Demonstration: A step by step guide
| © Copyright 2008 Eric Wilson All rights reserved |
STEP 4
It is believed that lions used to have spots much
like leopards, but as jungles gave way to open
plains the spots gradually disapeared. You can
still see them if you look closely though,
particularly in young remember with this
painting. By this stage I knew I had a winner on
my hands and had begun to draw in the log and
some loose suggestions of a background. You
will notice that I had left the edges of the fur
unfinished at this stage, particularly around the
top of the head and ears as I knew I would have
a lot of rubbing and blending to do for the
background and there would be no point in
finishing the edges of the fur prior to this being
done.
like leopards, but as jungles gave way to open
plains the spots gradually disapeared. You can
still see them if you look closely though,
particularly in young remember with this
painting. By this stage I knew I had a winner on
my hands and had begun to draw in the log and
some loose suggestions of a background. You
will notice that I had left the edges of the fur
unfinished at this stage, particularly around the
top of the head and ears as I knew I would have
a lot of rubbing and blending to do for the
background and there would be no point in
finishing the edges of the fur prior to this being
done.
STEP 5
I'm nearing completion by this stage, I've
blended the soft greys of the log with soft
pastels and have used charcoal for the darker
lines. Realism in paintings can be helped by the
most subtle of things, like being mindful of the
fact that colours reflect onto nearby objects.
With this in mind I've added some warmer 'lion
tones' to the upper log near to the cubs body. It
all helps create the illusion of reality.
blended the soft greys of the log with soft
pastels and have used charcoal for the darker
lines. Realism in paintings can be helped by the
most subtle of things, like being mindful of the
fact that colours reflect onto nearby objects.
With this in mind I've added some warmer 'lion
tones' to the upper log near to the cubs body. It
all helps create the illusion of reality.
Painting finished
The finished pastel painting. Lots of loose smudging in the background contrasts with the sharp rendering and bolder colouring of the
subject to create the illusion of depth. Grasses have been added for extra interest and to provide the oppertunity to show more
glowing sunlight. The smoothness of the sun bleached log contrasts nicely with the fur of the Cubs body. Its all about surfaces and
textures complimented by their differences and yet all working harmoniously together to create something that looks real.
I was very pleased with this picture and amazed at how effective pastels can be. I love their immediacy. There is no time wasted 'off
picture' mixing colours, you simply pick up the colour you need and use it. I found that very refreshing after years of complex mixing
with oil colours and was able to give 100% concentration to the picture itself and to finish it within a week as opposed to the month it
would have taken using oil paints. I dont use fixative as it spoils the colours.
subject to create the illusion of depth. Grasses have been added for extra interest and to provide the oppertunity to show more
glowing sunlight. The smoothness of the sun bleached log contrasts nicely with the fur of the Cubs body. Its all about surfaces and
textures complimented by their differences and yet all working harmoniously together to create something that looks real.
I was very pleased with this picture and amazed at how effective pastels can be. I love their immediacy. There is no time wasted 'off
picture' mixing colours, you simply pick up the colour you need and use it. I found that very refreshing after years of complex mixing
with oil colours and was able to give 100% concentration to the picture itself and to finish it within a week as opposed to the month it
would have taken using oil paints. I dont use fixative as it spoils the colours.
Painting framed
The finished painting is protected by framing behind glass.
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