Eyes in the Dark: My First Colored Pencil Owl on Black Paper

Eyes in the Dark: My First Colored Pencil Owl on Black Paper

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my work.

My exploration into colored pencil art began in the summer of 2022. At that time, I had been creating artwork with watercolor paints for about two years. A friend’s beautiful colored pencil creations at my weekly art group piqued my interest. Eager to try the medium, I purchased a variety of colored pencils.  I started with Amazon Basics Premium Colored Pencils, then purchased Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils and a small set of Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils.  I found the reference photo on Pixabay, a website offering royalty-free images that can be used freely, even for commercial purposes, without requiring attribution.

The image featured striking black eyes that captivated me, and I decided to recreate it using colored pencils. I wanted to use black paper to represent the deep shadows  I saw in the photo.  I was a bit unsure about how to transfer the outline accurately, so I opted to use the grid method. This technique involves drawing a grid over the reference photo and a corresponding grid on the drawing surface. By focusing on one square at a time, it’s easier to replicate the image with accurate proportions.

Using the grid method allowed me to build the drawing systematically, ensuring accuracy and helping me develop my skills with colored pencils. This approach proved especially helpful for capturing intricate details and achieving a realistic result. The eyes really drew me in, so that’s where I began.

Little did I know that  the Prismacolor colored pencils were perfect for black paper. The colors really popped against the dark background.

Work progressed slowly as I filled in each square one at a time.

Square by square, the owl began to take shape.

As I progressed, the eyes were always staring at me. I often prefer to get the eyes just right early on in my artwork. It seems like when the eyes are just right, the rest isn’t as crucial.

First roughing out squares, expanding the area, going back and adding details—and before I knew it, it was done.

Mockup in a frame

This project taught me the value of patience and attention to detail. Working methodically, square by square, I was able to bring the owl to life on black paper. It was a rewarding experience that deepened my appreciation for colored pencil art.

Love this drawing? You can find this owl design and other favorite artworks printed on pouches, totes, mugs, journals, and more in my refreshed Etsy shop: NorthernSwanArt.etsy.com. Functional art you can carry and enjoy every day!

If this owl’s piercing gaze speaks to you, you can now take it with you wherever you go! I’ve added this design to several practical, gift-worthy items in my Etsy shop. You’ll find it featured on a sturdy ceramic mug, a roomy tote bag, a flat accessory pouch perfect for art supplies or everyday essentials, and a T-bottom pouch ideal for makeup, knitting notions, or travel. Each item is printed with care and brings a little artistic mystery into your daily routine.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the progress of this owl drawing! I’d love to hear your thoughts—what types of progress photos would you like to see more of? Are there specific pieces you’d be interested in following along with? Or perhaps you’d like to see some product reviews mixed in? Let me know in the comments!

Supplies Used in This Piece: Some links below are affiliate; I may earn a small commission at no extra cost—thank you!

• Amazon Basics Premium Colored Pencils
• Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils 
• Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils.  
• Pixabay Reference Photo
• Strathmore 400 Series Gray Scale - Black Sheet

A Fuzzy Little Distraction

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my work!

What do you do when your house is under construction, you’re behind on watercolor commissions, and stuck in bed with the flu for a couple of weeks? You grab your colored pencils and revisit a donkey drawing you’ve been wanting to redo.

First attempt

The reference photo came from Pixabay. I’d already drawn this little guy once before, but I wasn’t happy with the results.

I had already created the outline for earlier in Procreate and printed it out on Vellum paper, so all I had to do was transfer the image Saran graphite paper onto my paper of choice, Bristol Vellum, and get to work.

I often start with the eyes of animals.  After all, they are “windows to the soul” and I’ve found that, when the eyes are just right, they give life to the artwork. This little guy though, had his head at such an angle that they were hidden by his heavy brow ridge.  Once those were drawn in, I moved my work to that cute, tiny muzzle.

Colored pencils make you work harder than other mediums I’ve explored. When you’re mixing colors with pencils, you’re doing it by layering one pencil over another. Much like with watercolor, I build my tones from light to dark, reserving the white areas where I can.

This little guy had the furriest forehead—and after roughing in a bit of that texture, I made my way up to those fuzzy, expressive ears. Miniature donkeys have the most endearing fuzzy ears, and this guy was no exception!

For a while I went back and forth, refining the ear, then returning to that soft, shaggy forehead. As you can see from the image, I did a majority of the work on this guy in bed.  paper taped down to my artists board and used my desk top easel as a laptop easel.  I’d work on it off and on when I needed to do something more than just lay there and watch TV.  A kneaded eraser was a big help with those fine adjustments along the way; no eraser crumbs in bed. I have to say, this was the most enjoyable, and memorable flu I had.  Banging and pounding of the work down stairs, me watching The Gilmore Girls for the first time, and messing around with my colored pencils in bed.

After finishing the head, I moved on to the body—starting with one leg. The collage above shows how it slowly came together. I roughed in the darker tones first, then gradually continued layering different colors of pencil to match the photo.

Leg completed, I moved on the body.  This was when I realized I need help of the grid method; it’s a little harder to add them after the art work was started, but it was vital to get the exact placement of areas I didn’t trace out.

Once the grid was sorted out, I could keep going. One thing I love about colored pencils is how you can just keep layering—tiny hair after tiny hair. I’m not sure where I first heard this, but it stuck with me: when drawing hair, try quickly sketching three hairs in the direction of growth, but each one angled slightly differently. It helps the hair look more natural and prevents those too-uniform lines that don’t really look like hair.

Once the donkey was completed, the addition of straw grounded the little guy to the paper so he didn’t  look like he was floating.  I was so glad I gave him another shot—and happy with how he turned out.  The image above is a scan of the original drawing; it’s amazing how lighting and a camera can distort images.

When I showed the finished drawing to my husband and mentioned that I’d love to turn it into a Christmas card, he said, “Donkeys have nothing to do with Christmas.”

Challenge accepted.

A quick search led me to a sweet poem by Rita Beer called Just a Little Donkey—a reflection on the humble donkey who carried Mary on Christmas Eve. That was all the confirmation I needed.

This fuzzy guy made his Christmas card debut in 2022, and I still smile every time I see him.

I’m excited to offer this card in my Etsy shop—but only for a limited time! Since I can’t use Rita Beer’s poem due to copyright, I created an original poem to go along with the artwork. I’m proud to share this piece with you all, and I hope it brings as much joy as it has brought me.

Click here to order the donkey Christmas cards now! Available in packs of 8, 16, or 24 with envelopes—perfect for sharing with friends and family this holiday season. These are printed to order and ship directly from my production partner, so please allow a little extra time for delivery.

Sorry, U.S. orders only. Limited time—available now through November 30.

Have a favorite animal you’d love to see brought to life in colored pencil or watercolor? Or a holiday memory this little donkey reminds you of? I’d love to hear from you in the comments—or feel free to reach out if you’re curious about commissions or past card designs!

Supplies I Used for This Drawing

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my work!

• Colored Pencils – A mix of brands, including Prismacolor Premier and Faber-Castell Polychromos
• Paper – Strathmore Bristol Vellum Pad, 9x12
• Transfer Paper – Saral Graphite Transfer Paper (for tracing outlines)
• Kneaded Eraser – Kneaded Rubber Eraser (no eraser crumbs!)
• Artist Tape – Scotch Artist Tape for taping down paper
• Artist Board – Portable Drawing Board for a sturdy surface
• Desk Easel – Compact tabletop easel for comfortable drawing
• Ruler – Clear acrylic ruler for grid method layout

The Foals

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my work!

I’m so excited to share the story behind this painting of two precious foals I created for a dear friend. From asking for permission to use her photo to sharing progress photos along the way, it was a joy to bring these little ones to life—and I wanted to walk you through how it all came together.

When my friend and I were talking about the horses she wanted me to paint for Christmas gifts, there was one photo on her Facebook page I couldn’t stop thinking about: two sweet foals lying in the hay. They were already close, but I imagined them even cozier, nestled right up against each other. I asked if I had permission to use her photo to paint them for her as an extra gift.

Once we agreed on the changes I wanted to make to the photo, I drew an outline in Procreate. Then I printed it and transferred the drawing onto watercolor paper, ready to start bringing these babies to life.

I began with the first layers, blocking in the lightest undertones I could see to set the foundation.

Next, I started building up the darker layers, adding depth and shaping their forms.

Layer after layer, the foals slowly started to emerge from the paper.

Eventually, I reached the point where I could add the fine details.

With each new layer, the foals came to life—soft, squishy muzzles, tiny adorable hooves… there were so many sweet details to capture in these two little ones.

I loved every moment of working on this painting, and it was such a joy to share each step of the process with my friend. Thank you for following along—I hope you enjoyed seeing how these two adorable babies took shape, one layer at a time!

Supplies Used in This Piece:  Some links below are affiliate; I may earn a small commission at no extra cost—thank you!

• iPad
• Procreate App
• Translucent Vellum Paper
• LED Light Box A4, Ultra-Thin USB
• Saral Graphite Transfer Paper (wax-free)
• Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleedproof White
• Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper
• Mijello Mission Gold Watercolor Paints
• Winsor & Newton Masking Fluid
• Water-activated tape
• Washi Grid Tape
• Ruled Washi Tape (I used tape from TheArtistLife.com, they are no longer in business)
• GatorBoard - Purchased locally at Blaines Art, mine is cut in half.

Cosset: Beginning the 13 Horses Journey Through Portraits

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my work!

I have a dear, sweet friend I met while volunteering at a local equine therapy nonprofit. She’s an incredible horsewoman, and I’ve always loved seeing her shared posts on Facebook—photos of her horses, glimpses into her life. Over the years, I’ve had the joy of watching her children grow up through her posts.

When I read that her daughter’s horse had passed away, my heart broke. I’d seen the bond between them, and it was something truly special. I felt deeply moved to try and paint the horse as a memorial for her daughter.

Had I ever painted a horse before? Not really. I’d only been painting for about a year. But I loved horses, and I figured I could find my way through it. So, I messaged my friend, shared what I was hoping to do, and asked if she had any photos of the horse I could use for reference.

My first attempt at painting Cosset wasn’t bad. Looking at it four years later, I’m honestly impressed with what I managed to pull off, especially considering how little I knew back then and how early I was in my painting journey.

At the time, I had just discovered Arches paper, but I hadn’t yet learned the proper way to prepare it before painting. These days, I soak the sheet thoroughly, mount it to GatorBoard with double-sided tape, and reinforce it with staples to keep everything secure. Back then, the paper warped quite a bit—but even so, I managed to get the job done.

I also had no idea how to approach that soft, “white mane.” I made it work, and I’m still happy with how the painting turned out—but looking back, there’s definitely a lot I’d do differently now.

Once I felt I had the body correct, I had to figure out how to paint the mane and forelock

To tackle the mane, I used a product called Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White. Since watercolor is mostly transparent, using traditional white watercolor wouldn’t have worked for painting the strands of this palomino’s light forelock and mane—it just wouldn’t show up. But by mixing in a little bit of watercolor with the Bleed Proof White, I was able to create an opaque, water-based paint. I was pretty happy with the effect it gave me.

I used the same technique on the mane—and it worked. These days, I’d approach those areas differently, but considering I had only been painting for a year or two at the time, I’m still pretty happy with the results.

Looking back, Cosset was one of my first real horse portraits, created when I’d only been painting for about a year or two. While the techniques and polish have evolved since then, this piece remains close to my heart because of the story behind it — a tribute to a beloved horse and the bond it shared with her family. It reminds me how every step in my art journey is meaningful, and I’m excited to continue growing and sharing with you all.

I’d love to hear from you! Have you ever had a special bond with an animal that inspired you to create something meaningful? Or maybe you have memories of a beloved pet you’d like to share. Drop a comment below and tell me your story — or just say hello! Your messages brighten my day and inspire my art.
Feel free to ask any questions about this painting or the process, too. Let’s connect!

Supplies Used in This Piece:

Some links below are affiliate; I may earn a small commission at no extra cost—thank you!

• Arches Watercolor Paper — High-quality paper with a lovely texture, perfect for watercolor. (Affiliate link)
• Mijello Mission Gold Watercolor Paints — My favorite paints for vibrant, smooth color.
• Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White — I mixed this with watercolor paints to create the opaque colors I needed for Cosset’s mane and forelock.
• Painter’s Tape — Used to secure the paper while painting and help reduce warping.