This is a custom drawing of a slug on poison ivy. In this post I’ll show you the process I use for drawing a picture with Prismacolor pencils. This particular nature drawing is for a business card client.

First, the Slug

I needed to do the slug first because it would have been very hard to leave the exact space for it had I done the leaves first.

Leaf Shading in Progress

I always add the lightest highlights first with a white pencil, and after the initial outline is done. There’s no way to put them in there once the darker colors are in place.

After the highlights I’ll add light shading with the predominant color. Then add the shadows and darker accents, like the spots on the leaf, the chewed part of the broken leaf, and the darker parts where the stems meet.

Leaf Shading Almost Finished

I just need to add some more of the lighter green highlights that are on the upper leaf. Then the blending will commence.

Shading

You can see the difference that blending makes. I didn’t know about this when I first started with the pencils, but it makes a huge difference. I use a colorless blending pencil from Prismacolor to do it. I might work on this leaf a little more.

Finished!

Materials Used

I use Prismacolor Premier Pencils. For this sketch the colors I used were:

• PC 946 Dark Brown
• PC1100 China Blue
• PC 910 True Green
• PC 1056 Warm Grey
• PC 938 White
• PC 989 Chartreuse
• PC 1020 Celadon Green
• PC 940 Sand
• PC 988 Marine Green
• PC 1090 Kelp Green (predominant green)
• PC 1082 Chocolate
• Prismacolor Colorless Blending pencil

The paper is “pura velvet” fine art paper from Breathing Color. This paper works well for the original drawing and for printing.

Unique, Custom Drawing

Artist for Hire

If you’re interested in having me create a custom drawing for your business cards (or for any other purpose), contact me at madison@wildozark.com.

My rates are $50/hr.

I can draw almost anything with a photo, but the best drawings to use for things like business cards or logos are of an individual item, so keep that in mind.

A sketch such as the slug in this post takes me approximately 4 – 6 hours, but I don’t work on it non-stop so the finished project will take a few days.

The original drawing is on 8.5″ x 11″ fine art rag paper and will be signed, matted and framed when complete. I keep this for shows and to use in various other designs, but I’ll never use it for anyone else’s business card image, or for whatever other purpose the drawing was commissioned for.

Prints will be available to the general public. If you want to have exclusive rights to use the drawing in any form for any purpose, ask me about exclusive rights licensing when the work is commissioned. These rights are no longer available once I’ve created other items from the drawing.

Client receives the first signed & numbered print at no added cost with nonexclusive rights.