I just took a little break from painting to go outside and do a little sketching. I decided to rough in some tomatoes in my sketchbook — I thought it was a little strange to be a wildlife artist and be sketching tomatoes, but I think I needed a break from my usual routine. 
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July 5th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Hy ! My name is Opris Larisa I am 13 years old .I am from Romania ,Oradea .I started an album with different sketches (animals ,flowers,..) My source of insipartion were your paintings and works .I’d never fought that i can draw so beautiful …. I have one question for you : How long it takes for you to draw and paint something ? Can you give some advices or tips for my sketches please? write me if you have time on my e-mail adress please.. :*:*:)
February 17th, 2008 at 3:58 am
wow nice going i;am amazed keep it up from a 12 year old girl from vancover who lovs your art !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 25th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Mind blowing dear
i like ur sketches ………
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Hi Larissa, Sam, & Vipin,
I’m so happy that all of you like my sketches and artwork!
Larissa - It can take me a while to paint something. I usually have at least a dozen paintings going at the same time. If I have to really focus, I can get a 5×7 done in a few days (or if I’m REALLY rushed, I can do it in one day - but I don’t like to do that…the paintings never look very nice when I have to rush through them.)
Tips…
Well, practice a lot.
Draw from life as much as you can…but also photos (it’s best to use photos that you’ve taken yourself or ones that someone has given you permission to use). Pay close attention to the shape of the object that you’re drawing - observe what angles are there. Everything that you will draw has unique qualities to it that will make it look just the way you see it, so watch for them.
I don’t know if you are just interested in rough sketches or a finished off drawing…. If you will be trying to make it look dimensional, then watch for the shading. Pay attention to where the shadows are cast and how they wrap around the objects. If there are other objects around your subject, like a table that an egg would be sitting on, or rocks that a bird is standing on, those objects can reflect light onto the subject also - being sure to put that into your drawing will give it extra dimension. If it helps, try drawing from a black and white photo to compare your work to the values of the photo/printout.
It might also help to get different pencils - a regular pencil will be 2B, but if you look (maybe at an art store), you can get sets of pencils of different softnesses. The softer pencils will give you darker darks - great for shadows! and the harder ones will let you get more detail in the lighter areas.
Thanks so much, Sam!!
I really appreciate that, Vipin.