The Battle Is Engaged ... or ... I've Started the Bridge

This is the monster, with first washes, showing its size  13 x 30 inches.

I decided to go moody and broody  with the background. It might be a bit of a reflection of my mood, or that I just don't see and feel about Vancouver the way I did when I was living there. It just seemed trite to paint the bridge with a glowing sunset. Maybe next time ... 

I've started blocking in the shadows, using quin. pink, quin. burnt orange and indanthrone.

And I couldn't resist trying another sketch of "The Prince" aka Julian.

And a small narcissus, to play with later.

I was thrilled to get an email from Pat Elliot. She and her husband love Missy's portrait so much, Missy will be flying over the ocean to stay with them :) I just have to touch up the ear color, as the photo didn't show the color well.

As always, your comments are most welcome.

The Nestling Is Done

Studio light

Overcast daylight

I have decided to keep the bright colors, to keep my impression of the bird as a brilliant, beautiful work of Nature. I see and hear them every day when I go out to the barn, and their presence brings me joy.
Now on to the dreaded bridge ...

As always, your comments are most welcome. 

The Nestling Continues ...

I've deepened colors in the bird

Removed the masking, and added the shadows, and am having a re-think about how dark I want to go with the bird.  My gut feeling is to leave it bright, and just add some shadows and feather details. I'd like to keep the essence of my vision of the swallows as such a bright, beautiful little bird, swooping through the air.

I posted this for some levity, to balance the posting. This is Fat Bastard with his feet propped up, leaning on his backside.  I don't have a lot of experience with chinchillas other than mine, but I've never seen or heard of one doing this.


As always, your comments are most welcome. 

More on the Nestling ...

In the above two photos, I have deepened some of the hues, using some odd combinations - like quin. violet and brown madder for the leg, and quin. siena on the belly.

I am into the darks now. On the bird, I am using various combinations of quin. pink, quin. burnt orange and indanthrone.  For the shadows, I will use my favorite - quin. burnt orange, quin. violet and indanthrone. But I think it's time for a break, and some play-time with Bruno. :)


As always, your comments are so welcome.

The Nestling

I found this tiny nestling on a sheet I had placed under the nest. For some reason, there is almost always one that falls or is pushed from the nest. I felt compelled to paint him, as a quiet eulogy to his brief life. 

I went very bright to start, as I would be getting quite dark, and wanted  the brightness to shine through.

Slowly intensifying colors. I've decided to use all completely transparent colors.

I've started  to get into the darks/shadows now.


As always, your comments are most welcome.

H R H MISSY

Here she is without a background.

Studio light. I put in a very loose w/w wash with the colors I'd used for the shadows of her face and body.

Indirect outdoor light.
8 x9 in.
21 x 23 cm.

I am pleased as I usually am not. [that sounds awkward] The background brings Missy forward just enough.

As always, your comments are very welcome!

Missy Is Still Steaming Along ...

I thought I'd post from start to finish, what I have done today ...

I had to lift her left nostril a bit here, as it seemed to be a bit off kilter.

At this point, I think I may darken the ears and nose, touch up the dark points around her muzzle, and darken the shadowing on her left side. Then I am considering using the mauve color I've used in the shadows of her face, and dropping it w/w on the side of her face and body in the light, to bring it out of the paper.

As always, your comments are so welcome.