The start of a new bird painting in pastel

I am taking advantage of some free time to start another piece but this time it will involve a scene from Western Africa. As you can see from the reference images, the subject is non other than beautiful crowned crane.

I am totally changing the backdrop for the bird as I didn't like the green grass on the reference photo I took at a sanctuary.  As for the scene,  I am hoping to capture a serene moment at dusk, depicting the lush grassland that make up part of  the bird's native habitat.

This is the first time I am using Pastlemat by Clairefontaine so it will be an interesting exercise.  It is very much like very fine sandpaper but I am realising that very different results are achieved depending on the blending method I use.

 

and tonight's update:

 

White Tiger Cub Painting in pastel

As promised, I am revealing the finished tiger painting now that the official opening reception of the exhibit has passed...

"Enthralled"

white tiger cub

14' x 14"

pastel on archival paper

White tiger eyes revealed!

An animal portrait just doesn't seem to come to life until one adds the eyes. This tiger cub painting should be completed very soon and will be on display at my next exhibition (duo show with good friend Ray Thoms) which opens April 30th in Sudbury. I will be posting an announcement regarding the show shortly on my FB page as well as my website and blog.

and slowly the eyes are revealed....

Today's painting update

I did not like how the ear presented on the reference image and so today's progress was relatively slow as I struggled to work in the tiger's left ear. I think I am happy with it...now if I can only concentrate long enough to finish the pattern on his forehead...working in negative tends to leave me tired at the end of a session but I love working "in reverse" on a dark background.

I can't wait to add the beautiful eyes!!

Progress on cub painting

more of today's work....

and a bit more....

Hooded Merganser (male) Painting in Pastel...revisited

Update: thanks to everyone who commented and suggested the painting was fine as it was. However, it was bugging me so much that I just had to change the reflection (the head in the water was competing with the rest  of the bird imo). While I was at it, decided to add more blue highlights in the lighter bands in the water...I think now I can finally call it done!-----

Although I love my large format flatbed scanner, I find there is always a need for color adjusting. I suspect this is due to the lamp casting a yellow hue on the painting as it scans across the glass. Nonetheless, it is a time consuming process and wish that the final image would match the actual painting more closely.  The image below is a good representation however some of the detail in the black areas are lost, mostly on the bird's face.
I will leave this painting for a few days and then look at it with fresh eyes to see if some tweaking is in order. I will most likely be reducing/reshaping  the width of the black outer border of the bird's crest in the reflection.  It seems to be too distracting for some reason.

Hooded Merganser (male)
Title;"Resplendent"
6"x12"
pastel on archival suede

Reference image for duck painting

Stop being a slave...

Sometimes, things don't become apparent until I am well advanced on a painting. This is exactly what happened on this composition.The lesson learned today is to stop being a slave to my reference photo and enjoy and take advantage of the artistic license painters are so fortunate to have.

   

Once this painting is complete, I will reveal the original reference photo.

Progression of a bird painting:The Hooded Merganser

In this stage I have begun adding the details of the reeds reflecting in the water above the bird. Once the water will have been painted around the bird, I will resume adding the feathers on the rest of the body.

A bit of background...

Backgrounds are usually not my strong point so I probably should have started it first in this case. I just couldn't help but begin with the strange looking bird!

 The plan is to methodically work my way downwards at this point but I may begin to randomly paint the water when I begin to loose my concentration! We'll see what happens...

New Bird Painting work in progress!

The beginings of a waterfowl painting are taking shape on this suedeboard. I am using mainly pastel pencils to draw the detail of this strange looking bird. Watch for more updates to come soon!

WIP #6 of wolf painting

In this step, now that the other ear has been added, the subject is beginning to look more like the wolf  it should be. I like to pass that stage of a painting as it gives me a visual overview which makes it easier for me to determine if the subject is turning out like I want it to.

WIP #2 of wolf painting

This afternoon, I've been really hacking away at laying down the fur, making sure to follow the direction of the hair growth. Of course, this is just the base coat and many more layers are to be added!

New Wildlife Painting on the Easel

Now that I have all my current commissions done, I can concentrate on working on some pieces for my upcoming show in May 2012. I want to have a few more new paintings to hang, and decided to tackle the larger pieces first.

The sleeping wolf I am portraying is one I had the pleasure to meet and photograph last August at a wildlife sanctuary in Maine. I am using pastels on light gray suede board.

Working backgrounds with pastels

I am happy to share that the horse portrait is now complete and waiting client approval! I will share the final scan of the work once I am sure that no other touch ups are needed, I promise!

Feeling a sense of relief, and wanting to indulge in my own creativity, I am now working on a wildlife bird scene of two black-capped chickadees. Since I received my order from Blick today, why not try my new Rembrandt's on the Colorfix Plein Air Painting Board?

After printing and cutting the outline of my subjects, I worked the background first, spreading the pastel with my fingers (I use finger cots now!) all the while using the cut-out paper as a guide and a mask. This is an easy and fast way to work backgrounds while keeping the area that needs to be free of color still virgin. I have included the two images below to illustrate my point.



-completed background with cut-out (grey-scale)

-background completed with cut-out removed leaving clean area with crisp edges

Bohemian Waxwing Drawing on Uart sandpaper

Title: "Late Winter Feast"
Medium: Colored Pencil

Support: Uart Sanded Paper

Size: 5" x 3"

Species: Bombycilla garrulus

SOLD

To view the work in progress of this drawing, please visit: www.colettetheriault.com

Inching my way closer...

More leaves please! I figure I mind as well get it over with and continue on methodically inching my way accross the painting. I'm thinking about adding more snow just about now...

Moose Paintings work in progress

UPDATE: moose now has own face...



Next I really should complete Ms moose's face. Watch her come to life in the next update.

Moose painting (pastel) update

I've started to work on my second wildlife painting this year, the pastel painting of two moose with fall foliage. To view more work in progress, click on the link:http://www.colettetheriault.com/workinprogres.php