bonnysnowdonfineart

Things to check before you start a new piece

Firstly double check you’re using the correct photo!! Sometimes I’m sent lots of photos and they’re all pretty similar so it’s a good idea to just double check you’re using the one that was agreed. I started a new piece on Thursday and created the outline from the wrong photo!!

Next thing is to check over your paper for any scratches or anomalies that might cause issues. This i...

Video Links - coming soon

Just a quick note to say that I know that it's frustrating scrolling through the posts trying to find videos. I'm working on something at the moment whereby you will be able to use a link to find the video you want and go straight to it - hopefully it won't be long, but as it's just me multi tasking it might not happen straight away. Bear with ;)

Facebook Group

Sorry for all the posts today! I will be setting up a facebook group just for Patrons, once created I'll pop a link up on here for you all if you'd like to join. If you don't use facebook please don't worry, I will still be posting regularly on here and answering all questions etc :)

My core set of pencils

Attached is my list of all the pencils I use on a regular basis. Many I'll use every day, and these ones I've popped an asterisk next to them in the list. You don't have to buy them all - I'm still at the magpie stage where I'm like a child in a sweet shop when I see new pencils ;) My current favourites are the Derwent Studio - they are lovely, subtle, muted, natural tones, relatively hard (har...

Hints and Tips - Leather

I create hints and tips sheets for my workshops, and thought I'd pop them up here each month for you. They aren't in-depth, but just give you some pointers for creating great looking eyes, fur, colours and this one is leather. I've attached as a pdf document so hopefully you'll all be able to download with no problems :)

How do you want me to engage with you

I'm totally knew to this, and want to give you as much as I can - as well as have time to create ;) So it would be really useful to know how you want me to engage. If you're not enjoying the channel, please do give me feedback so I can do something about it :)

You wanted leather…

I've just been editing my photos, and this is part of the full tutorial we'll be doing in April, which I've already shared with you, but just look at this gorgeous leather!!!!! I'm getting a bit giddy about it already! And the other horse is a roan, so I'll be doing a focus video on creating roan fur as well :)

Anyone interested in a little lamb tutorial?

I’ve got a great photo I took last year - just thinking of doing a (relatively) quick small tutorial as it’ll be good for Wooly fur but also a nice composition for you to either take prints off or sell or just put up on your wall.

Shall I put it on my list?

Paws ready for videoing tomorrow 😍

I’ve really loved this piece but I’ve been working on it for 11 days now and I’m ready to start a new piece!! Tomorrow I finish the third dog and I’ll video the legs and paws for you all as they’re so much fun to do 😍 and then it’ll be finished!

It will then be framed and I’m going to video the process for you and introduce you to my fabulous framer Ian and his side kick...

Would you like a paw focus video?

I have this dog’s daughter on my drawing board at the moment. She has little ginger toes and I was thinking of videoing her paws and legs for you - they’re really fun to draw and quite quick 😊

April tutorial 🐴

Just had confirmation to use a gorgeous dapple grey horse complete with bridle for April’s full tutorial 😍 really excited as she’s just beautiful 🤩

Starting in March - Marketing - how to make a success of your art business

Marketing is the most important part of a business. If you’re wanting to make a living from your art or increase your commissions then marketing is the one area that will give you success. Done well it can have dramatic effects.

But it’s hard work, especially if it’s not something you’ve done before or have no idea what to do!

Each month I’m going to hone down into the dif...

Alternative for pastelmat board

There isn’t really an alternative to pastelmat, however - the white board that I use and that’s being used for the donkey tutorial in March, is almost a totally different surface to the pastelmat paper. Don’t ask me why, and I’m not moaning as i love it!! <br><br>But because it’s smoother, a good alternative if you can’t buy it, is the Bristol Vellum. It takes quite a few l...

Multitasking 😂

I’m editing my videos as I’m drawing!! Trying to edit out me coughing, dogs barking and children shouting 😂 this is my little work space - i have quite a big studio but I like my little space with everything to hand. I’m in the process of having my studio re designed which will be amazing 😍

A sneaky Peek into what's coming in March ...

For the $10 a month tier, you'll get the whole of Eeyore the donkey - using the slice tool, scotch magic tape and of course my beloved coloured pencils - on pastelmat, but I'll talk you through how to achieve similar effects on smooth paper.

For our focus video on the $5 tier, we're looking at shiny highlights, and I may well add some more short videos on colours throughout March as well....

My favourite sharpener

Someone asked what sharpener I use - this is my favourite. It’s the swordfish curve and fits all barrel widths 😊

Latest wip

I am falling more and more in love with the Derwent Lightfast pencils. On pastelmat once you get a few layers down they blend just amazingly and you can get really really dark darks. This ones little toes were fab to draw - dead easy - put all the shadow shapes in first and then just build up the colours. There’s no real detail yet they look quite effective. And the key to getting realistic legs...

Shadows - always best to see what’s lurking there ....

If you’ve got a dark pic it’s always tricky to work out what’s in the shadows. Just by increasing the exposure you can see what lurks in the depths lol! I have just used my photo editor on my phone to lighten up this image so I can see what’s in the darkest areas. I’ll get an idea of what’s there and then revert back to my original photo. It means I can add a little detail into the dar...

Lilly and Jonesy all ready to post

I had Lilly and Jonsey mounted with double windows - they didn’t work as a composition but actually work really nicely mounted this way 😊

Pencils of the day ❤️

You all kind of know that I love using unusual colours but sometimes the very ordinary ones are amazing too 😊 the Caran D’Ache pablo apricot and the Caran D’Ache luminance apricot are fantastic when used with oranges, reds and browns. The pablo does work better over darker colours. Don’t be put off by the vial colour of the pablo 😂 it’s amazing when you put it on the paper 😊

What do you want in your videos?

Morning all - quick question - do you want videos that have every single bit of the drawing process in real time, or would you prefer focusing on the areas and then adding timelapse in with voice over so the videos are shorter? I want to create what you want and am happy either way but don’t want to spend hours editing and adding timelapse if that’s not what you want. 

The pic is...

Colours

I can’t answer questions on my phone as it doesn’t register but just wanted to clear up any confusion around colours. I’ve included all the colours I use in the briefing doc. I try hard to mention every colour I use when I’m drawing but sometimes I forget. However I don’t want everyone to fall  into a colour by numbers type scenario - i Will try to remember to tell you which penc...

Payment issues

Hi all, I know some of you have been having some issues with payments etc and I just wanted to let you know that I'm trying to sort all of this out. Patreon are having some issues apparently at the moment, so I'm waiting for them to reply to me to see what's going on. Everything else should be OK though, I just wanted to let you know I'm on to it :) Bonny

Adding your initial outline

I've videoed the process of creating an outline for you. This is a private commission but I will be creating some focus videos around the fluffy fur and the spaniel ears for you all.

In this video I just talk you through my process of how I get that initial outline down on the paper, I go through alternatives and all the tools I use. I hope you find this useful - I know my voice is a litt...

New commission

I’m starting a new piece this morning and am videoing my process of creating the outline. I’ll upload a little later today for you 😊 so a bit of cutting and sticking before I make a start lol!!

Oooh - basset nose ❤️

I’ve been photographing this morning for a commission I’m doing but I’ve captured some fabulous focus tutorials for you - how’s this for a gorgeous nose 😍 

Lilly - Part 9

So this is the final part of Lilly.

Very very unfortunately I had trouble with by recording platform (which I've since changed) and lost about an hour of footage - I'm so sorry! The footage was around the middle bit of her white fur, but it's the same process and techniques I've used for the left side and under her collar so I'm hoping it's not too much of an inconvenience.

This vid...

Lilly - Part 8 (White Fur)

This might be a video you just want to dip into straight away! It's the bit where I start to create the white fur - on dark grey pastelmat! 

I explain fully my first marks, why I'm doing them and run you through how to create smooth looking realistic white fur on darker pastelmat.

The video is 2 hours 43 minutes, so make sure you have a pot of tea ready before you watch ;)

Lilly - Part 7 (tongue)

This is the video where we create more of the tongue (the first bit is in Part 6) and the teeth - and those little spit bubbles ;)

Lilly - Part 6 (side of her nose and start of her tongue)

So this is another 2 and a bit hour long video. I complete the side of her nose on the left, and make a start on her tongue, I also go through the colour choices for her tongue and explain why I'm choosing which colour.

I realise that some of the sound in my videos is a little off - I'm buying a new microphone today to combat that issue :)