ACEO - Happy Hippo 1

Today I wanted to finish is little piece that I had started a couple of years ago (see post on 17 November 2013).

I tidied up the arm and leg on the right side and added a little more hair on his head.

First I put down a wash of burnt sienna as the base colour of the wooden floor.

Then I added a little French ultramarine blue to darken the colour and using a dry brush I added in the wood grain using horizontal strokes.

For the background behind the hippo I used a mix of raw sienna and new gamboge.

Once the background was dry it was time to paint the hippo.  I started with alizarin crimson for the inside of the ears and then added a small amount of new gamboge to paint the muzzle. I then put in the mouth with alizarin crimson.

For the main parts of the body and the head, I used alizarin crimson, French ultramarine blue and a small amount of burnt sienna.

To the body colour I added a little more burnt sienna to darken the colour and painted in the hooves.

Using the hoof colour I made it almost black by adding more of the blue and burnt sienna and painted the hair, eyes, and nostrils.

With pure Antwerp blue I painted in the scarf.

Lastly, using cadmium yellow I put in the highlight on the hair and on the edges if the eyes.

If you would like more information about ACEO please go to my post on 11 March 2010.

The ACEO shown here is an original watercolour painting using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $20.00 and sold unframed.