Helen Lock
 

I feel rather brazen having this page as until December 2006 I'd not done any artwork since 'doing art' at school in England - 40 years ago!  For some reason (mid life crisis?!) I suddenly decided to stop waiting until I retire (may never happen!) and started browsing books on art techniques in book shops.

Gary Greene's 'Coloured and Watercolour Pencil an Easy Guide to Getting Started' inspired me and I bought a set of Crayola pencils and did a few landscape pictures from personal photos.  The one here is of the view towards Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, Australia.  It was done on A3 cartridge paper (110gsm).  I haven't managed to get a good photo / copy of it so tips on reproducing paintings would be much appreciated.

I graduated to a Monte Marte sketch pad (150gsm) when I decided to try my first portrait ever - of my sister from a favourite photo of her as she was in 1965.  By now I'd also bought a variety of makes of coloured pencils - and I thought this was going to be a cheap hobby!

My latest complete work is of JR, a friend's Jack Russell, who has a lovely 'smile'.  I found the Monte Marte paper a bit coarse for my liking so for this painting I got a pad of Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper (250gsm) via the Net and really like working on it. 

It's taking me about a month to complete each picture as I find five minutes here and there in between family, work and home activities.   Just as well my sons (twins) are 20 now and able to fend for themselves!

Any feedback, especially constructive criticism, is most welcome.

Contact details:
E-mail: helybely[at]yahoo.com.au