Toronto Zoo 2011 - Rhino

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for not posting in such a long time. It's been so busy lately and I haven't even had the time to finish my schoolism course in digital painting!!!! I only have a few weeks left so hopefully I will finish it and can provide you with some feedback on how it all went.

Dan and I did manage to make it to the Toronto Zoo again. We've gone a few times this year, but haven't had much of a chance to actually DRAW!!!!

I've been drawing every day at work over my lunch, so I have been working at it (I just haven't been posting!)

I would also love to share this wonderful Zoo Moment:

While Dan and I were checking out the rhinoceros, this russian family walked past us and we overheard them talking... 

The dads said, "Hey kids, that is exactly what the dinosaurs used to look like millions of years ago"

Then the mother makes this hilariously sarcastic remark in here super cool russian accent...

"Yah.... like a rock."

So, of course, I would like to present you with my illustration of the rhino.. er... dinosaur.... rock....

Enjoy!

Toronto Zoo 2012!!!

Dan, Annie and I went to the zoo today to check out the animals. I am pretty sure I saw the hyenas AWAKE for the very first time. We spent some time drawing them... SOOOO COOOOOL!

Below is my pencil drawing and a rendered version.

I have more zoo drawings, but nothing worth showing.... 

Not that anyone follows my blog... but I have a question...

How does everyone feel about drawing from life versus a photograph? I always draw from life (when I am not at work) and I find it to be a lot more challenging, but I also notice I learn a lot more about structure and form....

Any thoughts?

A Toronto Zoo Moment...

I would like to give a shout out to all of the dads I saw at the zoo yesterday sporting little girl backpacks.  It is dads like you that make us daughters feel special (though a ride on your shoulders doesn't hurt)!

Royal Winter Fair... very late post.

I was a little ashamed of posting these drawings a couple weeks ago because the Sheridan students were all posting theirs... and let's just face the facts, I am no Sheridan student.

BUT! I still love drawing, so here they are!

I also drew these last night while waiting for my Adobe stuff to uninstall and install again. 

Zoo Trip #6

I was brave this time and did everything in PEN!

It was certainly different... It made me focus a little more. I was forced to be a little more careful with my lines. I was still pretty sketchy but every once in a while something nice came out :)

Enjoy!

One of my favourites! The tapir decided to run around all morning!

You can tell I was getting tired...


I don't know how to draw cats yet...


Soooooo cute!

Funny Gorilla

This guy makes me laugh. Markers are cool.

Life drawing with the animals!

This summer has been hard, fun, exhausting and full of learning experiences! For my last 'HURRAH' of the summer, Dan and I went to the zoo for the 5th time yesterday (accompanied by some fabulous BMC buddies) and I am really starting to get the hang of drawing animals. I am really proud of the macaques! They are really hard to draw and thankfully, we had a nice guy doing some sweet poses for us! Who needs life drawing when you have a very chill macaque getting snuggly with a fence?

I like my gibbons as well :) They were moving much slower than usual so I think I grabbed the essence of them in a few sketches.

I am looking forward to more zoo trips this fall if I can fit it into my busy schedule.

Zoo membership

This poor blog has been forgotten. I will try to make up for it with lots and lots of sketches... who knows if that will happen :)

Dan and I bought one year zoo memberships to the metro toronto zoo! We went twice this weekend and just had some fun sketching the animals. I think I have improved a lot since last year. I tried to keep my focus on proportion, gesture and masses... so hopefully it worked out.

Let me know what you think! (The 2 squirrels were from today at lunch...)