News and Art Tips from Seren Wen Art

Creating Coloured Pencil Art from a Bad Photo I’m often told that my drawings look like photographs. While I take this as a compliment, it isn’t my goal. I strive for realism in my art because that’s what I enjoy, but I don’t aim to copy my reference photos exactly. I often work from multiple images, adjust the crop to improve composition, or tweak colours to better suit the final artwork. Sometimes, that process even involves turning a less than ideal photo into a finished d

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know that I love drawing animals — both wildlife and pets. Most of us have a phone full of photos of our furry companions, which is why creating realistic pet portraits from photos works so well. It means I can capture a pet’s personality using images their owners already have and love.

Zaza is the first Sumatran tiger cub to be born in Wales, arriving at Manor Wildlife Park in Pembrokeshire. I created this realistic graphite drawing as my entry for the Sketch for Survival competition, inspired by her playful character and the importance of conserving critically endangered species. Drawn slowly in graphite, the piece focuses on capturing the softness of a tiger cub’s fur and the expression in her eyes. The drawing was Highly Commended.

How are we nearly halfway through 2025 already? Although it currently feels like summer’s already been and gone here in South Wales! I...