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This is the first wash for the Zebra, I know it looks strange, and hard to see. The yellow is only a base, because I don't want the final glaze to be a flat color. If the color becomes too thick,( my fault), I can always remove layers, and start from a glaze further down. As I am actually almost done, I haven't had to do that. All colors, any color, will help the final glaze from being a flat color. I am not using any black straight from a tube. Since all colors will make a dark, I am choosing my colors for the glazes, so I end up with some warm spots of color, and some cooler colors.
This time I did the eye first, which really helped when I started the striping. The eye bones had to be contoured, and having the eye done allowed me to see how important that was.
I have decided to work on the back portrait first, so I don't smudge the front rump of another Zebra. I'm varying the amount of color I mix, to get the different looking glazes, all from a yellow, blue and red.
I wanted you to see him up close, so I have taken a few pictures closer. I am really liking this handsome fellow...guess I think of the Zebra as a 'he'.
You can see how many colors are really in the stripes. His eye has to look alive to me, to help make him a believable, real animal. And I think it does that.
I have another wash to do on him, as I've continued to work the stripes, and when that final wash is done, I'll do the rump of Zebra #2. Both will get a finishing warm glow, and I am striving for a glow, as they seem to be standing in a setting sun. Hoping to show you it all by the end of the next weekend...Life does get in the way of art...I read that and I really really think it is true. Unless you can be a full time artist. What a terrific way to make a living, if you CAN make a living doing the thing you love in fine arts!
This guy looks lovely, and I think he has a grin on his face. Love it.
Why are all the lovely creatures in nature men? I guess God made us WOMEN so gorgeous He had to balance the rest of the world to make the MEN feel better, I guess.
I really love how well you make the eyes alive. I tried my hand at portraits a time or two, and I stopped trying since all of them looked like wax museum statues. You'll have to give us some advice on how to create alive eyes.
Midge, I never saw the grin until you said that. I looked at his mouth in a completely different way. Isn't that interesting? Yes, I like him very much, and am very excited to have him almost done. And, I am going to do something with the whole thing, I think, that I wouldn't have done if I had done the foreground Zebra first. You'll have to wait to see.
That is a terrific idea, Tiff, if I may be so "informal" !!! I could do that...It has taken me awhile to "get" it, but I've found a book or two on painting wildlife, and the two I like the most, have pages devoted to doing eyes. And not just eyes of a dog or cat, but of species of animals, families, groups...in other words, I can find what I want when painting. Do you seriously want to see something like that? Let me know...You can leave a comment on this entry, or wait until I put up the last few pictures of the Zebra. And you know, I may make 'him' look like a girl after all. It still needs eyelashes...now won't that be nice? I promise not to have too heavy a hand, you know how some girls are...
LOL you may, of course, call me Tiff. My mother calls me Tiffer-time, so I'm used to all manner of nicknames.
I would LOVE for you to share that knowledge on eyes... or really anything you are willing to share. I may not doodle much anymore, but I can certainly appreciate the process.
Thanks!