NELVIA'SART.COM

Well another rainy dreary day and then 5 whole days of sun - believe it when I see it.  But the good news is that it gives me the excuse to take a day off and play in the art room.  So am going to work on a couple of projects.  First is working some more on the wolves.  Got to tell you I am still not sure about why everyone goes gaga over the oil.  I guess it does give you the opportunity to smush it around and maybe get softer blends.  It definitely gives texture, but I think you could do that as well with the acrylic.  I guess I am going to try to do another animal piece but in acrylic and then make a comparison, might decide that oil is the absolute best thing. Does anyone notice anything that is a major problem?  I see something that I did wrong when I painted in the background and it is a major issue, especially for the front wolf. Thanks much for stopping by and have a great week.

These young wolves are from a beautiful reference shot by Angeline of PMP.   I am thinking of doing this in a larger version in two different ways.  I also have a shot of two other wolves that are howling and am thinking of putting them together in another picture where they would hang side by side.  And then, in an effort to continue to try to work larger, put all four of them together in one canvas. This is in the water mixable oils again, on canvasette paper, and between learning to work stiff, in layers and using Liquin I think I am finally developing a technique that is looser than my normal work.  Well since Spring has come got to go out now and do some garden work.  No rest for the wicked!!! Thanks much for stopping by and hope you are having a good start of the week.

One of my goals for this year is to,work more from life and try plein air painting.  I have tried painting outdoors before and wasn't all,that successful.  So I,am trying to develop an approach that takes a small focus and then works up to a larger scene.   We are in the mountains and since we are at elevation the leaves aren't out yet on the trees.  You see so much without the leaves and small scrubby bushes.  So I choose this tree because of its knarled appearance.  No it isn't a work of art but I am pleased that it resembles the  tree that was my model. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.

Here is a tiger that I am working on and I am stumped right now on how I want to finish the background.   The reference photo shows him sitting in grass and leaves and I had that at the beginning, you can see indications of it, but then pulled it off as I thought it was too busy.  I just can't think of how to finish it with a bit of pizzaz typing together the two images. So I am looking for suggestions: I think: 1)  I could bring the stadium down to him him closer on the backend   2)  I could bring back the leaves on the right and have them hit him on the top of the head and side, paws, and that would imbed him to the background.  3)  I have based in color on the top of his head and would need to finish markings if I don't put the leaves back in. Hmmmm, need help folks!! Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a great week.

                                                                 Coming and Going                                                                            9"x12"                        ...

Yes I apologize in advance, but if you think you are looking at the backend of a donkey - well, you are correct.  This is from a PMP photographer, Steve Lyddon where he caught two donkeys.  Hence the title, "Coming and Going".  Keeping with that ying/yang thing I also decided to make the background cool/warm - and yes, right now it kind of looks like these must be French donkeys, and maybe they will be - who knows - it is your story.   We all voted that the left donkey is heavy with child as you will be able to make your own determination when I get the right hand guy in. This again pastel on sanded paper, 9"x12". Hope this gave you a little giggle on a Friday afternoon.  Have a great weekend and thanks much for stopping by.

                                                                      Orangutan                                                                         9"x12"                        ...

I am working this Orang on 9"x12" sanded paper and doing him in pastels.  Still working on Mike the LSU mascot trying to get him finished up this week.  This Mike is taking longer because his reference shot was in the shade and he is sitting in shrubs, so I have to find other reference pics to rebuild his back haunch and his huge paws. This subject, Orangutans, is one that Paul and I have many pictures of because the National Zoo in Washingon has a large group of Orangs.  They are such unusually colored, strangely proportioned and quite unique animals, very humanoid, again being threatened with extinction in the wild.  On the ground they walk upright but their proportions look so odd, however, get them in the trees or air and their long arms make them quite graceful and they put on quite a show as they cross the walk - natural entertainers.  The Zoo has built an Orang walk that is 4-5 stories high above the sidewalk, built of cables, and goes between two bui...