It is only the second private view I have attend and still feel like a fish out of water at these events. I am quite a shy person and find meeting new people a little daunting.
It was a pleasant evening. Drinks were provided by the hostess and gallery owner Madelaina as well as live entertainment.
A reporter was present and after introducing himself my friend Gill went over and introduced him to me. He asked me to show him my work and explain my inspiration about each piece. I was quite mortified at this prospect but I managed to mumble my way through the best I could. However just when I thought the worst was over he said, “right just a few more question,” and then produced a video camera in front of my face. I had to say who I was what medium I used and talk a little about the gallery. He asked me if my drawings took a long time and all I could manage to say was yes. That was it nothing else just yes. Urrghhh. Of course later on I could think of a much better answer to that and the other questions the reporter had asked but I think I just got camera fright. But never mind it all adds to experience. Well that’s what I am telling myself anyway.
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Open Exhibition - 14th - 31st October 2010 - 12/10/2010
If you would like to view some of my work up close and personal then please come along to the - The Gallery, First Floor, Clayton Square, Shopping Centre, Liverpool L1 1QR. Open Exhibition - Part of the Liverpool Biennial Opening Times – Thursday – Sunday 12.30 – 6pm (Late Night Thursday) I was delighted that 5 works were accepted for the open. Which are - I really love The Gallery it a lovely feel and vibe to it. Madelaina the owner is really friendly and makes you feel right at home. So if you are in the area and have the time please come along. |
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Cat's Eyes Step by Step - 08/10/2010
I have done a step by step on how I created the cat's eyes on my artwork The Watcher. If you would like to see the instructions look in Articles under Cat's Eyes Step by Step. Please note this work is protected by copyright so please only use this as a practise piece for yourself. |
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Exhibiting - 05/10/2010
This year was the first year I have exhibited my work. It can feel a bit daunting at first as you wonder if your work is comparable to other artists. However once you go and have a good look around different galleries and exhibitions then it becomes apparent that all styles and indeed abilities are on display. So if you have never exhibited your work I would encourage you to do so. You do not have to be a professional to exhibit your work.
So far I have sold two pieces and received a Highly Commended award in one. It is a real joy to know that someone has bought your work or that it was deemed worthy of an award. Even if you do not achieve a sale or an award by putting a piece into an exhibition you are getting your name out there. Also deadlines for entries usually make you actually sit yourself down to draw and the more you draw the better you become. So give it a go, exhibiting is great fun and a real motivator.
I have written a short item on exhibiting so check it out in my articles section under Exhibiting Artwork.  Star Gazer
Coloured Pencil Artwork of Star Gazer lilies won a highly commended award in the 8th annual UKCPS 'World Of Coloured Pencil' Exhibition 2010 at Keswick Cumberland Pencil Museum
 Flamenco Fire
Coloured pencil Artwork of a flamenco dancer sold at UKCPS Annual exhibition 2010 at Stamford Arts Centre
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Blog 2010 - 04/10/2010
This is my first blog entry so please bear with me as I get used to it. As well as a new blog I have also created a new articles page. I hope that the article page will make it easier for you to find items that may be of interest to you. Today within the articles section I have begun to create a links page of art website that you may find useful. So simply click onto articles and then onto links to view this page.
With a job and kids this will not be on a daily blog however I will update my blog as often as possible. If you have any comments on my blog, articles or anything else on my site please do not hesitate to contact me via my contacts page.
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I worked for another 6 hours on the
picture. I had not until this stage decided what colour the dress should be. I do not often plan details such as this in advance. I prefer to let the art develop in it’s own way and speak for itself as to what may be required. It may indeed sound like arty speak but I often do feel that once I get started on a piece the drawing speaks to me and it leads the way as to where it should go. In just such a way the drawing led to the dress colours being of mixture of yellows and oranges, which combined, also brought out green tones. I introduced Derwent Metallic and Inktense to add a zing to the dress fabric.