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squanpie — Serafim
Published: 2009-09-13 22:22:12 +0000 UTC; Views: 3169; Favourites: 101; Downloads: 0
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Description
This is a drawing in memory of Serafim, `MonicaWeasley 's dog, who recently passed away. [link]Finally finished
Took me a long time, and a lot of work, but I think I'm finally done with this drawing.
There's a lot of things I wish I'd done differently when I started the drawing - I'd not have left it for several weeks/a month or two, between doing the sketch and one eye and finishing it. Thing is, I started this drawing after a long period of not having done much photorealism since the chinchilla drawing. So my skills were slightly rusty, and much of the work I did on this drawing after the first part was spent correcting things I'd done to begin with.
the extreme contrast between light and dark areas of this drawing made scanning a bit of a nightmare, but I think it turned out OK eventually.
pencils used - 6b, 4b, 2b, B, HB, 2H, 4H, 7H and 8H (last two mainly for 'indenting'
entering this into *dsoden 's contest [link]
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Comments: 76
Aww, thanks.
It was funny with this one, I tried overlaying it on the reference when I'd finished and it was waaaay out! Funny how the eye can still be so deceiving really.
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Your wonderful work has been placed into our Featured Folder at
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...gorgeous artwork amazing expression of a sweet dog!
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Wow. This is so much like a photograph. Awesome drawing!
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This is just beautiful, I am a dog person and I lost my little dog four days before Xmas last year so I can relate to it.
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awww
it's always sad to hear about lost little firends like that.
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Yup I know, I find it quite ironic that they call it a fact of life...lol. Anyway, she had good long run at it and she was well looked after and loved so...you know
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yeah. what more can anybody ask for in the end.
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o.O" AMAZING
This MUST be a photo! Incredible talent.. No words to describe this..
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haha, I had somebody who poked once it to see if it left graphite on their finger
definately a drawing
thanks
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I could poke monitor and it won't left graphite on my finger
You're welcome
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omg That is the best drawing of a dog i have ever seen 
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thanks
there's a lot of other amazing dog drawings out there too, just use the dA search bar if you want to find them
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Wow, again with the details! Amazing! 
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thanks.
and yeah, Poor doggie. Although it does sound like he had a good life with those who cared for him
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This is so beautiful <3 May I ask how big it is?
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thanks
it's A4 paper - so about 30cm x 21cm
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Your shading is amazing. Even the little deatils near the whiskers, the nose is amazing.
Looks like b/w photo really. Great wrok.
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thanks
takes a lot of patience, but it's certianly worth it in the end
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Welcome!!!
The result was definitely worth it.
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Fantastic is the right word I guess !
I can't think about another...it's just perfect
( 'rusty skills ? yeah , you bet ! who can believe this lol ! )
When you speak about 'identing' can I correctly assume that it is about the edges of the fur , ears , chin etc ?
I have to ask because I never really know how and what for use the 'H' Pencils ! 
Mireille
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hehe, thanks
In this drawing, most of where you can see white-ish hairs amongst the black ones, or along the borders between white and black. I might also have used if for the whiskers, but I'd have used something like an empty (and cleaned) ballpoint pen for them. It varies a lot though as to how much indenting I'll use. In this drawing I was experimenting with it quite a bit, whereas in my latest drawing (of a tiger's eye, uploaded just a few minutes ago) I didn't use any form of indenting.
You can also use the harder H pencils to shade over areas, which has the effect of fixing them, so that the graphite is less likely to smudge. It also has a similar effect to blending with a tissue or such, but can be more controlled. However, if you use it on a very dark area, it can increase shine, and sometimes errode the shading making the area not as bright as before.
Most of this I got from a very good book - 'Drawing from line to life' by Mark Silbey (or something like that) I think you can buy it online for about £30, but I'm not so sure about shipping costs. it's a good read, maybe put it on a christmas list
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Woaow ! 
I don't like myself using a tissue or cotton balls for the blending so I certainly will experiment the H Pencil as you explain , as well as on the dark areas , I really need to find a solution for both of these issues , it maybe help me to deal with the textured paper when I want to 'erase' the relief (?) of the paper , too ( this one is a hell of an issue for me )
And the tip about the empty ballpoint pen is awesome !
I intent to draw animals and especially wildcats from now on so your advices are even more precious
Thank you so much for your help , I 'll try to find the book !
And thank you too because of you I met Kuba and will rate his video for him to win this contest , I'm a huge supporter of the wildlife and of all what must do for its conservation ! 
I hope you don't mind if I watch you ??
Have a good weekend !
Mireille
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glad I could help.
I can't remember who, but one artist I watch on dA said how they always lay down a layer of slightly harder pencil shading before going to a softer pencil - to get the really large black areas for backgrounds and such. Not tried it myself, but I'd expect that might have the effect of smoothing more textured paper.
Thanks for helping me support Kuba, and thanks for the watch as well!
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So sorry I wasn't there for a while .to answer you sooner !
I wanted to let you know that your advices were very useful , indeed , and asI just tried the last method you talked about , regarding the textured paper , I can say it seems better than my old one , so ... thanks again you're really nice !
The texture is not an issue when the drawing is in front of you : but this is one for me when I take a Pic or even make a scan of it :it emphasizes the grain of the paper in such a way that the work doesn't look the same at the original at all anymore
Have a nice day ! 
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it's nice to hear my ramblings have been in some way useful
scanning or photographing drawings is always one of the parts I find hardest to get good as well. =Cataclysm-X has a tutorial that you might find useful if you haven't already seen it [link]
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THANKS again , I admit that even if I knew that there's a lot of Tutorial around here I never search for now !
This one is really useful : nonetheless I use another way to correct some things and it works ( about the contrast by example ) but about the texture of the paper I'm still trying to get a better result !
Thank you so much for your kindness
Mireille.
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hmm, well good luck finding something
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wow... 
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thankies!
and lovely use of emotes there, as always
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Oh!!! The cuteness!!
You made its expression so beautifull!!
Very good <3
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hehe, thanks.
I love drawing cute animals
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Your welcome <3
Yes I saw you drew allot of hamsters ^^ they're so fluffy and cute!!
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