From the Sketchbook - Bird drawings on toned paper

 It started as an experiment...I wanted to try something different (as usual) and I ended up randomly deciding on colored pencils on Strathmore Toned Tan paper.  I honestly thought it wouldn't work.  Boy, was I wrong!

Here are the first two pieces I drew, a Red Crossbill and a Black-throated Blue Warbler.

I thought I was done with colored pencils for pieces that require a lot of time and effort...until I discovered this combination!  I had so much fun with the little bird drawings I wanted to do something larger.  So here is my first serious, full-page colored pencil piece since 2014!

Red-shouldered Hawk reference photos by Marv and Sue Elliott used with permission.
Thanks, Sue and Marv!

I also discovered that my electric eraser is a colored pencil game changer.  It's amazing how well it erases colored pencil and it saved my drawing countless times.  And the paper held up surprisingly well to the eraser and the pencils.