"Proxy"

The owner of this dog does not realize I drew her dog...so I hope she's cool with me having done so.
This too was another dog drawing I had been working on for the Paw Paw's Pooch Pow Wow last weekend that I was rained out of.

The basics: 8.5" x 11" on printer paper (hey, the stuff is cheaper than art paper and smooth...I like it)...6B, 4B, 2B, B, HB pencils were used.

Normally I don't do the shading in the background...but I'm totally going to let you in on a little secret...I screwed this drawing up and there was no way to hide my mistake without shading (drawing too dark leads to none-erasable marks). In the original photo (which of course I don't have) there is a book shelf behind the weenie dogs head (I love weenie dogs!)...but I was working from a printed picture as I snagged the image from facebook (I know the owner of the photo, it's not like I'm doing harm here...it's just for my drawing fix). Well, the image printed a little dark and I thought that Proxy's ear (that's the dog's name) was up a little more than it really was...by the time I realized it was a bookcase, I had already shaded way too darkly for it to be completely erased, and I was so far into the drawing that I really didn't want to have to start over...so I improvised. Hope it looks ok. Hope Shell likes it (I may or may not be drawing another picture of Proxy or another picture of a long haired red weenie dog looking really cute in some grass...I'm just saying.)

Anyway, I think that wraps up my over do update here on the blog...now if only I could get over to the website and update that too...hum...
***update***: the website has been updated!!! And also, the owner of Proxy, Shell, loves the drawing! Hehehe!!!! It's a great Friday! Bring on the weekend!

"Mosley"

One of my most favorite dogs on the planet! MOSLEY!!!

I don't know how, or why, but this dog is photogenically blessed. Any time I see pictures of this dog he looks happy, excited, and posed for the perfect picture. He's even greater in real life. Like a big muppet. His sister dog, Lola would agree- she thinks he's a big chew toy (drawings of Lola have not been created just yet, but there are a few in the works).

Mosley's awesome, I don't know what else to say...8.5" x 11" on printer paper, H, HB, B, 2B, 4B and 6B pencils were used.

This dog cracks me up...more drawings to follow...

"Abigail- Diva" and "Beau Bradley 2"

More goodness for the folks over at FunkyFinds.com

Jessica had a really cute picture of Abby on her Facebook page that I couldn't help drawing.
I was actually going to use this drawing and all of the ones that I post after this today, for the show last weekend, that I got rained out of. I didn't even want to risk setting up due to the fact that all of my drawings are on paper- even though they are protected with clear bags, I didn't want to take a chance of any water damaging any of them...call me over protective.

This one will be shipped out this weekend, along with the next drawing:




Beau Bradley take 2! The show last weekend was at Paw Paw's Dog House in Arlington Texas. I'm really sorry that we didn't even get to set up there, maybe next year (if this is a yearly thing), I'll be able to set up. I love dogs.

About this Beau Bradley drawing- how can you resist a cute lab relaxing? I couldn't, so I had to draw him.

Both drawings were completed on 8.5" x 11" printer paper using H, HB, 2B, 4B and 6B pencils.

More drawings to come!

"Glaser Girls"

My roommate Greg gave me a picture of his nieces to draw. His nieces are adorable!
This is them. (No I don't have the photo to compare the drawing to...I'm sort of failing at remembering to post the original photo, huh?)

Anyway, it's an 8.5"x 11" on white printer paper (isn't it always? Well not if I get my butt in gear and finish my latest creation- not from a photograph)

I used all of the pencils that I own for this one, 4H, 2H, H, HB, B, 2B, 4B, 6B. I had a lot of fun drawing this one, and Greg said his family loved it. Woo Hoo!

More posts to follow...it's blog catch up day!

(P.S. those are not all of the pencils that I own, but they are the ones I carry with me all the time)

DFW Craft Shows

Hey kids,
my friend Tania over at the DFW Craft Shows blog is launching new sponsorship on the blog as well as a give away!
Feel free to click on the links above to read all about it, as well as to find out how you can enter to win the give away. It's a free custom drawing from your photograph from yours truly :) So if you have always wanted a hand drawn portrait but never got around to contacting me, nows your chance to win a FREE drawing.
So go ahead, go now to the DFW Craft Shows Blog and find out all about the goodness that's going on and how you can go about winning the give away...GO! NOW!!!

Paw Paw's Pooch Pow Wow

I've been drawing, just not posting them. I'm getting ready for this weekends art festival and dog adoption that A Shade Better Than Stick Figures will be setting up at on both Saturday April 17th and Sunday April 18th (weather permitting).

It's a doggie friendly event being held at Paw Paw's Dog House in Arlington Texas. There will be a bouncy house, a 50s themed costume contest (for the dogs! How cute is that?!), and over 30 independant vendors. Click here for more information on this weekends event at the Dog House. Click here for more information on Paw Paw's Dog House and what they are all about.

I've been drawing lots of dog pictures over the last few weeks, and have several more to go. I really do enjoy drawing animals...fur is so much fun to draw. Plus the dogs I'm drawing have such sweet faces. I'll be unveiling the new drawings this weekend at the show (not for sale, they are for people), and then updating the blog next week with the drawings. If you are interested in obtaining a one of a kind hand drawn portrait of your pet, please don't hesitate to contact me: ASBTSF@gmail.com if you are interested in learning more about A Shade Better Than Stick Figures, please visit the website. (It hasn't been updated in awhile...so please be patient while I find the time to do that)

Above I mentioned "weather permitting"...that's because I looked today and the weather says thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday. I'm not excited about that. I do have a canopy to cover the booth, but am a little concerned with Texas "thunderstorms" because the wind likes to pick up...I may have to cover stuff if it starts blowing too hard, or raining too hard for that matter.

Hope to see all of you out there!

I WON I WON I WON!!!!!!

I never win anything! (ok, that may not be the truth, but it's few and far between when I win anything)

My friend Tania created this awesome website for craft shows- so all the crafting community in the DFW area can know when an application is due, or when a show is, or if a deadline has passed. It's very awesome that she did this. And as luck would have it...I WON! (seriously this was luck, because she used a program to pick the winner). Anyway you can read more details on the win here.

If you are a crafter or artist and want to spread the word maybe you should chat with Ms. Tania over at The Curious Cake Shoppe/DFW craft Shows. She's got some opportunities to spread the word about your craft/art(like with ad space) and a little birdie told me that if you donate some items to the drawings that she holds on DFW Craft Shows, she'll feature your company/work when she announces the winner of your item(s)...so hey- exposure! She featured us when I won, and The Curious Cake Shoppe because that's where the prize was from...so it's a win win, even if you don't donate, you should follow and participate!!!! FREE STUFF TO WIN!!!

How can this day get any better?!?!

FunkyFindsFeature!!!

Guess whose featured on the FunkyFinds.com blog today?

http://funkyfinds.blogspot.com/2010/04/shade-better-than-stick-figures.html

A Shade Better Than Stick Figures! Woo Hoo!!!!

Thanks FunkyFinds!!!!

"Sedona"

A cute little girl that belongs to one of my friends from High school. I saw it on her facebook page and couldn't resist drawing her.

It's the usual 8.5" x 11" paper with HB, B, 2B, 4B and 6B pencils.
The hat was a little difficult and definitely doesn't match the photo all that well, but it's close. I hope the little girl's mom likes the drawing.

Don't forget to check out the last post about the fan page contest on facebook!

Contest on the fan page!!!

No this isn't an April Fool's day joke. It just so happens to be the day that A Shade Better Than Stick Figures TM got 100 fans on facebook!!!
In honor of our first 100 fans (and still counting), we are going to be doing a contest on the fan page starting tomorrow and running thru the weekend. Details will be announced tomorrow morning on the fan page.
So if you aren't already a fan on facebook and you like contests, you can click on this link, or you can click on the handy facebook icon on the right side of the screen. Really it's not a contest, more of a give-away...but like I said, details will be on the fan page- so go quick! Become a fan before midnight on Sunday!!!