Panda Portrait for Auction (colored pencils)

[ericav]

So last year I was invited by the National Zoo to donate some work for a silent auction to raise money for their pandas. Here's my post from last year http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=254275.msg2835787#msg2835787 My husband ended up driving to DC and going to the auction. We spent some time there and took loads of pictures (mostly at the zoo). I was asked to participate in the auction again this year, so I used one of my reference photos. It's 11x14 in colored pencil. It took maybe 20 hours to complete (I kind of lost count but all my free time was spent working on this for 2 weeks).



Detail of the face.



What it looked like in the 16x20 frame



I haven't heard anything about how it did at the auction, which was on Thursday. I emailed and called a couple people that were handling it but I haven't heard any word back. It would be nice to hear good news. I poured everything I had into this piece. I know that this is what I should be doing with my life, but it would be wonderful to get some reassurance that I'm on the right track. So craftsters, I'm asking if you could send me some positive vibes (or pray if you believe in it) that I hear some good news. Not just because hearing that it did well would be good for my career, but because I want to know that my art can make a difference out in this world.  Thanks for listening.

[CraftyMcCrafterson]

It's gorgeous. I get irritated when people don't use a full range of values and deep pressure with colored pencil. You captured the reflected colors in the chin fur so well. Beautiful job

[InebriatedKnitting]

This is the most adorable, beautiful picture I've ever seen.  It made me a little teary eyed.  The quality is astounding, and the expression on the panda's face...it tugs the heart.  Truly beautiful   Makes me smile inside

[mslabelle]

That is such a cute panda.  You're a really good artist.  I couldn't draw to save my life.  It looks to real.  I'm sure it did really well.

[Megzy818]

this is amazing! pandas are one of my favoites and this is beautiful, great job!

[Celene08]

Beautiful!! THIS ROCKS definitely

[pinokeeo]

This is quite a departure from the cutesy pandas that we see all the time.  Great work.

[ericav]

Thanks guys I really appreciate the feedback. I tried to capture the expression that he had in the photo. It really looked like he was smiling and it just warmed my heart.

It's gorgeous. I get irritated when people don't use a full range of values and deep pressure with colored pencil. You captured the reflected colors in the chin fur so well. Beautiful job

Thanks CraftyMcCrafterson. I actually differed a lot from the photo. I could have gone darker, but I thought that for the drawing it probably would have been a bit better to vary from the photo. I was getting close to over working it in that area, the lead wasn't absorbing into the paper as I was layering it. I used Arches 300 lb. Hot Press Watercolor paper.

[thisbirdsabsurd]

Amazing work - you are right - this is definitely what you should be doing with your life.  Colored pencil has always been tricky for me so I appreciate it even more.  I would be so surprised if it didn't do well - I would have been one of the first bidders!

[renee2005]

I think it is absolutely beautiful!  I want to be an artist as good as you are!  I really hope that the auction went well and that the money from it will help the pandas. 

[bubblegum_phoenix]

wowsers. If noone brought it I will!!!! love it, wish I could draw like that!

[*trina*]

wow, when i saw the thumbnail i thought "big deal, someone took a photo of a panda..." Well done you- you are definitely doing the right thing!!! wow, that panda looks so real while having the cuteness of a care bear hehe

[nataluna]

i don't usually audibly say "WOW" at posts.  even on here.  but i did to this. 
it's a wonderful portrait.

[ClaireDeMontréal]

Amazing and truly beautiful work.  I am CERTAIN your portrait did very very well at the auction, as it is irresistible!  As for your career in art: GO FOR IT!  Life is too short, you must give yourself to your talented inclinations, and grace the world! with your art. Quoting James Joyce: "The object of any work of art is the transference of emotion; talent is the gift of conveying that emotion."  For that matter, you are 100% an artist!

[Seraphina_de_Sangre]

God this is goregous. The detail is stunning and everything is so realistic. I especially love the eyes. This is truly your calling and I'd love to see more of your work. It's funny because I just went to see the panda's at the D.C. zoo yesterday and you did a good job capturing the spirit of pandas.

Do you use other mediums as well? What kind of pencils are you using, prismacolors or something different?

I hope you did superbly at the auction, you definitely deserve it.

[Lo{ve}]

wow it is so hard to believe that this is a drawing and not a photograph! i am completely in awe! i really hope that this did awesome at the auction!

[YarnWranglerC]

This is amazing! I thought it was a photo!
I bow down to your ability! I am absolutely positive that it did well and I think you should drop everything and just focus on your art. If its what you love and what you are passionate about do it!

[artsy_fartsy]

This is beautiful! You are a natural-born artist. You did a great job.

[Tygermane]

WOW! I love this picture!!  It's GORGEOUS!  I love how bright and vibrant the colors are.  I can't say often enough what a beautiful piece of art it is.  I agree with everyone else, that is deffinately your calling!!  Would love to see some of the other work you've done

[SimplyFabulous!]

Just amazing!  I thought it was a photo too.  Everything about it is perfect.

[McJulie-O]

Jaw dropping.
Breathtaking.
A perfect portrait of a panda, as expressive as any human.
Well done.

[kisskristy]

this is gorgeous,
and i love the detail and all the colours.
if i saw this somewhere, i would definitely stop what i was doing and have a good look at it.
good work
you should be realllyyyy proud of this.

[ericav]

Thank you everyone for the feedback, I really appreciate it. I still haven't heard anything so I'm taking it that it didn't sell and they didn't want to disappoint me. I'm not discouraged about it because there could be a number of reasons why it didn't sell at the event. I don't think it has anything to do with the quality of my work. I'm still so proud of this piece. I really poured my heart into it. Even if it didn't sell, I'll probably make another piece if they ask me again next year. Thanks for encouraging me to keep going.  

Oh and I used prismacolored pencils, they're my favorite.

[bennaka1010]

It's beautiful!! I hope it made lots of money at the auction!

[TSmith]

This is amazing! You have some real talent. Good for you for using it for a good cause!

[ericav]

OK I just got news from the people that ran the event! The person who got it was the person that I mailed the drawing too (she was running the event). She said that she just couldn't let it go. It went for a little less, but the group that has this event is a small personal group. People in the group probably saw that she really wanted the piece and probably didn't bid because they knew how much she wanted it.

So I feel really good about this now and I have an even great faith in my art. I'm really hoping that I can get into the larger event at the National Zoo. I had the group giving me praise to the right people at the National Zoo so I'm hoping I can do even bigger pieces for their auction! Thank you so much for helping me build my confidence!

[eemmjj]

That's great, ericav! This is an amazing piece and I am glad it was able to go to a good cause and to someone who will treasure this. I spend a year in D.C. as a kid and going to see the pandas was the highlight of my life at the time. Thank you for helping out the zoo so that other kids get to know these wonderful creatures and get excited about animals, science and conservation.

[prunes28]

it's done with colored pencils? holy crap! i did'nt know you could do something so amazing with those!
really truly amazing!!! good job! and i'm positive you'll get some feedback.be patient.

[GlassSpider]

You did an amazing job! When I saw the little thumbnail picture on the front page, I thought it was a picture of a stuffed panda (and that, rather than a real panda, only because this is more of a craft forum and I thought someone was showing off a toy they had made)! I love colored pencil,but I'm not that good at it. I can draw, but I can't get the lovely deep colors with it. I guess I'm too impatient.

[TSmith]

You did an amazing job! When I saw the little thumbnail picture on the front page, I thought it was a picture of a stuffed panda (and that, rather than a real panda, only because this is more of a craft forum and I thought someone was showing off a toy they had made)! I love colored pencil,but I'm not that good at it. I can draw, but I can't get the lovely deep colors with it. I guess I'm too impatient.

I thought the same thing when I first saw the pic!! Again, such great work!

[funthreads]

That is AMAZING. I thought it was a photo when I first looked at it. Then I read your post and had to do a double take. WOW! You have an amazing gift.

[JenSon]

How cute! I love Pandas they are adorable. I have been meaning to paint a panda portrait from my trip to San Diego. You do such great work!

[AsphaltQueen]

That is an amazing piece of art. The detail of the hairs blows me away. Definitely keep up with your art - you have a lot of talent!

[thatrenee]

That portrait is beautiful - I thought is was a photo when I first saw it!

You do absolutely amazing work!!!

[PixieVal]

My god, I can't believe how beautiful that is! Defintately getting a "this rocks" from meQ!

[Retro_Rose]

That's a lovely panda portrait! I love the way you framed it as well, very clean cut!

[onegroovyday]

its wonderful.... when I first saw it I thought it was a picture.... you did a GREAT job

[erdbeerblau]

i love it too
i really like how you placed the lilac/lilac coloured flowers. they add a great touch of colour. and the panda is too great!

[graftonfibers]

He's gorgeous.

[1toughcookie984]

You truly have an amazing gift. I thought it was a photo when I first saw it. I think you captured him just perfectly, the shading, and the colors are just, beyond anything I have seen in a while. Two thumbs up and a cookie for you!! <3

[katie08]

WOW!! This is unbelievable, I have never seen such an amazing piece done with coloured pencils. It actually made me tear up a bit when I looked at it... something about the expression I think. So awesome.

[ericav]

Thank you so much craftsters for you amazing support! I feel very lucky to have this forum to share ideas and to gain feedback on my work. I really appreciate everyone that took the time to respond, thanks again!

[pollypocket451]

You are definitely on the right track! You have real talent.

[doo_leroux]

Love this guy! Thought it was a photo at first!

[zappa_cat]

this is gorgeous!!!!  my son, who is 17 months old, LOVES pandas...  he gave one of the biggest, most excited squeals i've ever heard when he saw your panda!  great job!

[ericav]

Thank you so much! My husband and I were thinking if we ever decided to have a baby, the nursery would probably be a panda theme.