Wildlife Art Demonstration: A step by step guide, page two
| © 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Painting framed
The finished painting is protected by framing behind glass.
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Other Wildlife Art
Demonstrations by Artist Eric
Wilson.
Step by step Gorilla
Step by step Tiger
Step by step Elephant
Step by step Leopard
Demonstrations by Artist Eric
Wilson.
Step by step Gorilla
Step by step Tiger
Step by step Elephant
Step by step Leopard