I have decided to work down the banksia spike in lighter tones. Hoping to draw the eye up to the Possum, and make the tail stand out against the background of the spike. watch this space!

Linda,
(hey, check out the cool new smiley icons!)
Linda Weil
www.users.bigpond.net.au/lindaweil/

My apologies to you all.

What I was trying to say at the time was...
As much as I like the idea of the tall Banksia spike I think that fading it out might be a wise move... I like the way the tail leads the eye up to the Possum but I can see that too much detailing of the Banksia might make the tail less prominent.

So I agree with your current plan.

This is looking wonderful... as always...

G'd ears......

g'day........

MIKE

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

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

Quote Hi Linda, I've never seen a banksia spike before so I don't know what its supposed to look like (?)

Bec,
Here is picture of one of the many different varieties of banksia in flower - they are similar to a bottlebrush flower/bush. They come in many different lengths and thicknesses. You will see why I was hesitant about drawing the flower! No pic of resulting seed pod - I am drawing from three different ones I collected under the tree/bush.. but you can get a bit 'creative' about where you put the bits.

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

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

(here I was trying to keep Mike's profile high, and goes and dobs himself in! sheesh.)

Well, here it is...final stages of the Possum. He's sitting on my drawing board being contemplated at. As you can see, I have not drawn the bottom half of the banksia in such high detail, more a tonal 'scribble' to suggest the curly dead and dried flower spikes. I haven't fixed the drawing yet... it feels finished, but I will wait for all your helpful hints and comments. And to sleep on it myself before I declare him "DONE".

... I await all your comments and helps....

Linda

oh... ps. he is 35cm from ear tip to twig tip

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

I love this! The possum looks sooo soft and small against the big flower thing! And the detail you have capture in it are amazing too. I also love the composition of the piece - I think together they have a lovely shape

Becky.

I'm so glad you chose to draw the seed pods and not the flower - the harshness and sharpness of the pods contrasts beautifully with the Possum's fur and enhances its softness.

The fading out is seamless and somehow "natural" and the twig at the base is just perfect. It provides a lower stop and the leaflets just lead the eye upwards.

Does a Pygmy Possum have a white tip to its tail? I don't have a problem with the white tip - but I do have a problem with the line around it. It's the only unnatural element in the drawing.

It's not often I see a drawing that I immediately admire.... but this is one of them.

MIKE

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

Phil

My compliments go out to you,

Kevin

Quote Does a Pygmy Possum have a white tip to its tail? I don't have a problem with the white tip - but I do have a problem with the line around it. It's the only unnatural element in the drawing.

Hi Mike,
Yes they do have a white tip... and you are 100% right about the line. In fact, after I posted the drawing I really noticed it on screen (funny that, sometimes you see things at posting you don't notice while drawing) - and I have taken the tail tip back a bit with blutac. Quick scan attached - it is not as outline looking as even this scan shows. Your comments appreciated.

Thanks Phil!... you know, I waited until the very last before I drew those whiskers. I wanted to draw them right away at the start - but I saved them for a special treat to myself.

and thank you Becky and Kevin.

All your comments help confirm to me that this drawing is done!

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