Grumpy Granny

 

This is just one of the many awesome weekly sketch tutorials you can find at karensyoutube by Karen Campbell.

Using a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil in my Canson coldpress watercolor book, I drew this "Grumpy Granny," following Karen's drawing and the reference provided.

I went over those pencil lines with Molotow  Pens and painted the granny with Jane davenport watercolors. I used a gell pen for highlights and a Blackwing Pencil and a blending stump for shading. I finished this granny with watercolor splatter.

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/03/march-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/03/challenge-202603-march-2026-anything.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/03/classic-design-challenge-03-2026-marapr.html 

https://craftingfromtheartchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/02/february-challenge-2026.html 

Cat and Owl Mixed Media

 

This mixed media piece was inspired by a poem by Edward Lear, "The Owl and the Pussy Cat." The cat and owl, two love-bound creatures embark on a heartfelt journey to find love.

The tutorial is by Eutalia Majia. It's a Taster for "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales hosted by Tamara Laporte. I loved working on this piece. I needed to change some of the supplies. I generally do not work in acrylic paint, so watercolors will have to do. I used Jane Davenport and Prima watercolors.

The background trees were done in printer paper, not delie paper. They are floating along on Moonlight Bay in Fabriano hot press 140 lb. watercolor paper. The additional supplies include: matte medium, clear  gesso, gouache, Prismacolor pencil and white Gelly Roll pen.

What fun this piece was to work on. I'll look for more tutorials by Eutalia Majia!

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/03/march-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/03/challenge-202603-march-2026-anything.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/03/classic-design-challenge-03-2026-marapr.html 

Unicorn Fairy

 

Students at Awesome Art School are introduced to art work by a variety of artists. This "Unicorn Fairy," is from a tutorial by Karen Campbell, inspired by Paolo Barbieri. He's an Italian digital illustrator in the realm of fantasy.

Karen's lesson called for the blue toned paper, but I used what I have. I have a Strathmore Toned Tan sketch book that I love to work in. I drew this fairy with a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil and shaded the drawing with a Blackwing Pencil and a blending stump. I used a white  Prismacolor Pencil and a white GellyRoll Pen for highlights.

I really love how this "Unicorn Fairy," came out.

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/03/march-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/03/challenge-202603-march-2026-anything.html

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/03/challenge-98.html 

https://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2026/03/274-march-15-doctor-digis-house-of.html 

 

Troll

 

This "Troll" is from a tutorial by Tamara Leporte for the "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales."

I saw this cute "Troll" and couldn't wait to draw him freehand with my Graphgear 1000 Pental Pencil. He's on Fabriano hot press 140 lb. watercolor paper. It was so fun to draw the "Troll" and the jungle plants around him!

I painted this piece using Jane Davenport Watercolors.  A lot of supplies went into this fellow. 

Some are: Prismicolor pencils and Stabilo All, Pasca Pen and Molotow Blackliner and White Holbein Artist Gouache.

I look forward to more great tutorials at "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales!

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/03/march-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/03/challenge-202603-march-2026-anything.html

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/03/challenge-98.html 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/03/classic-design-challenge-03-2026-marapr.html 

Victorian Tea Dress

 

I enjoy the challenges to my drawing skills that come with Karen Campbell's tutorials for Awesome Art School. Karen gives step by step instruction in her videos along with reference photos and even historical information.

I chose to draw the reference picture on my own by eye freehand and then follow Karen's directions to and shade the dress with Ohuhu Alcohol Markers in my Ohuhu Marker Pad.

I used Molotow Blackliners for the details and outlines and a white Prismacolor Pencil and white Gell Pen for highlights.

I really wasn't sure my skills were up to this dress, but once I got started, I couldn't stop! I love how the dress looks in my book!

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/03/march-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/03/challenge-202603-march-2026-anything.html

https://alessandrasangels.blogspot.com/2026/02/allys-angels-103-challenge-anything.html 

https://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/2026/03/top-5-for-countdown-3-2-1.html 

Gorgeous Gumiho

 This elegant "Gumiho," is from a tutorial by Karen Campbell for "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales," hosted by Tamara Laporte.

The Gumiho is a mythical creature from ancient Chinese and Korean traditions. She often has female power signified in her nine tails and fox ears. 

I watched Karen teach how to draw the 3/4 portrait, which I drew in my Strathmore Toned Tan sketch book. I followed Karen as I painted this character using Arteza Gouache.

I used a Blackwing Pencil and blending stump for the shading, Copic white for highlights and assorted black line markers for details.

I love how this fox girl looks in my tan sketch book!

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/03/march-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/03/challenge-202603-march-2026-anything.html

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2026/03/morgans-artworld-challenge-98.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-844.html 

Victorian Morning Gown

 Artist Karen Campbell of Awesome Art School is covering a unit of drawing and the coloring of clothing of the Victorian Era. This tutorial is the "Victorian Morning Gown," in two views: front and side.

The tutorial was meant to teach the technique of alcohol markers, but I really like the look of the drawings in my Strathmore Toned Tan sketch book. Alcohol Markers don't work on toned paper.

In using that sketch book I needed to decide which markers to use after drawing each dress with my Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil. I outlined the dresses with a Molotow blackliner. For the front gown I made the mistake of using Ohuhu Dual Tip Brush Pens (non alcohol). They do not work well on toned paper, but in the end the dress came out fine with a lovely fabric like look! The side drawing also came out fine with a lovely fabric look, but using Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens, are much easier to work on the toned paper. I used Prismacolor Pencils to bring out highlights and textural patterns on the dresses. I used a gell pen for brighter highlights.

I'm looking forward to add more Victorian style to my sketch book!

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/03/march-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/03/challenge-202603-march-2026-anything.html

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2026/03/morgans-artworld-challenge-98.html 

https://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/2026/03/challenge-602-birthday.html