Animal And Wildlife Challenge Dec 2025/Jan 2026
- Thread starter pcj
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Joy
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Jade, Your squirrel is really cute. You really are doing a lot this month.
I started this lion fish with high hopes. The fish is Inktense, and the BG is watercolor. It is 7 x 7, on Arches 140CP It just got to be an overworked, unnatural blob. The BG was supposed to be lighter in areas, and the water drops I used on it to get some texture were too late as the wash was drying. The masking I used on the stripes and fiddly bits looked fine when it was applied, then it seemed like too much later. It seems as if I am either using too much or not enough. Same with water control. At least I tried.
I started this lion fish with high hopes. The fish is Inktense, and the BG is watercolor. It is 7 x 7, on Arches 140CP It just got to be an overworked, unnatural blob. The BG was supposed to be lighter in areas, and the water drops I used on it to get some texture were too late as the wash was drying. The masking I used on the stripes and fiddly bits looked fine when it was applied, then it seemed like too much later. It seems as if I am either using too much or not enough. Same with water control. At least I tried.
Grapes
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Joy, l like everything about your fish 
painting. 
I don't see anything wrong but it's interesting to read your own words about the painting process. I like the color of the water. The color of the fish looks perfect compared to the bg. Very interesting painting you got here!
painting. I don't see anything wrong but it's interesting to read your own words about the painting process. I like the color of the water. The color of the fish looks perfect compared to the bg. Very interesting painting you got here!
pcj
From Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England
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Joy - Wonderful painting ! I don't know how you managed it ! it's a very complex painting.
I agree with Grapes. I certainly don't see anything wrong with it but it's interesting to
read your own words about the process.
Cheers
Patricia
I agree with Grapes. I certainly don't see anything wrong with it but it's interesting to
read your own words about the process.
Cheers
Patricia
Jade
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@Joy this is really very good! I think often it's hard be objective about our own work isn't it? But I agree with everyone else's comments. there's a good balance of colours with the background and you've done an amazing job on a complicated photo (especially where the fin goes transparent). Bravo
Ps thank you for your kind words about my squirrel. I'm feeling like I can't draw well again this week lol but I know I need to "draw through it" and it will pass
Ps thank you for your kind words about my squirrel. I'm feeling like I can't draw well again this week lol but I know I need to "draw through it" and it will pass
Joy
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Thanks for the encouragement! We are all our own worst critics.
Grapes, that cotton-top tamarin is excellent! The hair is done very naturally. You could either put a wee bit of a darker background behind the top of the head so the white hair would stand out more. Yes, it is very hard to get the same colors in a posting than in the original work.
Grapes, that cotton-top tamarin is excellent! The hair is done very naturally. You could either put a wee bit of a darker background behind the top of the head so the white hair would stand out more. Yes, it is very hard to get the same colors in a posting than in the original work.
Grapes
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Anne, your Dachshund panting is excellent! I like his gentle look. 
Joy, thanks so much! Your right, darker bg would be the correct solution against the white hair.
I like that of the oil paints esp. and wipe out ability. David Leffel says in his video that oil paint should be moving on the canvas, we should move it. He describes oil painting so well.
Joy, thanks so much! Your right, darker bg would be the correct solution against the white hair.
