StoryTime

I finally completed a drawing of my son and our dog; I have been working on this portrait for far too long.  The finished piece looks much bolder than the photo shows - for some reason, the lighting on the photograph washes the face out.  Overall, I am happy with StoryTime.

StoryTime, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Boone

Another scribbly, squiggly - this time, of our almost 14-year-old puppy, Boone!

Boone, color pencil on Stonehenge Paper, 10" x 14" by Diana Pasikov

Rocky

I experimented with the"scribble and squiggle" technique, again, today.   This time, I attempted to draw my sister's cat, Rocky.

Rocky, color pencil stonehenge paper, 10" x 14" by Diana Pasikov

Jazzy

Experimenting with a different color pencil technique (scribbles), "Jazzy" was created, today, in my art class.  I hope Lori likes it!

Jazzy, color pencils on stonehenge paper, 6" x 10" by Diana Pasikov

Samson

Samson

I haven't been drawing much, lately, but had fun painting this tray for my friend, Kim.  She  had shown me an adorable photo of her Beagle, Samson, in which the angle made him look cartoonish ... So, I made a whimsical portrait of her pup on a wooden tray as a gift.  It was a really fun project!

 Acrylics on Wooden Tray

"You Are My Sunshine" lyrics are written around the outside of the tray

Pregnant Liz

I had the rare opportunity to sketch a pregnant model in my weekly Life Drawing class at The Art Center of Highland Park.  This piece was completed in 1 1/2 hours. 

Liz, soft pastel on charcoal paper, 18" x 24" by Diana Pasikov

Tyomi

Tyomi is a model in the Life Drawing class that I take once a week at The Art Center of Highland Park.  I am just learning how to use soft pastels and had a lot of frustration creating this drawing.  This sketch is the result of 1 1/2 hours of fun.

Tyomi, soft pastel on charcoal paper, 18" x 24" by Diana Pasikov

Vail

While in Colorado on holiday this summer, Vail was created.  

Vail, acrylic on canvas, 9" x 12" by Diana Pasikov

Aspen

Aspen is a portrait of my daughter that I drew for her upcoming Bat Mitzvah.  

Aspen, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Baby Aspen

Baby Aspen is a portrait of a younger version of me holding my newly born daughter.  A challenging piece but fun to create!

Baby and Me, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Wedding Portrait

This is a drawing of my husband and me on our wedding day.  Our kids joke that my husband looks like a corpse in this piece - a corpse eating grapes out of my hand!

Hugs

My daughter and son were the models for Hugs. 

Hugs, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Great Expectations

Great Expectations, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Professional

Professional, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Good-Byes

Good-Byes, Color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Scholar

 Scholar, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

The Graduate

The Graduate, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Young Love

Young Love, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Chic

As simple as it looks, Chic was incredibly challenging to draw.  I am very happy with the final product.

Chic, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

AHHHHH!!!!!

AHHHHH!!!!! was such a joy to draw.  I had fun envisioning my daughter at the age of getting her driver's permit ... and not so much fun envisioning myself in the passenger seat trying to teach her how to drive!  

AHHHHH!!!!! color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

The Wait

The Wait, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

High Spirited

High Spirited, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Hands

Drawing hands never gets easy!  Practice, practice, practice ...

Hands, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Nooo!

Nooo! color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Courageous

Courageous was very challenging for me, and I actually felt "courageous" even attempting it!  I find horses to be very difficult to draw, and overall, I am quite pleased with how this piece turned out.

Courageous, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Boxing Day

Boxing Day is a drawing of my son and his Papa practicing their boxing skills.  I had a lot of fun creating this piece - though my photograph of the illustration is a bit lopsided!  Oops!

Boxing Day, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Security

Here is a drawing of our 220 pound English Mastiff (who is scared of EVERYTHING) and my daughter, who - at that time - was struggling to quit the habit of sucking her thumb.  Our dog is still frightened of his own shadow, but my daughter successfully kicked the thumb habit.

Security, color pencils on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Outrageous

Having fun with the vibrance and control of color pencils!  This piece was so much fun to create.

Outrageous, color pencil on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Adventure Bunny

For my birthday in 2010, my sisters bought me a beautiful Prisma Color Pencil set, and I fell in love with this medium!  I really enjoy the control pencils offer for details and shading; Adventure Bunny is my very first attempt at using color pencils.

Adventure Bunny, color pencils on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Grace & Poise

My daughter was the model for Grace & Poise, so I have a special affection for this piece.  I was also honored to have this painting displayed at our local Starbucks with other works from my art class at The Art Center of Highland Park.  

Grace & Poise, acrylic on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Independence

Independence, acrylic on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Possibilities

Possibilities, acrylic on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Indulge

Indulge, acrylic on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

The Voice

The Voice is one of my favorite pieces and was displayed in an exhibit at The Art Center of Highland Park in 2010.  

The Voice, acrylic on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Patience

Patience, acrylic on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Finding Balance

Finding Balance, acrylic on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Bundle of Joy

Painting my Bundle of Joy was truly a labor of love.  I like the mood of the piece and, overall, am very happy with the final product.

Bundle of Joy, acrylic on illustration board, 8 1/2" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Jack Sparrow

I completed this portrait of Jack Sparrow for my son only to have him burst into tears because the picture was too scary!  Looking back at the piece, I see so many things that need correction ... the eyes are lopsided, the face is flat, my darks and lights are completely wrong, wrong, wrong ... but I remember the joy I had creating it and currently display Jack Sparrow in our home just to "freak" my son out!

Acrylic on wood, approximately 12" x 11" by Diana Pasikov

Native American Chief

Experimenting with color, I had fun painting my proud Native American Chief.  However, if you look closely, you can see dried slobber smeared in the background that was slung by our gentle 220 pound, drooling English Mastiff, Moby.

Acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20" by Diana Pasikov

What's for Dinner?

What's for Dinner is a special painting that hangs on my kitchen wall.  One day, while skimming through one of my husband's old Playboy magazines looking for a creative idea to spark, I found a section involving women with food, and What's for Dinner was created.

Acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20" by Diana Pasikov

Red

Red is painted on a 20"x 30" canvas.  I really enjoyed doing such a large portrait, and I had a lot of fun experimenting and playing with the color of her hair; however, my critics (ie. kids) think the Red lady is "freakie!"

 Acrylic on canvas, 20" x 30" by Diana Pasikov

Man's Work is Never Done

Inspired by my husband's incredible culinary skills (and a fun Hallmark card I discovered at Walgreens), Man's Work is Never Done  is proudly displayed on my kitchen wall.

Acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20" by Diana Pasikov

Illustration Friday: Wings

Wings is my first submission to Illustration Friday.   My idea was to create a paper doll-like lady, attach some pretty wings and let my imagination soar.   Unfortunately, the concept never flew anywhere!  Though I like the colors of her wings, the illustration falls flat ...  but I do like her wings!  And I hope my paper-doll lady flies to some beautiful places!

Awakening

I displayed this piece in the summer 2012 Magic Garden Show in Highland Park, Illinois.  The Olympic themed fiberglass butterfly measures 36" x 36" and is painted in acrylic.

Front of Butterfly

Back of Butterfly

Butterfly Displayed in Highland Park's Magic Garden Show by Diana Pasikov