Got Your Back 24" X 33" Original Oil
Got Your Back 24" X 33" Original Oil
One of the things I like about painting the lighter stripes is the myriad of colors in them. While the "black" stripes are different shades of black, dark brown, blue, and rusty brown, the "white" stripes are white (titanium white with a touch of cadmium yellow deep), blue, lavender, reddish, dark brown, and dark purple.
The zebra have solidness once the lighter stripes are painted. This is quite obvious looking at the zebra on the right who still needs his lighter stripes compared to the other two zebra.
I've roughed in the background. In the composition, I purposely drew one zebra's ears breaking the horizon.
As I paint the dark stripes I am keeping in mind how the light touches them as they curve around the zebras' bodies. Much of the light touching them will be painted with a blue/purple/lavender mix. The finish grasses will be painted after the zebra are completed.
Notice how the zebra yellow ochre turpentine underwash stripes mimic how they will be painted to show how the light touches them.
The focal point of the painting is the middle zebra's head. While his most visible eye is in shadow, it couldn't be just a black hole. So, with a bit of artistic license, I enhanced the color.
Happy New Year!
On Target 24" X 36" Original Oil
It is not uncommon for me to hit an ugly stage in a painting. I had a feeling it would be the rocks. With as much detail as there is in the cougar, the rocks could not be amorphous blobs.
When I get to an ugly stage, I remind myself of all the other paintings which have hit a point when I questioned my choices on a section. Time to make a fresh cup of tea, take a deep breath, pick up the paint brush, and power through to the other side.