Second try at a gemstone!

Haaaaapppy Friday! The sun is shining, my coffee is strong, the birds are singing and l have finished my labour of love! Two weeks! Two weeks this piece has taken me! I knew when l began it, it would take a while, but l would not have thought so very long. It turns out that once you start breaking them into pieces gemstones get really complicated! It is a bit like doing a jigsaw puzzle or a logic problem, some lines carry through, some don't, some bits reflect from other bits and making it all look consistent is pretty difficult.
The thing to remember l think is to just break it down into small sections. If l had tried to work this piece as a whole l would have given up very quickly. I worked on just three or four pieces at a time and that made it manageable. Again the biggest skill required is patience. To stay motivated right through to the very last piece is hard. The temptation to rush is great. But l do know by now that one tiny rushed part brings the quality of the whole piece down. You can't rush anything. Ever. That is lesson number one. Instant improvement is guaranteed to everyone who heeds that advice. It is hard advice to follow. It is for me anyway.

l actually used fewer colors than l normally do on this piece. I have done a step by step guide to drawing the stones which you can find on the tips page. I will put the link below. It starts out looking so scribbly and l thought it would never look like a gemstone at all, but with the layers it began to look more as l wanted. I don't think l have quite mastered it yet, so no doubt there will be more, when l can get my head in the right place to persist with another one! I have started a cat for the new week and will be adding a step by step to the fur which l will give you a sneak peek at in my next post.
In the meantime have a fantastic weekend. Make the most of the spring. Enjoy your art and remember.....don't rush!

How to draw a gemstone