Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The final stretch...


I can't believe that I am almost there! Usually, I tend to want to work on the main subjects of a painting first and then work on the background/foreground. Many times, I get bored after I completed the animals and want to quit (like what happened with my cow moose pastel) and work on something else. I'm glad I approached this piece as I did, working rather methodically by filling the "canvas" area. Of the whole painting, it is the dried up dead leaves on the ground that is taking me the longest to complete.
Thanks to all who patiently read and comment on my many updates of the squirrel portrait. I feel the end is finally near...

Friday, June 26, 2009

More snow and a bit of moss


After a while, I felt this painting needed some "lift-me-up" color since there's so much rust, orange and brown. The blue/greys of the collecting buckets and the light snow still did not seem to do it so I decided to add a bit of greenery to the painting in the form of moss on the rotting stump. Subsequently, I found that all that green was too much in one place and so I added a bit of moss to the large maple tree trunk in the foreground to balance the color elements better.

In this step I also decided to lighten the stump as the dark contrast of the shadows was pulling they eye towards it to strongly. Then I added a small clump of melting snow near the base of the stump, again to better balance the major elements of the scene and make it more visually pleasing. At least, that is what I am attempting to achieve...

Inching my way closer...



More leaves please! I figure I mind as well get it over with and continue on methodically inching my way accross the painting. I'm thinking about adding more snow just about now...

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Pastel Painting of squirrels update

Click to enlarge:
I am sure finding it difficult to stay put and work in this piece for more than a half hour at a time. Unfortunately, this always seems to happen when I work on larger pieces.

It's better than nothing but I managed to fill a few more square inches of the painting today. I was getting tired of working on the dried maple leaves and bark so I decided to lift my spirits a little and start working on the squirrel in the snow.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Labradoodle dog portrait commission


I loved creating this graphite/charcoal pet portrait of Coco, the black Labrador-standard poodle cross. I almost entirely used 8B graphite (almost charcoal in consistency and darkness) for this artwork.
The messy semi-curly fur and the highlights of the black fur were the most interesting and fun parts to do...until I decided it was best to color her tongue pink and add some subtle brown highlights to her muzzle and color her eyes brown. I just could not get myself to draw the tongue and eyes in shades of grey and so I convinced the client she would look more lively with the added coloring.
So now, I guess this drawing would be best described as a "colored pencil enhanced graphite dog portrait". Size 10"x10".

Friday, June 19, 2009

Labradoodle drawing in graphite/charcoal pencil

Mock photo





My latest commission! It seems the squirrel painting is on the back burner once again...

Friday, June 12, 2009

Progress of Squirrel Painting...


Today I was able to complete the remainder of the bark on the larger maple tree. I also started to work on the carpet of fallen leaves which is proving a bit of a challenge due to their small size relative to my pastel chalks. More sharpening is in order to get those fine lines (I don't particularily like the result of pastel pencils on velour as they are too hard and not much color is transfered to the paper). More to come soon, I hope.
P.S. you can click on the image for a larger view.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Painting update of red squirrels


FINALLY! I was able to sit for a bit and start working on this painting again. It feels so good and I can't wait to frame this piece as I already have the mats and frame chosen. I felt like working with blues today so I completed the last of the maple collection buckets. Next I will attempt the tiny little feet of the red squirrel on the bucket before I continue on to the maple bark on the right foreground.