New painting studies

05/29/08
Finally back at the easel with brush in hand.
Here are a couple new studies.
Doll Face:

Acrylic, 5"x8"
This portrait study is from an awesome photo by:
http://nothingreal0.deviantart.com/
I loved the photo, and as usual I follow my gut. I just knew I had to paint this.
I've been jonesing to paint pale skin in cool light, using a high-chroma underpainting. My goal here is to capture the coolness of the light source, and the paleness of the skin, while still having the face look lifelike.

I used a limited palette; mostly Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Ivory Black, and Gesso for the white; with the addition of Cad Red, Aliz Crimson, and a touch of Ultramarine in some of the bluest blues (but not much!)
The underpainting is Burnt Sienna, with a touch of Cad Red, lightened with Gesso (white.)
Love the expression, the eyes, the lips. Undt those hu-mongous eyelashes.
I haven't added the piercings yet, and there is still much to be done. It's a 'Work-In-Progress.'



Calm, 05/31/08:
I put a glaze of Burnt Umber/Yellow Ochre over the horse to tone down the blue highlights, which became obnoxious as the paint dried.

And this study from a great reference photo by:
http://colourize.deviantart.com/
Calm:

Acrylic, 5"x8"

I wanted to study the light, and the cool colors reflecting off the fur (do horses have 'fur', or is it just 'body hair'?)
Again using a limited palette; Burnt Sienna, Ivory Black, Gesso for white, with Ultramarine, Yellow Ochre in the background, and a touch of Aliz Crimson in places.

Birds, October '07

10/29/07
More Bird drawings.
Another one of Nikki from the field sketches the other day. He was so good and gave me a couple really good, long poses.
This is probably the most accurate scan out of all the pix posted. This is still in progress, and is still quite grainy and light.
The under sketch is Derwent Drawing 6300 Venetian Red:

Nikki 10/29/07
Prismacolor on Bainbridge 2000 Illustration Board, 5"x7"
I tried painting on the unprimed illustration board with acrylic. The results were hideous. So I primed a board and will try that next time.

I was beginning to like what was happening with the Prismacolor, so I tried this one on Canson paper. The color is pretty saturated. This is from yesterday's field sketches of Norman.
The under sketch is Derwent Drawing 6300 Venetian Red:
Norman 10/29/07
Prismacolor on Canson Mei-Teintes Cream paper, 8"x10"


10/28/07
I was so jazzed that I had to post this one.
After struggling with paintings, I decided to go 'back to basics' and return to my strength - drawing - to work on my drawing skills and gain a little momentum.
At the aviary yesterday, I used a Dark Umber to sketch Nikki and Sullivan (two Blue and Gold macaws.) Nikki was being a pill and climbing up the cage to get right in front of me so he could see what I was doing. He just stayed there watching me curiously for the majority of the time, so I got a good close-up of the details of the features of his face. About halfway through I began to fill in the various sections with light 'washes' of local color using the Prismacolor pencils. I liked the effect, as if the sections were 'stained' or dyed the local color.

Nikki 10/27/07 (from life)
Prismacolor on gray card stock, original 8.5" x 11"


This next one is still in progress. I decided to push this one of Nikki a little further, to develop the form and push the color saturation. I am fairly pleased with the results, kind of a cross between a line drawing and a full color form study.

Nikki 10/28/07 (composed from field sketches)
Prismacolor on beige card stock, 8.5" x 11"

Sanford Zoo 09/07

Sanford Zoo 09/28/07
Another visit to the Central Florida Zoological Park. This time we got up close and personal, a BIG thanks to the staff at the zoo.
Nothing can compare with the animal being right in front of you while you sketch. You have so much more to draw from, and can capture more of the essence of these magnificent creatures.

Ara is a Green-Winged Macaw:


A cool Iguana:


I loved the eyes on this Great Horned Owl:


A beautiful young female Bald Eagle:




This beautiful Amur Leopard had an awesome expression and penetrating eyes:

09/14/07

Today I went to the Sanford Zoo with some artist friends. It was awesome! I must go back.

Here are some of the sketches.

A Caracal:

I liked the light on this elephant behind a fence.

A couple of Bald Eagles. The dark one must have been young.

A few studies of the Coati. These guys are awesome.

Wildlife 09/07

Starky (my favorite dolphin at Sea World Orlando) critiques a sketch.
Photo by Loran Wlodarski

09/14/07

Study for "Out of the Deep - Brown Shark"
Charcoal on Fabriano Ingres paper, 6" x 10"
Reference: sketches from life of brown sharks.



Horse Study, Charcoal on Fabriano Ingres paper, 8"x10" 2 hrs.

I loved the way the light was playing across the form of this noble Andalusian.

This study used the 'lift-out' method: covering the surface with charcoal dust, adding the darks with vine charcoal, and lifting out the highlights with a kneaded eraser.

I learned a valuable lesson about fixative. Too many coats will take away the lights, almost as if a fine gray was sprayed over the whole image.

Still, I like the drawing. It’s times like these that I remember how much I love charcoal.


The light glints off a polar bear swimming in the frigid waters of the Arctic.
Derwent HB, 2B, 4B on Canson 50 lb sketch, 4"x8"

Back to my roots and an old favorite, graphite.

Wildlife 08/07

Sunshine is a beautiful Scarlet macaw, an excellent model too.

From live field sketches, painting in acrylic 9"x12" 07-08/07