Fur In The Paint

Hard to actually see what it looks like because the image is so large but I figured I’d bore ya’ll with too many detail shots.

I am enjoying playing with this piece, am a little concerned as to how I’ll handle the background but I’m sure I’ll work something out. Can’t work on it as much as I’d like in a day because of the wrist and hand getting a little tender. (Yup picture me holding my hand up in the scary b-movie claw that Mike forewarned about.)

It’s taken me awhile but yes I did indeed finally decide on the “awesomeness” size. I have only just barely begun … but I have begun and that’s usually the hardest part. The photo below helps give you a little context to exactly how little I have really got in. The board size is 24 x 40 and some of it on the left is not shown in the pic.

I think I should have tipped his head facing away a little more. The foreshortened muzzle makes his eye look too big. .

I often dream about horses. Mostly I dream about my horse (riding him or whatever) and lately I’ve been having nightmares about him being stolen or getting sick (but that’s a story for another time.) I also dream a lot about being at horse fairs. Kinda makes sense I suppose since I do so much of that.

So anyway I had this dream about a big black horse in armor. I’ve pretty much forgotten what the dream actually consisted of though, but what I’m left with is this snapshot in my brain. The image is very dark. Like blackness or night time with a black horse (as already stated) and he’s wearing a shiny pewter colored skull plate and fancy tack. Mind you I went to bed pondering that buckskin in fancy tack so that may have something to do with it. The big horse is looking alert and perhaps a little tense, but not frightened. In the snapshot in my mind he rolls his eye back to look at me.

That’s it. That’s what rolling around in my head and I think it needs to come out.

So above was my thumbnail so I could remember this because dreams have such an ethereal quality I needed to put in down on paper.

Yeah, I know. I figured that probably wasn’t gonna do the job so I took a more serious approach to it.

And the result was this drawing. Now I know he doesn’t have any ears or actually tack (his skull plate is currently being held in place by sparkly unicorn magic.) It is slightly closer to what’s in my head, but not quite which is why I didn’t finish it. However it’s enough to keep the concept alive.

And just in case anyone is looking at it going “that’s all wrong” I had no reference photos of any sort when I scribbled this out. Just me on the couch with a scratch sheet of paper and a pencil so be kind. For the moment I’m not sure whether I’ll start a new concept drawing (using actual reference photos) from which to create a painting, or try to tweak this one into matching what’s in my head.

Did I Ever Tell You Guys …
that I have been pondering for a long time starting a t-shirt line. I’m not really thinking about using my artwork mind, but I may if I actually get into doing it. I’m thinking about these cartoon-y horses that I draw on occasion.

Quite often when driving to art shows (or while at them) I doodle a few out and add some sort of witty slogan or saying underneath them. I’m thinking the graphic would be smallish maybe pocket sized. Depending on how my year goes (as in time enough to devote to this) and my self confidence level at the moment when I’m about to do it.

ME: (upon showing mike my horse in armor cartoon) Isn’t he cute?

Mike: Yes

Me: Wouldn’t you want to buy a t-shirt with him on it?

Mike: Ummmmmmm ……. no.

Good thing Mike is not my target audience.

The last two birds on the right still need some work and I’ve got to remove the masking film and clean up my edges. I’ll be glad to call this one done since between the storms (Yup was stuck at the farm again recently) it’s taken far longer to complete than I would have ever expected. It is what I wanted it to be though and I think when framed it will look fairly cool.

Next up is to start a horse painting so I can write my Apples ‘n Oats article waaaaaaay in advance of the deadline and totally blow Carol Eilers (the AnO editor’s) mind with my ability to be so responsible and adult-like in regards to my writing.

I’m thinking about that Peruvian with the fancy silver tack. I’ve had some issues arise around that photo (all will be revealed when I begin working on it … maybe) so I will have to rethink how to paint it.

My third bird is not done, but she’s close. I’m struggling with the planes of her face a bit. So far the masking film is working pretty good. Actually it’s technically book cover film. My local hobby store was out of frisket film (which is rather spendy anyhow) but they did have this shoved in it’s slot. So for $5 I thought “why not” Turn out it works really well and a fraction of the cost.

Well perhaps I should reserve my judgement until I’ve finished the painting. But here they are so far.

How To Use Masking Film On Suede Tutorial On Squidoo
Since I’m using this painting as my example the tutorial is not yet complete. But it explains my process pretty clearly.

For anyone that’s interested Using Masking Film On Watercolor Pencil Paintings In Suede Board page 2 of my Watercolor Pencil On Suede Board lens.