Tiger WIP Update 7

Tweak it some and signed it.  I haven't mentioned lately that the awesome reference for this was used with permission from Woxy on Deviant Art.  Thank you Woxy!

Hope you like it!

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Tiger WIP Update 6

Worked on this for a few more hours today and except for tweaking, it's finished :)
Rick now says it's his new favorite so I guess I accomplished what I wanted to!
Before now the long haired kitty Sweet Huia was his favorite.
I need to figure out what color to use when I sign it.  Any suggestions?
Any Suggestions for helping me name this one??
 Hope you like it!

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Tiger WIP Update 5

I was able to spend about three hours on this today.  I'm so close to being finished.  Probably about another two or three hours. 
Hope you like it and I'm not boring you with my numerous updates.

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Tiger WIP Update 4

I was able to put some time into this and it's really coming along now.  I don't really know what I'm doing but it seems to be working and I'm really starting to like this one.  I love happy accidents and that's what happened with the background LOL!

Hope you are enjoying the continuing progress!

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Tiger WIP Update 2

I had so much to do today outside that I didn't get much time to work on this painting. I did work on it for about 1.5 hours today.  Tried to increase the orange color a little bit on the Tiger.  Still need to "push my darks" with the viewers left side of the Tiger.  I also need to add more blue to the leaves because they are looking a tad yellow to me.
I worked a lot on that background.  I'm basically creating and making it up as I go.  Hopefully, it's looking OK?  I stopped working on this when it was time to feed my horse and dog.  After I took a scan and put it back, it was time to do some more painting. I painted for 3.5 hours straight and it wasn't art LOL.  I applied a wood stain to our front porch and stairs. 
Hope you are enjoying the progress as much as I am!

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Tiger WIP Update - 1

WOW has it really been that long since I worked on this?  I finally got back to doing something with this painting.  It's taking a lot of time to get the colors the way I want them and I don't have a lot of colors to choose from.  Still coming along.  I worked on this a little over an hour today but my back is really bothering me so that's all I was able to do.  Might be able to get back to it later today.  This is on Cason MiTeintes paper using PITT Pastel pencils by FaberCastell.
Hope you like it so far!

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Tiger- WIP Update

Well, I got a little carried away today while working on this painting and forgot to stop and take progress pictures.  I used all the same colors as the previous post an also introduced new colors to the painting.
The new colors were:
102 Cream, 165 Juniper Green, 168 Earth Green Yellowishh, 184 Dark Naples Ochre, 233 Cold Gray IV, 181 Payne's Gray, 230 Cold Gray I and 131 Medium Flesh.
I continued on with the fur and started added in the darker areas. I also started on the leaves.
Hope you like it!

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Tiger - WIP

This drawing is based on a fabulous photo used with permission from Woxy on deviantart.
This drawing took a very long time to get right and when I finally got it transferred to my working surface, for some reason I was afraid? to start the next step with this one but finally bit the bullet today and just started it.
It's been fully drawn out and transferred to the final platform  which is a 9 x 12 Sheet of Steel Gray Mi-Tientes Pastel paper since March 9th.  I will be using Faber-Castell PITT Pastel Pencils to complete it.
Ha, just realized it's been exactly two months since I finally finished the drawing. 
I haven't done any art on this color of paper and I've only completed two other pieces on colored paper so this is definitely going to be a learning experience for me.  

For some reason the scan of the drawing lightened the paper considerably.  Not sure why.  The second image is closer to the actual color of the paper.


I'm trying to create a step by step with this one so there will be a lot of pictures showing the progress.

Hope you like it!

 
Transferred Drawing:

The transferred drawing

I believe the eyes are the windows to the soul and I always try to capture that from the first pencil stroke.  
I want to get the expression and eyes accurate before I continue on with the rest of the portrait.
If you get the eyes right, the rest of the portrait just flows!
If the eyes are not right, I can't continue with the portrait!

Because I'm working on the Steel Gray paper and the eyes are mostly a light yellow, I started with an underlayer of 101 White and then added 103 Ivory. Marking in the highlight and filling the lower eye area with White then putting a layer of Ivory over the top (avoiding the highlight) and also starting on the white fur around the eye.  I put a little bit of the 177 Walnut Brown around the eye to start getting the shape and depth of the eyes in the very middle of the walnut brown I added a touch of 169 Caput Mortuum.

Next I brought a little 183 Light Yellow Ochre and 182 Brown Ochre into the eyes and added 177 Walnut Brown for around the eye and the under coat on the pupil. 
Using the 183 Light Yellow Ochre and starting at the top half of the eye and bring it down into the mix of the Ivory base gradually getting lighter with your pressure. With the 182 I did a light layer on the top half of the eye and lightly over the pupil. The 177 was then added around the eye and over the pupil. I used the 103 Ivory and the 182 Brown Ochre for blending the colors in a nice gradual gradation.
These eyes are less than an inch across so care had to be taken to not lose the highlight in the eyes.

Adding the color

I outlined the eyes in black, put black on the pupil and started branching out from the eyes. 
I try to create a gradation of light to dark to capture the spherical shape of the eyes and the depth under the eye is created by adding the gradation from dark and moving down the eye.  Stopping at the halfway point with the darker colors and blending them into the light colors.
The darker colors used in the eyes were also 173 Olive Green around the outside of the pupil  and 182 Brown Ochre. 
I added a touch of 140 Light Ultramarine Blue in the highlights to reflect the sky.

The markings are first done in the 177 Walnut Brown and then Black is put on top.  
To further enhance the black stripes, I added a touch of 151 Helioblue.
For the rest of the fur I've used 101 White, 103 Ivory, 183 Light Yellow Ochre, 182 Brown Ochre, 187 Burnt Ochre

Moving out from the eyes

Continually branching out from the eyes.
This is as far as I've gotten today. 

Today's Progress 5/09/2013

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Two Day Sketch

Ha, this started as a two hour sketch and then I just had to continue it into a drawing because I was having so much fun getting the water right and then the fur and features.  There are a few things still not completely accurate with it but for the most part, I'm pretty happy with it.  The reference was from a fantastic FB site called Artist reference photos.  Nutty Binder provided the photo I based this off of.
Approx. size 6" x 7"
Graphite 2B-4B
Heavy Weight Drawing Paper
Hope you like it!

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The Unveiling - Wetcanvas ArtSwap

The wait is over!! I can now unveil what I did for my swap partner on Wetcanvas.  This is my first full landscaped background and I think I have a lot to learn but was told my swap partner (Ron) loved it :)
I realized that I NEED more pastels LOL!  I only have 15 half sticks of Rembrandts and 24 Faber Castell PITT Pastel Pencils.  Not near enough!!
At least "I" don't think so LOL!
If you want to see the creation process, let me know and I'll post the WIP as well :)
Hope you like it!

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Bull Elk - Update 12

It was pointed out that the antlers looked a little flat so I've tried to increase the "roundness" and hopefully this is better!
Please if you see anything else, let me know!
I really appreciate the feedback with the extra set of eyes!
Hope you like it!

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Bull Elk - Update 11

It's Finished :)
I really stretched myself with this portrait but had fun doing it as well.
Hope you like it!

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Bull Elk - Update 10

Played with a lot of that detail that I'm known for.  I added more grass in front of the Elk.  His muscle tone and a hint of his ribs and more contrast to different areas.  I probably only have one more day with this one and then it's onto something else!
Hope you like it!

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Bull Elk - Update 9

I'm nearing the finish line with this one.  I added more to the background.  I also used my 5B to layer more graphite on the darker portions of the elk.  I still unsure if I should add another bush or two in the background.  What do you think?
I still need to play with the foreground grass and weeds and then this one will be finished.  Probably tomorrow.
Hope you like it!

Thanks so much for stopping by :)

Bull Elk - Update 8

Using my 6B I've been able to increase the tone on the front of the elk.  It still has a ways to go and again, I'm not sure I'll be able to accomplish it.  If you have any ideas, please let me know.
Hope you like the progress so far!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Bull Elk Update 7

Remember this one?  Now that Christmas is over and my household is getting back to normal, I decided to pull this out and continue on.  I'm also still working on my artswap piece that I can't show you for another 17 days but I do have all the WIP photos so I will probably make a video of them to show the steps taken.
I explored a lot of new techniques on materials with the background on this Bull Elk.  I still have a lot to do with it but I'm really liking how it's turning out.
Hope you like it too!

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Bull Elk Update 6

Wow, has it really been this long since I've updated my Bull Elk project? Sorry about that!  I've been busy with commissions and now I'm also doing a secret art swap through WetCanvas.  We aren't allowed to post our project or even hint at it until the 20th of January LOL!  I sure hope the person who gets mine will be happy with it :)
Ok, here is the latest on the Bull Elk.
Hope you like it!

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Bull Elk - Update 5

After working on this today, here is what I've accomplished and where it is now.
Hope you like it!

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Bull Elk - Update 4

Still working on the antlers with this guy.  I normally prefer to draw freehand but every once in a while I use a grid and then remember why I usually draw freehand LOL!
Using a grid is great for getting the proportions more exact but it is so restricting AND then you have to erase all the bloody lines LOL.  Well, I erased all the lines tonight too.

Hope you like it!

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Bull Elk - Update 3

Started work on his antlers.  Interesting challenge getting all these textures in this drawing.
How much detail should I really be trying to show in a 9 x 12? I've always heard the smaller the less detail but I always seem to get the details even in the smaller sizes.  Good thing I have good glasses!
Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by :)