Nicola McBride

 This is Nicola's first coloured ball point pen drawing- of her dog Alfie.  She drew this at the request of her son.  She put this on a ‘show dog’ website and it led to her getting lots of commissions from other people to draw their dogs.

She became very experienced in drawing with ball point pen.  After a while she decided to move away from dogs and had to really think about what she would like to draw.

What are your favorite parts of this drawing?

What is remarkable about this being Nicola's FIRST drawing in this style?

Many of her drawings feature products that are made in Scotland, where she is from.  When she was younger her Dad managed bars, and she was mesmerized by the optics and this influenced her to start drawing bottles.  She enjoyed the reflections and lettering.  Lettering appears in a lot of her work.

If you had to draw three objects that represent "Minnesota," what would you draw?

This colour wheel in Nicola McBrides sketchbook reveals a lot about her colour mixing with pen. 

How has she created mixing/ blending with pen? Describe techniques that you see.

Nicola McBride is endorsed by the Scottish confectionary company ‘Tunnocks’.  The chocolate covered marshmallow treat is called a ‘Tunnock’s Teacake’ and they often feature in McBrides work.

What do you feel about the endorsement and funding that she receives from Tunnocks?

Should artists receive money from sponsors and include their branding in their work?

Would you?

What are 3 themes that are common amongst all of McBride's work?

Go to Nicola's website:

https://www.nicolamcbridebiropenart.com/shop

What is your favorite art piece?

Do you feel she charges a fair price? Why/why not?