Untitled Work in Progress - Step 5

I've finished the under painting of this owl and now have started on the top layer, which is the oils thinned with a tad of walnut oil.  He is starting to come alive and this is my favourite part of painting.

 Untitled
Photo Reference:  Alan and Elaine Wilson

10" x 8" oil on hardboard © 2012

Untitled Work in Progress, Step 4

Got more done tonight, a couple more sessions and I should have the under layer completely done.  The next layer will mostly be strengthening the highlights and shadows and minor tweaking in, perhaps, some other areas.

I like the way the pine hardboard shows through with the clear gesso, and a bonus is then I don't have to paint a background.  I think there will definitely be more animal portraits done in this manner.

 Untitled
Photo Reference:  Alan and Elaine Wilson

10" x 8" oil on hardboard © 2012

Untitled Work in Progress - Step 3

I started the sketch of this one way back in October and I was doing a decent job sketching and shading.  Then... well, I got lost in the feathers below and I started to worry about the smudge factor when it was time to put on the layer of clear gesso.  Well, it smudged.  Alot.  sigh.  I was able to keep too much of the lead from getting on the wood that I am planning to keep visible and decided to jump right into the painting part.  So far, very limited palette on this one:  titanium-zinc white, ivory black, transparent red earth, and asphaltum.

 Untitled
Photo Reference:  Alan and Elaine Wilson

10" x 8" oil on hardboard © 2012

Freedom

Freedom

4" x 6" watercolour © 2012