Straw Berry

Sorry I have been remiss.

I have not posed lately. I have been working on my art work however. I also bought a new camera and have been trying to learn how to use it. I am posting a study of a strawberry that I worked on at the end of 2010. I am posting all 4 media studies all at once. My favorite is the colored pencil one. I am not as happy with the water color study. Hope you enjoy this touch of summer.

"Straw Berry"
Water Color 9" by 11"
Copyright @ S. Ciaccio 2011

"Straw Berry"
Color Pencil 9" by 11"
Copyright @ S. Ciaccio 2011






"Straw Berry"
Pen and Ink 9" by 11"
Copyright @ S. Ciaccio 2011

"Straw Berry"
Pencil 9" by 11"
Copyright @ S. Ciaccio 2011

Pear in Basket Water Color

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2010

"Pear in Basket" Water Color

9" by 11" 250gsm paper

My water color study of the pear in basket based on Jacqueline Gnotts instructional water color video. I was trying to develop my technical skill. I was pleased with the results and really learned a lot .

Pear and Basket Colored Pencil

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2010

"Pear in Basket" Colored Pencil

9" by 12 " 250 GSM

My colored pencil study of the pear in the basket still life. The idea was from Jacqueline Gnott's water color instruction video. I really enjoyed doing this piece. I was pleased with the results.

Pear in Basket Pen and Ink

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2010

"Pear in Basket" Pen and Ink

9" by 11" 250 GSM

My pen and ink study of the pear in a basket design This is based on an instructional DVD by Jacquelline Gnott. I found this study fun with the different textures and trying to depict lace. the studies in pencil and pen and ink really forces me to think about values and shapes. It helps me resolved problems and become familiar with the subject before interjecting color into the study.

" Pear in Basket"

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2010

"Pear in Basket" pencil drawing

9" by 11" 250 GSM

I purchased a instructional water color DVD by Jacqueline Gnott. I am trying to improve my water color techniques. I greatly admire her work, and have a link to her work on my blog. This idea is from her DVD "Pear Princess". She paints the most amazing pears. This is the pencil study of the instructional video. I will be posting my usual four studies. I was pleased with the results.

Water Color Orange

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2010

"Orange" watercolor

9" by 12" 250 GSM

This is my water color study of the orange still life. I am fairly pleased with it but may go back and darken the orange a bit. I think it gets light to fast as you move up the side of the orange. Sometimes it is hard with water color to know when to stop. Many times I go to far and then you can not take it back, it is better to darken things a little at a time.

Orange colored Pencil

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2010

"Orange" Colored Pencil

9" by 12 " 250 GSM

My colored pencil study of the orange still life. I like the orange sections in this piece. I used a pumice stone to create the orange peel effect on the orange. I am not sure if i like the background or the choice of color. Like I said before I will have to come back to oranges again another day.

Orange Pen and Ink

Copyright by S.Ciaccio 2010

"Orange" Pen and Ink

9" 12 " 250 250 GSM

My pen and ink study of the orange still life. I had fun with this study but like the pencil study I think i will come back some time and try another orange. the orange peel texture really took over this drawing and i may try a more subtle approach some time.

Orange Study

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2010

"Orange" Pencil Drawing

9" by 12" 250 GSM

I have had a busy February and March. This is my pencil study of an orange. the orange peel is hard to depict. I really emphasised it on this drawing. I noticed the drawing tended to grow more stylistic then I had really wanted it to. I will try oranges again sometime and attempt a more realistic drawing.

Indian Con Water Color

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2010

"Indian Corn" Water Color

9" by 11 " 140lb paper

This is my water color study of the Indian corn still life. This is the last of the Indian Corn study. With all the traveling I have been doing, I slowed down on the art work. I have to think of a way to make my materials more portable and packable on airplanes. Guess I will have to pack less of something else, books? clothes?

I am very happy with the results of this water color. I like the bright colors I was able to achieve.

Indian Corn colored Pencil

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2010

"Indian Corn" Colored Pencil

9" by 12" 100 lb. paper

My colored pencil drawing of Indian corn, this exercise is from the "Colored Pencil Painting Bible". I really had fun with developing this work. You would really be surprise how long it took to build up the layers of colors. Indian corn really provides a wide range of colors.

Indian Corn pen and ink drawing

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2010

"Indian Corn" Pen and Ink Drawing

9" by 12" 80 lb paper

My pen and ink drawing of the Indian Corn . I was very pleased with how this study came out. It took a lot of time to build up the layers of shade. I watered down some of the ink for the gray parts.

Indian Corn Pencil Drawing

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2010

"Indian Corn" Pencil Drawing

9" by 12 " 80lb paper

I have not been able to work on my art as much as I would like lately. I did this piece before Christmas. I really enjoyed working on this still life of Indian Corn. Each piece in this series took a lot of time, but was very enjoyable to work on. I was trying to depict the different colors you find on an ear of Indian corn.

Water Color Nectarine

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Nectarine" Water Color

9" by 11" 100lb. paper

This is my water color study of the nectarine still life. I was fairly pleased with the result. I was happy with the terry cloth dish towel in the back ground. The colored pencil study was over worked i think but I stopped in time with the water color.

Colored Pencil Nectarine

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

:Nectarine" Colored Pencil

9" by 11" 100 Lb paper

My study of the nectarine still life in colored pencil. This was the first time I tried to depict cloth with colored pencils. I was fairly pleased with the results. I need to work on how to depict folds and shadows in materiel.

Pen and Ink Nectarine

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Nectarine" Pen and Ink

9"12" 100 Lb. paper

My study of the nectarine still life in pen and ink. A nectarine has a mottled skin, it is not fuzzy like a peach and it is not shiny like an apple or pear. Just like with the pencil the pit and the hole were the pit was were the most challenging.

Nectarine Pencil sketch

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Nectarine" Pencil Drawing

9" by 11" 100 lb. paper

My study of a cut nectarine. I found depicting the pit was more difficult that I had imagined. Working on the texture of the dish towel in the background was fun. Even using Adobe it is hard to get the pencil drawing to get rid of that reddish orange cast so having a true picture of the work is complicated.

Water color Garlic

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Garlic clove" Water color

7'' by 9" 100 lb. paper

My water color study of a clove of garlic. Once again I chose a smaller paper for this garlic study. Looking at it makes me want to make a pot of sauce.

Garlic Clove Colored pencil

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Garlic" Colored Pencil

5" by 7" 250 GSM paper

My study of a garlic clove in colored pencil. The smaller size of this series made it quicker to finish. I am very behind on the blog and will try and get more current.

Garlic Pen and Ink

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Garlic" Pen and Ink

5"by 7" 100lb paper

My pen and Ink study or a garlic bulb. the papery skin of a garlic bulb was hard to represent with pen and ink. I think I did a better job of it with the other media I used. I do like how the pen and ink forces you to depict things with a line.