Tonal Values in a Still Life

Crosshatch by darkening each part of the drawing to a different degree.

Tonal Values - Light and Shadow

Hatching and Crosshatching To Emphasize Volume

Tonal Values

The transition of lights and darks on your paper produces an illusion of three dimensions.

Basic Drawing - Two Point Perspective

The art of drawing solid objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth and position in relation to each other when veiwed from a particular point can be daunting. Using the two-point perspective where the object closest to you is on an angle, can give the illusion of depth.The perspective will have two vanishing points on the horizon line and the convergence(A point where lines come together from different directions) of the parallel lines will go to either point.

Basic Drawing - One Point Perspective

One Point Perspective - The perspective with one vanishing point. As you can see I was sitting above and my horizon level was higher than that of the camera shot.

Jensen Commission Completed

Just finished this portrait of a deceased gentleman. I really struggled with this photo as there was so much forshortening and the facial expression was really awkward. I hope they are satisfied with the end result.

I am very thrilled to be chosen as the new illustrator for the wonderful children's book Series called

 "The Durples"

This picture is the cover of the original book in the series. The second book which I illustrated is called "The Durples Go To School" and will be in print at the end of April - Stay Tuned!

If you would like to purchase a copy of the first book just click on the link below the picture.

http://www.thedurples.com/

New Window Painted at Michelle's Place in Crossfield Alberta

If your hungry and want to check out  funky retro window art then head on down to Michelle's Place in Crossfield Alberta for some great Lunch/Dinner Specials and some Eye Candy!

RED DOOR

Newest Acrylic Completed

16"x20" Wrapped Canvas

90 Min Quick Study

Being part of painting group (Airdrie Artists Guild) we decided to implement something to spark the fire at our bi-weekly meetings (We meet the second and last Wedensday of every month). We decided to all bring something to set up a collective still life and we would do a 90 minute quick study. What a blast! I thought I had better post pictures of it because I will most likely paint over the canvas to do the next one. It was great to just let go and give 'er! I did realize though, that when painting that quickly, there really is no time for a pencil sketch. I just sketched with my brush and Burnt Umber(Acrylic). I also discovered that painting in acrylic was advantageous because of the quick dry time. I also noticed that when I was painting that quickly I really didn't think about value or temperature - slap me on the wrist. Oh well...there is always next week! It was very cool to see how everyone's came out so differently yet each one was wonderful! Hope you enjoy...

Still Life Set Up

90 Min Still Life Quick Study By Cheryl Todd Shergold

Inspiration and Resolution - The newest subject matter for an art trading card group that I am part of. When I saw the topic I couldn't wait to put brush to canvas. My mind started whirling.
In the first card I called "Inspiration" I wanted to express how inportant it is for us to calm our minds and connect with nature. Ultimately it is our environment that is deserving of respect. The Bindi dot is the sixth chakra and it represents the seat of concealed wisdom. I tried to create a connection with the eye of the sun and the mind. If we all take time to consider our effect left on earth then we might all try to live a little more simply. The fish were placed in the Yin and Yang position to represent mankinds peace with nature.

In the second card I called "Resolution" I wanted to describe the Earth's way of continually repairing itself. It seems that no matter what Life is always born. Ultimately what I feel is that the Earth will be here for much longer than man will survive. If we can learn to respect ourselves, our surroundings and each other then life's renewal shall be there for mankind as well.

Now I just have to decide which one I am going to mail away!
Here is a link to the group that hosts the trading event 4-5 times a year.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DecorativeArtistsInCanada/

Ken - This one is inspired by YOU! -"On The Road To Morocco"

My good friend Ken LeBlanc is an awesome photographer. You can find his link here on my page. http://kennethleblanc.blogspot.com/ He took this shot on his way to Fez, Morocco and when I saw it I immediately connected with it. Please check out his beautiful shots! Thank you Ken for being my eyes around the world!

My Brothers Keeper

I must be in my "Wolf Phase" as I just completed yet another painting (24"x36" Acrylic) that I called My Brothers Keeper...

Commission Completed - Hidden Wolves

This commission I just completed definately was out of my comfort zone. I have learned to appreciate the jobs that push you to create something you otherwise might not attemp. It is a 16"x40" Acrylic. Check it out....

True Peace Can Be Ours

This is the second painting in a collection that I have described as my Environment/World Collection

Stolen Hat

There is a little bit of a story behind this picture. I was at a party one night and encountered a gentleman with the coolest hat I have ever seen. I convinced him to give it to me so I could paint it into one of my pictures. He reluctantly obliged (the prompting from all my friends didn't hurt) He was aware that I was an artist and he trusted me. I finally did return his hat after some months but never got around to painting an image of it. Finally last night it came to me. Hope you like it!

It Was Never Ours

I just finished this painting today and I love how it turned out. I am forever being concerned about the state of the world and our environment. I wanted to express that through my painting abilities and I found it an effortless task painting content that I could relate to and immerse myself in. Hopefully more to come...

Mural Completed

I just completed a mural for a client in the Sharp Hill Area of Balzac Alberta. It was in a wine room and it is a Kelowna BC Vineyard as viewed through an old Rustic Country Window. Hope you like it!

Almost done!

Newest Painting almost completed, just a few little picky things to add - 30"x40" Acrylic on Gallery wrapped Canvas called Mi'kmaq Spirit. The medicine wheel is a very powerful symbol of native American spirituality. The Mi'kmaw Medicine Wheel contains four colors which represent the four races of man. Each color represents a direction and has an associated spirit guide, element, season, life stage and sacred medicine.

CROSSFIELD ART SHOP

The Studio is located in Crossfield Alberta at 1102 Laut Avenue. There will be classes offered in the Spring of 2010 for all levels of students. An open house will be held at the end of January 2010.
A month ago I left my oil and gas job to pursue bigger and better things. I decided that life is too short to be wasted behind a desk pushing paper when I knew where my real passions were. I have always loved helping people to find the artist with in themselves. There is no better feeling than seeing someone create something they never believed they could. My partner and I decided that I would come help him run the front end of his engine repair shop and in return I could run my studio "rent free - I might add" out of the shop. I am very pleased with the renovations and have warned him of the possibility that I might have to take over the whole front end shop space - down the road. (That's a woman for you!) I will host an open house in the spring and I will be offering classes as well as selling retail decorative and fine art supplies. I hope that you will all drop by for a cup of java and to check out the classes being offered. I will be updating the website http://www.cheryltoddshergold.com/  with the classes being offered in the Spring. Here are some pictures of the studio...