ANIMAL AND WILDLIFE CHALLENGE FEB/MARCH 2026

[Joy]

Kay, thanks ever so much for everything you do at CS. I barely have time to paint, and moving would have me in a tizzy for months. I don't know how you manage to do anything at all online if you are still working. I want to do so much more, and I am pulled in many different directions with my other interests and obligations. Patricia has the same wonderful photos on WC, so you can always post or just say hi there.

Yikes, you are all fast! I have terrible FOMO.

Jade, I am thrilled with how quickly you progressed. The eye and feather detail is great. Highlights in the eye make such a difference. My tendency is to keep making the same errors by over working everything. The squirrel is off to a great start. Are these Inktense or CP?

Grapes, the squirrel actually looks finished to me. The freshness of the brushstrokes is really appealing.

 

[Grapes]

Joy, thank you!

"Baby Lion", oil on paper with gesso, size: small.

 

[pcj]

Grapes : Excellent lion cub ! I love the texture of his fur and his expression.
Cheers
Patricia

 

[Grapes]

Thanks, Patricia! Your references are gorgeous and cute!

 

[Joy]

Grapes, the lion cub is my favorite animal that you have painted. This would be wonderful framed. Excellent texture on the fur, and depth with dark colors and shadow. Not a wasted stroke - it all looks so fresh!

 

[Joy]

Jade, When I finally get a painting done, I am going to post it both here and on WC. This way, we can keep both threads active.

Patricia, your "double duty" work of hosting in both forums is greatly appreciated.

 

[Grapes]

Thank you, Joy, for your kind comment!

 

[Donna T]

Grapes, I think I can recognize your style now. The lion cub is so beautiful! You did the colors and textures so well!

 

[Triduana]

I love your lion cub, Grapes. Those paws!

 

[Grapes]

Donna & Triduana, thanks!

Yes, these little creatures have so big paws

 

[Enyaw]

Very well done Grapes. You have arrived at your artistic prowess. Very painterly with great value and color. When I grow up I wanna paint like that.

 

[Grapes]

Wayne, thank you for your nice words.

 

[Jade]

Kay, thanks ever so much for everything you do at CS. I barely have time to paint, and moving would have me in a tizzy for months. I don't know how you manage to do anything at all online if you are still working. I want to do so much more, and I am pulled in many different directions with my other interests and obligations. Patricia has the same wonderful photos on WC, so you can always post or just say hi there.

Yikes, you are all fast! I have terrible FOMO.

Jade, I am thrilled with how quickly you progressed. The eye and feather detail is great. Highlights in the eye make such a difference. My tendency is to keep making the same errors by over working everything. The squirrel is off to a great start. Are these Inktense or CP?

Grapes, the squirrel actually looks finished to me. The freshness of the brushstrokes is really appealing.

Thank you @Joy you often say your work is overworked but I think we're more critical of our own work aren't we? Your work is beautiful.

I used CP for the bird and squirrel but inktense for the background. I'm liking inktense for that purpose too. Will keep working on the squirrel today. I'm also crocheting a cat atm

 

[Jade]

Your baby lion is sooo cute @Grapes you've got the texture just right. One for framing?

 

[Grapes]

Thanks, Jade.
Nah, these are just sketch practices. Although, I do have plenty of available frames .. something to think of. Actually, I did put to a frame (it was laying around here) one pleinair from Almeria recently.

 

[Jade]

Such a beauty, framed or not!