Here is the start of a Mountain Pygmy Possum. He will be posed on a large banksia flower. The Pygmy Possums are nectar eaters and the banksia is a preferred food. I have attached one of my reference photo taken at the local animal sanctuary. I can't attach the banksia as it is one I cut from the garden and is pinned to the drawing board. Bit hard to scan! But I have indicated on my WIP where the 'spines' of the banksia will extend to.

The Pygmy Possum is very small, about 7- 8 cm body length with a prehensile tail twice as long as the body. The work is slightly larger than life - final size is about 40cm high - this is including the length of the banksia flower! The attached WIP doesn't show the entire length as I got too lazy to scan twice and join. Will do that next time.

will post more as I go -

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

I just wanna take this one home! Can't wait to see it finished!

"We must become the change we want to see" - Gandhi

Quote I think I would enlarge the left ear as you face it as it looks a bit smaller than it could be.

Den,
...you may be right! Just a teeny bit bigger, or reduce the amount of highlight on the edge to make it look larger. Thanks!

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

Quote btw/---possums in north america are big and ugly,..you guys get all the cool animals.

Jim, You should see the Brush Tailed Possums that live in our front tree. Talk about BIG, MEAN MOTHERS. 5 of them having a Possum conference last night, and a ten pin bowling meeting on our roof. These guys weigh in at around 18 pounds. And hiss and spit and sound like a tea kettle about to explode. Just try sleeping through the night when these guys decide to reside in your roof! About as nice and welcome as the racoons you get foraging in the rubbish bins.

NOT the cute possums variety!

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

Quote Oh Linda, he's so cute!!

Thanks Becca, Enia and Vickie. They really are cute little critters. I love their whiskers too! I have a real fondness for the cute and furry!

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

Two things struck me almost immediately. I agree with Den about the the Possum's left ear. It's a little undersize and looks as though you have drawn the dark part but omitted the highlighted rim. It just doesn't balance with the left ear.

Less noticeable is a slight fault with the right ear. I think it's important to show that the lower half of the left edge is coming towards us - the ear leather widens and flares out below the half-way point. Your drawing shows this edge as a straight line yet there is a very subtle direction change - a slight inward curve to the edge coupled with a change of tone as the plane slightly changes direction.

Eh? Hmmmmmmm... this is what I'm rambling on about.......

MIKE

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

Quote I agree with Den about the the Possum's left ear. It's a little undersize and looks as though you have drawn the dark part but omitted the highlighted rim.,,
Less noticeable is a slight fault with the right ear. ..Your drawing shows this edge as a straight line yet there is a very subtle direction change - a slight inward curve to the edge coupled with a change of tone as the plane slightly changes direction.

Eh? Hmmmmmmm... this is what I'm rambling on about.......

Hey all - sorry to have been away from the forum (and the drawing board!) for so long - it has been the fortnight from hell for me. Been doing 10-14 hour 7day weeks at the print studio, and too tired to even log in - though I had a look at all your work on the forums in between the time-outs.

Thanks Mike and Den on the ear comments. I did get in a few hours of drawing time last night (at last, going through withdrawals I was), and have attempted to make the ears work better. Comments Mike? All rambles accepted!

I've been away from the drawing board so long that the banksia flower has dried out and died! I am NOT going to let this happen again... I'd much rather be drawing!
Linda Weil
www.users.bigpond.net.au/lindaweil/