Watercolour Animals

 Buster, my ginger cat as a WIP

I met some  wonderful people on my workshops last week. During the afternoon sessions I usually give one on one tuition to guide artists on a more personal level. I love this part of each teaching day because I then get to know  people attending my classes individually.

One of the favourite topics this week was painting animals especially their eyes. Working from a starting point I created Buster,my cat, using the right eye as my main area to work away from. If you were in the class you will have witnessed soft initial washes which have developed into stronger colours in further layering.

In this particular pose Buster was about to pounce on a toy so he was in a position prior to taking action. Here I am  aiming at keeping his face more detailed with his body as a blur in the background to hint at that being further away from the viewer of my finished piece. His expression needs to look as though he is concentrating on his "prey"!

If you study the first image of the progress,then the one seen below you can see how the second eye started and finally came to life with the addition of detail as seen in the above WIP.

Buster, WIP in an earlier stage before more detail was added for the nose,second eye and mouth section.

I have decisions to make to complete this painting. I can hint at the second ear. Add to the second eye. Even add the bells on his collar if I wish!  This is where the painting will become very personal to me as the artist; and I will allow my brushes to be guided freely by how I feel with each placement of colour!

**********************

I have had lovely emails letting me know I am missed when I take workshops because my watercolour blog goes so quiet while I am away. So if you missed me this week this post is for you! And if you were on my workshop when I started Buster I hope you will follow how this post with a smile!

" Grumpy"

"Grumpy"

A fine cockerel gradually growing in  washes and layers of vibrant colour.

There is something far more interesting in painting subjects that aren't immediately seen as being beautiful. Last weeks " Animals Only " watercolour workshop saw me demonstrating a veriety of subjects looking at different sections and how to bring each to life in a unique way.

Here I am progressing from a simple eye demonstration. I have looked at this subject from different angles and he works very well as a landscape or portrait composition.  He is beginning to turn into a very exciting piece. All from a few simple brushstrokes!

**********************

During my demonstrations last week there was often complete silence and I had to look to see if everyone was awake. There wasn't a sound in the room as subjects began to appear on white paper during each new demonstration. I describe how I work with each new brushstroke and these were being completely absorbed by everyone in the room.

I started talking about the character of this cockerel and  raised the question of wondering why he  was so grumpy and in such a "fowl" mood. Comments such as " Maybe he's been on a hen night" or possibly been "hen pecked" gave rise to lovely laughter and the session really did turn into a wonderful day which flew by far too quickly.

Putting that smile into a painting and a feeling of being relaxed while you work definitely aids results.

Try it. Try laughing while you work or at least smiling and see what happens!

***********************