Obsessed
Tonight I did yet another drawing of Bud-Z. This is watercolor, but I made a mess of it so it’s now a hybrid with acrylic paint mixed in. There are some areas I like. For example, the fur coloring on his back, which ended up close to his actual coloring (happy accident). There are other areas, like the white on his face or areas on his hind leg, that I’m not crazy about. However, before I go right through the paper in trying to fix it, I’ll stop. I could digitally fix it, but it’s just a sketch (I keep telling myself), leave it alone (I keep telling myself), move on. I can get so crazy obsessed in fixing one more thing, one more thing, one more thing. Oh the stories I could tell about stitches put in and stitches taken out. No wonder I like Photoshop so much, with all of the multiple un-dos (and painting on the iPad has un-dos, too!). Even now, looking at it, I want to fix this and that (eyebrow isn’t thick enough in one area, face is. Nuts, I know.
Jerry’s Artorama in Lawrenceville, NJ is having a sale tomorrow and Saturday. 30% of brushes and paints. I should get some new brushes. The majority of my brushes are for painting fabric. They are wide, not particularly good quality, and I go through them quickly to cover large areas. While I have a some good brushes, I find myself struggling with getting a fine enough point to do things like putting a hairline curve of a highlighting color on his eyeballs. Yes, I think I’m going to get some new brushes.
April 20th, 2012 at 8:48 am
I am so impressed with your drawing/painting ability. I had no idea that you were adept at this as well! Live and learn.
Your comments about Bud-Z were interesting too. It sounds like he’d had a hard life until you guys gave him a good home. He is fortunate that you found him. Give him a smooch for me!
xo
April 20th, 2012 at 9:22 am
Judy, you’re very kind. I don’t feel particularly adept at much, rather one of those people who try and try and try and try. As I mentioned in the post, I can tell you story after story of things I did, took apart, redid, tried again, and so on. Bud-Z is fortunate Rich wanted to give him a home; I was still mourning Buddy. I was on auto-pilot then. Bud-Z can still be a handful, but he seems to be getting more relaxed by the day. :)
April 20th, 2012 at 11:02 am
Not having met Bud-Z in person I think this painting in your latest series is very compelling. The detail and expression on his face drew me in immediately. You’ve captured his “lighter side” :-) The monochrome background lets him standout. The white you added to his underbelly makes him seem like a cuddly guy. And what a nice blend of colors in his shoulders and back…not easy to create that multi-color, brown/black/white/tan fur. Maybe it’s the digital photo, but I think it’s one of your best versions!
April 20th, 2012 at 11:20 am
Susan, thank you! The coloration was more a happy accident than anything I planned. I had messed up areas and ended up covering them with white acrylic paint. Between that paint and the tooth of the cold press paper, the new layer of watercolors started blending and flowing in interesting ways. Plus the white of the not completely dry acrylic started to mix in with the watercolor giving an interesting blend. Again, totally unplanned.
My husband and I keep commenting on how his coloration seems to continually change. We were looking at pictures of him from last year, and his fur was much more tan than it is now. Now it seems to have a more orange hue, with black, gray, and tan. It could be a seasonal change and/or better nutrition (he is a healthy 95 lbs now, about 30 lbs heavier than when we got him).