Monday, January 30, 2017

Late Summer, Late Morning at Mt. Adams



Late Summer, Late Morning at Mt. Adams

By: Russell Taylor
Fall 2012
Colored Pencil
Taken from Photograph by Shawn Taylor at Taklahk Lake, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington, 2007

I free handed this drawing from a photograph that my brother took when they went on a father-son camping trip near Mount Adams at Taklahk Lake. My brother was 10 years old when they went. The most challenging part of this picture was getting the shading on the trees dark enough. I think it turned out well.

Sunday, January 22, 2017





































Mt. Shuksan Reflected

By: Russell Taylor
October 2013
Colored Pencil
Taken from Photograph “Mt. Shusksan from Picture Lake, Mt. Baker National Forest,” by John Hendrickson, in Pacific NorthWest Calendar, Avalanche Publishing, 2012.

I free handed this drawing from a calendar my Mom purchased. Mt. Shuksan is in North Cascades National Park. Drawing the reflection was challenging, but it turned out great. Drawing realistic water is also difficult. I blended two colors of blue in addition to the colors of the reflection and brown near the shore. True blue and indigo blue.

Monday, January 16, 2017

 Green Shades: Bigleaf Maples of the Hoh Rainforest

By: Russell Taylor
July 2011
Colored Pencil
Taken from Photograph by Shawn Taylor at Hall of Mosses Trail, Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park, Washington, August 2010

I free handed this drawing from a photograph taken by my brother while my family was on vacation in Olympic National Park in the Summer of 2010. It is on the Hall of Mosses Trail in the Hoh rain forest. The size of the trees and the amount of moss on them is amazing. Sitka Spruces and Big Leaf Maples are the main kinds and trees that you see. It is an 8 x 10.


Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Summer Fog at Rialto Beach







Summer Fog at Rialto Beach

By: Russell Taylor
February 2012
Colored Pencil
Taken from Photograph by Shawn Taylor at Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington, August 2010

I freehanded this drawing from a photograph that my brother took while my family was on vacation in Olympic National Park in 2010. We took the trip in August. Even though it was sunny just a little ways inland, it was foggy and quite cold at the beach.

Saturday, January 7, 2017



Wilderness Reflection

By: Russell Taylor
January 2010
Taken From 2008 Photograph of Eagle Cap Wilderness, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Oregon by Mary Liz Austin in The Great Northwest 2009 Calendar, BrownTrout Publishers.


I used a photo from one of my favorite brand of calendars to make this grid drawing. The Great Northwest calendars by BrownTrout Publishers have a lot of really nice wilderness pictures from the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana. Reflections are one of the most challenging things to draw. A grid drawing makes it much easier. I gave this picture to my sister and her husband.

Tuesday, January 3, 2017


 Mount Rainer from Tipsoo Lake

By: Russell Taylor
Fall 2006?
Colored Pencil
Taken from Photograph “Tipsoo Lake, with Mount Rainier beyond” in Mount Rainier National Park Impressions, Photography by Charles Gurche, FarCountry Press, 2003.


I free handed this drawing while looking at a photo from a book I purchased when my family and I took a day trip to Mt. Rainier at Paradise. We took this trip in the summer of 2006 while my brother was learning to drive. He had his learner's permit and drove us most of the way to Mt. Rainier. The colored pencil drawings are done in Prisma colors which are a really high-quality colored pencil. You can blend the colors easily.