Your drawing has become so much stronger over the last few months. This is going to be good. As it's 11pm and I'm about to pack in for the evening I'll sleep on the problem and see what I can come up with - if anything.

Until tomorrow................ and Welcome!

MIKE

www.SibleyFineArt.com
www.Starving-Artists.net

I really don't think this one needs a background at all but, if you feel the need, the most I would suggest is a single lightly drawn twiggy weed. Sprouting somewhere behind its tail and mainly curving to the right to turn the eye back down to the squirrel. About as lightly drawn as your foliage on the extreme right - just enough to throw the squirrel forwards but not distinct enough (or detailed enough) to warrant any attention. Personally I'd leave the background bare. It won't be missed. If the focus is intended to be in the foreground then a background will only distract.

This Bearded Collie drawing of mine will, I hope, prove my point. It contains only foreground (and an arguable midground?) but no background at all.

I really like the your hair technique - it's got depth and true texture. Keep going!

MIKE

www.SibleyFineArt.com
www.Starving-Artists.net

Quote ...so i think i will just do your twig idea - something like the one in your dogs mouth?

I wouldn't use anything as solid as that. A single curving blade of grass would do just as well. Just something to break up that empty area that guides the eye back down. And, as I said, very lightly drawn - so light that it doesn't distract at all.

I notice that you don't have a clean white background. Is this tone you've put in, loose graphite or is it shadow from your scanner? Whatever it is, I like it. It suggests there's something in the background even though there isn't.

MIKE

www.SibleyFineArt.com
www.Starving-Artists.net