You may have seen my process work displayed from time to time. I invest a good sum of time into planning my work. I generally sketch my ideas and develop a composition as a schematic drawing first. I suppose my architecture background has taught me to conceptualize this way. It works well. Brainstorming ideas always prepares me for the finished product. I would advise any young artist to sketch first or simply write your ideas. This process really helps me in every single piece. It took twelve sketches and variations for me to resolve the composition in my latest piece.

I have found that using a white pastel stick over a heavy layer of Prismacolor pencil works well. This technique softens the color pencil's wax base and helps the transition of multiple colors when blending. I am using this technique on my current piece entitled, Book of John .

I recently discovered that applying a small amount of olive oil on your finger and blending the color with that finger will certainly enhance your work. I use a thick layered vellum coated Strathmore paper for this technique. Simply apply a very small amount of Olive Oil to a napkin, then tap the oil with a finger and rub the color in, with your finger.

My pencils use to break and when they did I had a hard time restoring the point. The method that I use to sharpen a pencil is: sharpen first with an Xacto blade. Then I run the pencil in a side to side motion along sand paper.Then I use a Prismacolor pencil sharpener to get a fine point. This method ensures the pencil is smooth and doesn't get stuck in the blades of your pencil sharpener.I have less pencil tip breaking when I use this method.

I don't know what else to call this technique. Edging refers to the emphasis on objects which contrast each other. Rendering an organic object against another can be challenging. To prevent outlining I put a strip of tape on my drawing along the outline. I then trace the outline with an Xacto blade. Now I can peel one side of the tape and either clean up an area with an eraser or improve my tone of another without exceeding the boundaries of an object. So the tape acts as a stencil. The result is contrasting objects without an outline.

Composition refers to the organization of elements within a space. In art, composition is important to communicate the main idea of your drawing. Arranging a subject such as a fruit basket or flower so that it is viewed in its most desired form is composition. In cases where there are many elements in a drawing try to arrange the main idea in such a way that the additives do not overpower but compliment the subject matter. The main idea of your drawing should hold a hierarchy within the space while maintaining a balance of elements.

Line weight is extremely important. Closer objects have a heavier line weight than objects that are further. When completing all of your line work on a drawing try using a Dry Cleaning Pad to eliminate heavy line weight. Erasers are good for this purpose but if you want consistent lines this method works! A Dry Cleaning pad can be found where ever drafting supplies are sold.

When I began my drawing entitled "Mary and Jesus" I drew the Coptic Cross first. The cross has a lot of intricate detail and is 100 % symmetrical. I knew that the process would include a considerable amount of measuring. I sought a way to simplify this task by drawing the outline of the cross first and 1/4 of the cross second. Once I had 1/4 of the cross in place I then traced my own drawing on vellum. I then had a second drawing of a cross with 1/4 detail. I rotated the vellum drawing "on top" of the primary drawing and traced the 1/4 cross, leaving very faint line work on the primary drawing. I repeated this process until the cross was complete on the primary drawing which was drawn on a thick 4ply sheet of Bristol Strathmore.

When I was polishing "Pride of the Lakota" I didn't feel that the grass in the piece had enough dimension. I took an Xacto blade and just started making new lines along the edges of the existing grass. This technique gave my drawing a sense of realism. I also used this technique on the trees of my "Wildthings" drawing. The leaves on that piece were done in oil so I did not apply the technique there. An X-acto blade can be found at any office supply store.

It can be difficult adding detail without affecting the tone value of an area. I use to color around detailed areas but I ended up having outlines. Apply a colorless blender to the outline of a detail. Then apply the desired color that surrounds your detail. You will discover that your color will not penetrate the boundaries of the detail. If the color does penetrate the detail it can easily be rubbed off with a q-tip or even your finger. If you take a look at my "Cars" drawing you will notice a lot of detail on the body of the cars. I used this colorless blender technique to assist me.