The knobbly bits are harder to draw than I thought! I thought after all that fur I've been doing this would be a snap. Wrong again Linda!

Its lucky too that I have lots of long bits of leftover paper, as I seem to be going through a stage of long skinny drawings!

working title: "Doing Jack all..."

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

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

And, as usual, you're making a superb job of this. I particularly love the pose. It looks so natural and uncontrived -- by which I mean AWKWARD I think it would be impossible to engineer or invent such a pose.

I do have one criticism. "Eyes closed". If you're used to lizards this might work just fine but I'm not and it isn't...

I find the drawing of the head rather weak in comparison to the body and it's not helping my understanding. I can see what I think is the mouth and what is possibly a nostril? And a marking that looks like an open, featureless eye... but the closed eye eludes me. Unless it's what I think might be a nostril. Basically, this drawing is not "idiot-proof" .... and I'm the idiot who can't read it at all well

...or maybe that round marking is the eye with the lid down...? Not knowing Lizards, I don't know where to expect the eye to be.

But I do think the eye is the central, controlling element -- the one that should be telling me "this animal is asleep"... and, for me, it's not working.

I love the composition. Do you have plans for the big negative area at the left? Vague foliage? Nothing?

MIKE

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

Quote I do have one criticism. "Eyes closed". If you're used to lizards this might work just fine but I'm not and it isn't...
I find the drawing of the head rather weak in comparison to the body and it's not helping my understanding. ..

dern you Mike! You always catch me out. I was hoping you wouldn't pick up on the weakness of the drawing in the head. I was so keen to do the scaly bits I kinda glossed over the head area.

Okay, okay - I will stop being lazy and refocus on the head. I also think he may end up with a half opened, 'sleepy' eye peering at you. (updated attached)

The negative area will be faint grass and grass seed heads. One or two to cross over the tail to the right. I have been collecting reference this morning. My neighbor thinks I am insane - she wanted to know why I was making a boquet of her weeds, and could I come clear them all.

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

So it's a great help when things are spelled out for us -- poor lizard-deprived people that we are. I noticed that little curve that might have been a closed eye but I really wasn't sure. But now I understand your drawing fully and the lizard has gained character and expression.

Are you printing from this? You should! Not only is it going to be a superb drawing it's also a good commercial format. Just think of all those narrow bits of wall that "standard-sized" prints won't fit - no competition... you've got the market to yourself!

MIKE

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

Sand Lizards Pretty rare though, endangered infact I think. We have some here along with other rare stuff, red squirrels and natterjack toads, aparently. Never seen any personally but I remember when I was at school having to dig pits for them to breed in down at the beach, the toads that is, not the lizards or squirrels

Linda,

I was thinking a half closed eye would look good and then scrolled down and saw you had already done it :0 It works well, sort of tells a bit more of a story somehow.

Phil

Quote ...I remember when I was at school having to dig pits for them to breed in down at the beach, the toads that is...

Hey Phil, those Toads can be real dictators can't they

Are you still under their thumbs? Still digging holes to order?

You should have a word with that George Dubya fellow and buddy Blair - they'll sort the blighters out for you!

--------------------
I had a vague idea that we had a lizard somewhere. Sand Lizards! Thanks Phil.

MIKE

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

Quote Sand Lizards ...
I was thinking a half closed eye would look good and then scrolled down and saw you had already done it :0 It works well, sort of tells a bit more of a story somehow.

Sand Lizards! Sounds like something out of 'Dune' - but I looked them up on google and sure 'nuff, there they were. Attractive, but shy - I noticed that their habitat (heathland/dunes) is the same as the Natterjack toad - which is partially why it is in decline.
so, Phil, are you still digging love nests for toads in your spare time? sounds like they need all the help they can get!

speaking of help... thanks Mike for the push about the eye, and Phil for noticing the improvement. This is why I love this forum, lots of friendly, USEFUL advice. As well as fascinating information about the love life of toads!

well, gotta get back to the drawing...

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

Please give me your criticisms of the final stages of 'Jack'. I would like suggestions as to how to improve it.

I have a few doubts:
1. Should that grass stem cross over the tail like that? Or does it interfear and 'stop' the eye?
2. Should I detail the grass and grass heads more? I rather like the indistinct look, but do they read well enough?
3. Should I add more grass? and while I like it sort of fading off, maybe it should be grounded... a bit of earth and rocks and stuff?

Thanks in advance for your help!

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