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ALEXEI ANTONOV PAINTINGS

Subject: "Water baby"

Study and Teach Fine Art Techniques Animal and Wildlife drawing with Mike Sibley. Topic #17

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Den
Member since Sep-27-02
28 posts,

Feb-09-03, 07:32 PM ()

"Water baby"

Hi to all again,
I finally decided to draw this leopard taking his bath. Not so simple as I have discovered.

Would anyone in their opinion mark the numerous highlights or just fit them in when you get to them? I have had a few problems removing the small highlights by his head so a simpler way would be helpful. I even tried to have a start on his face but I keep looking at those lights.

Denise

Den
Member since Sep-27-02
28 posts,

Feb-09-03, 07:35 PM ()

1. "RE: Water baby"

This is the source picture.

Denise

lmweil

Member since Feb-3-03
94 posts, 1 feedbacks,

Feb-12-03, 07:23 PM ()

2. "RE: Water baby"

Hi Denise,

Boy, have you picked a curly one! Good shot for reference, but don't try to slavishly duplicate every ripple and highlight. When I do water I try to draw it sort of intuitively - if that makes sense.

Here is a sample bit from one of my recent ones - I had several reference shots, as well as some stuff I skectched on site. I worked more from dark to light - putting in the darkest areas first and tried to leave a lot of the white paper showing elsewhere. I did not try to cover the paper with tone then remove it with blutack - but tried not to touch large area of the highlights. The water in the drawing is tonally lighter than real life, but I wanted it to show the brightness.

The water sort of flowed. (sorry, bad pun) but doesn't really match the original reference exactly...

Linda Weil
www.users.bigpond.net.au/lindaweil/

Den
Member since Sep-27-02
28 posts,

Feb-12-03, 08:06 PM ()

3. "RE: Water baby"

Thanks Linda for your very helpful comments. I did give the water a break for a while to start the leopard as I couldn't wait any longer.

I'll try to put the new drawing on with this mail but I had lots of problems scanning it on Sunday so I can honestly say in this case the original is better than the scan.It is very involved trying to leave the highlights white and I'm sure I see double when I break off from it}> ,however do you ever get a feeling when you just know if you can get past the problems it will be a really good drawing,that's the theory anyway.

Denise

absolute

Member since Aug-24-02
888 posts, 12 feedbacks,

Feb-13-03, 08:26 PM ()

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4. "RE: Water baby"

denise thats coming out great..you sure picked a hard one ,water isnt one of my favorite things to try and draw,..i can already tell that he is swimming.

www.geocities.com/woodart211

lmweil

Member since Feb-3-03
94 posts, 1 feedbacks,

Feb-13-03, 10:48 PM ()

5. "RE: Water baby"

Quote ...to start the leopard as I couldn't wait any longer...
....It is very involved trying to leave the highlights white and I'm sure I see double when I break off from it...

I always like to draw the faces, and the eyes early on- I like to think they are watching me!

It is hard to leave that white. I am always tempted to fill stuff in then take out later. But I have learned my lesson - more than one drawing I have done ended in the 'do not show anyone' box due to muddy, smudgy highlights instead of clean white.

I'm looking forward to seeing this develop, its coming along really well.

Linda Weil
www.users.bigpond.net.au/lindaweil/

Den
Member since Sep-27-02
28 posts,

Feb-14-03, 06:21 PM ()

6. "RE: Water baby"

Thanks jim, I will admit it's not the easiest picture I've ever done and I have never been able to enjoy drawing water, it's a subject I'd prefer to miss if possible.

Denise

Den
Member since Sep-27-02
28 posts,

Feb-14-03, 06:28 PM ()

7. "RE: Water baby"

I thought about Linda's advice last night and it has given me a much clearer idea of how to approach the dreaded subject.
Thanks Linda, I think I finally have a way to tackle the water, and if all else fails,well........... I'll think about that later.

Denise

absolute

Member since Aug-24-02
888 posts, 12 feedbacks,

Feb-15-03, 00:43 AM ()

8. "RE: Water baby"

Quote I thought about Linda's advice last night and it has given me a much clearer idea of how to approach the dreaded subject.
Thanks Linda, I think I finally have a way to tackle the water, and if all else fails,well........... I'll think about that later.

-------------------------------------------------------------
denise if all else fails just do what i do...PANIC!...lol...but it looks like you are in no danger so far.

www.geocities.com/woodart211

mike sibley
Member since Nov-19-02
236 posts, 6 feedbacks,

Feb-15-03, 08:42 AM ()

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9. "RE: Water baby"

This is looking good Denise but I'd like to see a little more contrast. To make your highlights really shine (very important with this one) you need to engineer dark tones elsewhere. The darker you can make the water , the more the Leopard will become the focus and the highlights will shine.

The water's looking quite believable and I'm happy to see that you're not attempting to copy the water in the photo. Linda's right - just go with the flow and work it out as you go along. It has three-dimensional form and body so just imagine the Leopard pushing that water forward into crests and troughs then work out the way light would hit it and add the shine and highlights.

I admire your courage - this is a very difficult subject

MIKE

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