Animal And Wildlife Challenge Dec 2025/Jan 2026

[pcj]

Jade has used the back of an envelope, Grapes has used pizza boxes, Anne
has used whatever is handy. We have really creative members here ! How did these
work out ? Has anyone else occasionally used unusual bases for painting or drawing ?
Cheers
Patricia

 

[Joy]

Anne, I really enjoy the softness of the fur and the subtle color changes with a limited palette. I think since the mouth is closed, it would be thinner, especially in the center. Eyes are generally the focus of portraits, and those are very well done. (Nice shadow under the lid.) Since they are so well portrayed, perhaps the nose is too dark and too much of a contrast with the adjacent fur, thus drawing attention to that area. The focal point can often be the darkest area against the lightest area, as one's eye is drawn to the contrast. Maybe have it a little lighter in value and a less abrupt transition to the bridge.The soft hair under the chin are very nicely rendered.

 

[ams]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Joy, some good observations. Thanks for taking the time to write them out.

 

[TK H-H]

Jade has used the back of an envelope, Grapes has used pizza boxes, Anne
has used whatever is handy. We have really creative members here ! How did these
work out ? Has anyone else occasionally used unusual bases for painting or drawing ?
Cheers
Patricia

Been a while, but many years ago when I did some renovations on a room, it had floor-to-ceiling shelving along one wall from the previous owner. They weren't particularly nice shelves, so they were removed. The shelves themselves were a bunch of thin but quite sturdy panels slid into slots. I gessoed a bunch of them and used them for oil painting. They worked quite nicely.

 

[Jade]

Good question Patricia.

This is today's picture, playing with my new inktense.

 

[Joy]

Jade, boy that is really nice. Amazing that it is your first attempt with the Inktense. I still struggle with them. Yesterday I started the same bird in watercolor.

 

[ams]

Very nice Jade. Looks as if you are having fun with your Inktense. They are a lot of fun.

 

[Jade]

Thanks Joy and Anne! I think after being used to colour pencils, it's getting used to how to "edge" inktense in wc..like around the feathers. I may add some fine liner...

 

[pcj]

Jade - Lovely parrot ! You've captured the way he's looking at us perfectly .
Cheers
Patricia