Rocks and Water 1 - A Work in Progress

Today I just felt like experimenting with sponges and the palette knife to create tress and rocks.

I washed in the sky, added some trees with a sponge. Then using darker paint I put in the colour for the rocks and the water.

As the paint dried slightly I went in and moved the paint with the palette knife to create some rock shapes.

I will post this painting at a later date after it is completed.

Drawing the German Shorthaired Pointer - Muzzle

For the most part the cheek area is put in with short vertical strokes.

It is an almost flat surface except at the bottom where it meets the lower jaw and curves slightly.

Once the cheek had been completed I marked in the muscle mass at the bottom of the jaw, the placement of the veins in the muzzle and the edge of the dark markings. Tracker is almost finished at this point.

The muscles in the lower jaw are given shape and the dark area of the muzzle it filled in using a mixture of straight and curved lines.

The small dots where the whiskers appear are darkened slightly and the shadow around them is given a little more definition.

Drawing the German Shorthaired Pointer - Nose

Last time I was working on this piece I was not happy with the placement of the nostrils. Rather than work on the painting and make a number of changes and having to erase and rework the drawing which could make a mess beyond being able to repair it, I reworked the nose on a piece of tracing paper.

At this stage I certainly didn't want to end up having to start the entire painting over from scratch.

Finally I was pleased with the nose and transferred the drawing to the paper.

Once again I started with the nostrils, outlining the darkest lines in first as a guide and then worked the lighter areas gradually darkened them.

Once the nostrils were complete I started on the front flat part of the nose which by adding in the shading gives definition to the outer edges of the nostril.

Before I started on the upper part of the nose I lightly added a layer of graphite down the bridge of the nose to set the shape as well as at the base of the nasal bone just above the depression to use as a marker.

I darkened in the back part of the nostril and the bottom edge of the nose and then I added a little shading over the top of the nostrils.

Working below the nose I shaded in the upper lip and lightly indicated the whiskers, which show as the small dots on the flew (upper lip).

Going back to the stop I worked down the bridge of the nose and put the shadows in for the depression under the bottom of the nasal bone.I then completed the upper part of the nose, added more shadows to the side of the nose and beneath it.

The dotted lines of the whiskers were put in and a little more shading was put on the muzzle with curved lines to create the illusion of roundness. Then the upper lip was darkened and the edge of the lips were given more shape and shadows until they were completed.

The jaw line was given a little more definition and the shadows in front of the ear were strengthened. The top edge of the jaw was filled in as was the area below the eye and along the sharp edge of the cheek.

Sewing Machine - A Work in Progress

Today's theme for the still life class at KAGS is sewing.

We had a large selection of items to paint including one of the old style Singer sewing machines, bobbins, spools of thread, bolts of cloth, an oil can for the sewing machine and a blouse just waiting to be finished.

I chose one small section of the items available but I may do another at a later date. I will post this painting once I have completed it.

OSWOA - Evening Forest 4

Often after a very hot and humid day once the sun starts to set the temperature drops rapidly causing a fog to rise over any water surface.

If you would like more information about OSWOA please go to my post on 12 March 2010.

The OSWOA shown here is an original watercolour painting using Artist quality Windsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $40.00 and sold unframed.

ACEO - Poetry 1

Today I wanted to do something with a little colour so I chose to do an autumn scene.

This is a spit of land on Chemong Lake. What I liked about it was the white birches standing out against the bright coloured maple trees and the contrast between them and the tress that had already lost all their leaves.

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 Windsor & Newton paint on 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $20.00 and sold unframed.

Drawing the German Shorthaired Pointer - Ear and Brow

Now I am going to finish the ear; working from the front edge of the ear leather back towards the first fold which is about the middle of the ear.

Working in the darkest areas first I gradually build up layers of graphite in the shadows and shading to give definition to the way the ear leather folds.

There will only one or two layers of graphite in the lightest areas.

Then I complete the back part of the ear in the same manner until the entire ear is complete.

I worked a little on the nostrils of the nose and put a little shading under them, but I am not happy with the placement and will need to rework that later.

Going back up to the top of the skull I lightly filled in the area to join both side of the skull as a starting point to be sure the tone is the same value.

From there I once again started in the darkest area using for the most part lines bent in the direction the areas curve to help create the illusion of roundness.

Once I reach the eye orb I take care to define the shadow above the eyelid and to place the high light on the lid itself so it looks as though there is a depression behind the lid.