Cruisin' - A Colored Pencil Drawing

Hello Everyone!
Here is my latest completed colored pencil piece. The reference photo was taken in Cuba. As you can see, the paint job isn't the best in the world and they added a few things that wouldn't normally be on a classic '55 Chevy. So the most challenging part about this project was to figure out what the front of the car should look like without the extra bars and Cuban license plate. I simplified the trees in the background, deleted the mulch and cement, and extended the grass. As always, it is difficult to get the photo to capture the original art, but this is a pretty good comparison.

I tried the Arches watercolor paper one more time, and I'm glad I did. It held up to all the layers it took to get the car to look red and shiny. I also used the harder brand of colored pencil, Faber Castell Polychromos, which work better on this paper than the Prismacolor Premiers. For me it is easier to create details (like in the chrome and headlights) than it is to make large areas of color look realistic.

Coming soon...a carousel from a zoo in Florida. If you have any ideas for a future project with a nostalgic theme, let me know!

Until next time!
Michele