Friday 8 October 2010

08/10: ANOTHER 'BIG CAT' .... POSSIBLY!

I had kind of planned to start one of the group 'human' portraits today but, whilst I like to use light grey pastelmat for these, I had a last minute change of plan and decided to await delivery of some white pastelmat

... so in the meantime, having cleaned my work area and got rid of all the pastel dust, I thought I'd start another big cat in coloured pencil which can be picked up and put down between commissions - I'm very conscious that I need to finish a couple more pictures before the exhibition at Horsebridge Gallery, Whitstable, in November.   This is on translucent drafting film and I'm using a white backing sheet (instead of the black backing I've used for previous cat pictures).

I photographed this Cheetah at the Wildlife Heritage Trust foundation in Kent a couple of years ago ... finally got round to using one of the many photos I came away with.

I'm still not absolutely sure about the choice of white background, but with drafting film you have to commit fairly early as the coloured pencils react differently dependent on the colour of the backing sheet.   So, in for a penny ....




Drafting film is quite unusual to work on as it doesn't take many layers of colours so it isn't possible to blend coloured pencil as much as on more traditional surfaces ... I'll give this a few more days before deciding whether to proceed or not.  This is very early stages, just started this morning .... so it has to get through that dreadful 'ugly stage' before I know if its worth persevering with :o)

Have a great weekend everyone


14 comments:

  1. the eyes are so life like :D really well done

    if you decide not to finish it, you should at least keep the eyes

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  2. Thanks Jennifer :o)

    I haven't done many pictures on drafting film but those I have finished have been quite successful .. I'm just not good at judging them at the early stages ...

    so I'll give it another couple of sessions.

    Its a very fast method of working with coloured pencils, but you do have to be more precise with the colours as you can't layer much (but you probably know that already so just ignore me) :o)

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  3. I have used paper before where you can only get a few layers down, but I can't find any drafting film around here to try :/
    I do really like how if you change the colour of the paper you use as a base behind it, the tone of the drawing changes

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  4. Hi Jennifer

    I did post some WIPs for a tiger I did back in May last year (and which just sold at the UKCPS Stamford Exhibition last month). I was dithering between white and black backing paper so you can see the different effects.

    If you'd like a couple of sample bits I can post some to you to try - I bought a big roll from eBay from a retired architect ... probably not quite the same as the artist quality stuff you pay through the nose for now ... but I guess it does the same thing :o)

    If you'd like to try some just let me know where to sent it

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  5. It appears to be off to a good start. I've never used that film with color pencils. I have an friend who loves it. I do have this idea of doing a drawing and then doing a second more outline drawing on the film and then layering the two. However it's on the "to do" pile.

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  6. Thanks Fay - haven't tried that idea yet but it could be interesting.

    I do use the reverse side of the film - most of this background is done on the reverse side - it makes a 'hazy' effect as the drafting film is opaque rather than clear.

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  7. Don't be too quick to scrap it, Sue. The eyes are amazing and I'm sure the rest will follow.

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  8. Thanks Jan ... you know me, I'm never happy with my work (especially in the early stages) but I learned a good lesson with the Daydreaming Tiger picture I almost scrapped last year - it earned me Reserve Best in Show at UKCPS this year ....

    This will be one to keep doing little bits on - between the 'human subjects' I'll be working on from tomorrow.

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  9. that would be really nice of you to send some samples :) send my address to your email?

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  10. Yes that'll be fine - I'll post it on Monday. Let us know how you get on with it in due course. :o)

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  11. This is looking fabulous Sue - I always find the colours have more punch when using the drafting film on the white background. I must have a look through your portfolio and see where you used a black background - I'm curious now!!! :)

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  12. Thanks Karen ... I've used a white background for 'Windswept' - the puppy pic on the right side coloumn of this blog. I used black backing for the 'Hunting Tiger' which just sold at the Stamford Gallery last week and black backing on a Great Dane dog and a Thoroughbred horse (the black backing looks dark grey through the opaque film).

    not sure if these links will work -

    http://picasaweb.google.com/clinxx/CatGallery#5526337581976357378

    http://picasaweb.google.com/clinxx/DogGallery?feat=embedwebsite#5483087950866531522
    http://picasaweb.google.com/clinxx/HorseGallery?feat=embedwebsite#5483088167997303714

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  13. Looking great Sue. Isn't it great working on drafting film. I just love it.
    Hope you keep going with this Sue. It's really coming alive. Love those eyes.

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  14. This is looking great Sue, especially the eyes. I like fay's idea of layering the drafting film. I never went back to it after I did the pug on it.
    Looking forward to the next stage of this piece.

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