Sycamore Canyon Coatis

I did not start with a value chart this time - I was too taken with the narrative that I was trying to convey. So I'd break all the rules from the beginning. I also found out that my resist had turned into an unusable mess. So there is none used in this piece, and I think that worked out well.

I started with my narrative in mind and all the figures, but with the idea of leading the eye through the image.

A rule-breaker: I wanted my background yellow, like low sun rays filtered through brushes and trees.

 After filling in the middle-ground, it gets busy and confusing. It has lost some of the back-lit glitter that I was aiming for. But the abstracting stained-glass effect of the background is developing.

 

  































To finish, I enhanced the yellow in parts of the background - I believe that if you use color, do it decisively. With my big flat brush, I pulled and pushed little pieces of the background to enhance the stained glass effect and keep it simple. Then I darkened areas of the middleground to make the figure up front pop. I softened the rock edges behind the front guy to make them recede. .

'Sycamore Canyon Coatis', Quarter Sheet Arches cold pressed, framed in 16 in by 20 in. 
SOLD

 For the story behind the painting see my nature blog

Available: matted prints 16x 20 and canvas print 6 in by 8 in of just the front Coati   

Lonesome Coati

New Paintings at Fountain Hills, this Weekend!

I have a number of brand-new originals ready, and also prints and cards in case the paintings are gone by the time you visit. Orders on line are also very welcome!

My next Art Show: February 24-26, 2017
The Great Fair Fountain Hills, AZ
Booth # F20
Avenue of the Fountain/Saguaro Blvd.

Coyote Prowls

I had a clear idea about the coyote being backlit and outlined by a halo of light. So I needed a dark background. No other planning for the background - which is not great WC technique. Trying to establish some glow in the under-painting

More negative painting for the vegetation, more darks for the rock wall. Creating depth and a visual path into the painting.

Some color for the main actor - needs to be subdued because he's only catching light from behind. So I'll go back in and darken him later

Darkened and unified his body mass and infused a warm glow on his chest - thrown back from the sunlit ground. Gave him pupils and eye liner.  He's come alive now!

'Coyote Prowls' watercolor 11in x14 in. Matted 16 x 20. 
SOLD