WIP Boxer, Prof. Picture of it!

[Gemma]

Hi All,

Well, I just finished the background of the latest dog I'm doing. The first picture is the reference photo and the second is my progress so far.

It's done on Stonehenge paper approx. 14 x 14 inches. The top part of the background was done with several layers of Prisma Indigo Blue, Dark Umber, Black and the same three again. As I came down in the lower left of the back ground I stopped using indigo and dark umber and instead did layer os peach, beige, Cloud blue, PolyChromo Van-Dyke Brown and Walnut Brown. I used the Colorless Marker to blend the background colors.

Here it is so far:

[Gemma]

Oh I forgot to mention,,,, be real careful with the colorless blender. If you're working in a dark area and moving to a light area the darker color can bleed into the light area. I've made this mistake before and was really bummed when it happened.

Gemma

[larsnip]

Great Light and shadow on this :clap: :clap: :clap: I can tell this is going to be masterful like the rest of your work
Colorless Blenders, I only use them to dull down areas and move pigment around, kinda like a shovel, but when I'm really trying to blend I use color and actually combine it.
Pigment will embed itself in that colorless stuff on the blenders and come out when you don't mean it to :mad: you got to be careful with those things


Dave

[Brenda]

Already love the background, Gemma. Really neat transition from the dark to the light.

You mentioned using the colorless marker. Is there a reason to use the marker instead of turpenoid? I guess a better way of phrasing is... is there a time when it's better to use the marker than turpenoid and visa versa? Or do you only use the marker?

I've tried the turpenoid and though I'm not great at it yet, I do like it. I've never used the marker.

[Della]

:) i shall be watching this gemma we used to own and breed Boxers so i can't wait to see it finished nice so far,
Della.

[CindyH]

I'm watching! I love boxers and I love your work :) I had a boxer when I was a child...he was my favorite dog.

[Gayle]

I'll be watching too, I find your work an inspiration. :)

Gayle

[Gemma]

Thanks Dave, Brenda, Della, Cindy and Gayle!

Brenda,,,, I like the blenders but like Dave said you have to be careful. I have a whole box of them and I'm real careful about the color bleed thing. The only place I use the blenders is usually on a large flat backgound like this if there's lots of detail then I use the pencils to do the blending. I guess I get lazy on a background like this and it helps speed things up a bit. I haven't tried the Turpenoid,,, I'll have to give it whirl sometime.

Gemma

[lene]

Hi Gemma

Know for sure this will be worth watching :clap: Your dog-drawings are just outstanding :bye1:

[Gemma]

Thanks Lene!

I got a little bit done on the Boxer. I probably won't be able to get back to it for a few days so I thought I would post an update.

When ever I'm drawing fur I use a very light touch and I don't worry about covering all the paper at first. I use kind sketchy kind of lines and just keep adding more colors. I do this so the viewer will see lots of little lines of color which seems to make it a bit more believeable. I always start out with light colors first and build up to the darker colors. I very seldom will add a light color on top of a dark color unless my intent is to burnish.

On the eye,,,, I used pumpkin orange first and then started building darker colors in a circular stroke using siena brown, terecotta, dark umber, and burnt siena (polychromo), being very careful to leave an area where the highlight will be. I used dark brown and black for the puple. In the highlight I left some paper and used cloud blue and true blue around the fringes of the highlight.

Around the eye,,,, I used from cool grey 10% all the way up to cool gray 90% being careful to leave the highlight area with little or no color. I also used some true blue and slate blue in some of the highlights and also some greyed lavendar. I also added Derwent's burnt carmine in some of the darker areas to warm it up a bit and then I also used some black.

The Fur area,,,,, I first layed down sand very lightly again using a sketchy stroke then using the same stroke I added peach, pumpkin orange, Derwent's burnt sienna, terrecota, sienna brown, dark brown and just a few little hair like strokes of black here and there.

So here's the attachment of what I've done so far:

[KarenCardinal]

Ohhhh Gemma... this is wonderful!
Thanks so much for the detailed instructions!

I will be waiting (somewhat patiently) for your next installment. :D

[Gayle]

:clap: :clap: :clap:
Thank you for including the colours you've used, I find it so helpful.

Gayle

[Jomitzi]

Beautiful detail, really looking forward to seeing this one develop. Your work is fantastic.
Jo

[Della]

:) OOOHHHHHH looking good can't wait to see the next bit , and thankyou again for the colours you use and what you lay down first , it is so helpful
Della. :D

[Brenda]

I noticed you left white areas around the silhouette of the bull dog. Did you empress the lines or leave them?

The fur around his eye is so shiny and sleek looking. Beautiful...

[Gemma]

Thanks Karen, Gayle, Jo, Della and Brenda!:D

Brenda,,, I used impressed lines. I a scribe that I use but sometimes if I want it to be a color then I use a real sharp Verithyn and press hard.

Gemma

[Brenda]

I didn't think about the verithins. I bought just a few of them not too long ago thinking I could use them sometime. Hmmm.... great idea! Thanks, Gemma.

[ann_aurora]

Stunning, again! I love the background, and I'm sure it looks even richer on the original. His eye is wonderful! Your fur technique is always inspiring to me--I think about it every time I do fur these days. Can't wait to see the next update!

[Jazz]

Oh Gemma it is such a treat to be able to see one of your pieces as a WIP -thank you! :)

I adore Boxers, they have such wonderfully expressive faces plus my Monty is part Boxer so how could i not love them ;) .

I love how rich and dark you got the background, I know it will really make him stand out.

Thank you for giving us all the colours and instructions on how you lay down the colour, it is very interesting.

It is looking wonderful already and i know I will have to be patient to see the rest but I am so eager, LOL


Huge hugs,

ALI

[Gemma]

Thanks Ann and Ali!!:D :D

Gemma

[illustroni]

Hi Gemma!

I'm really looking forward to seeing this take shape.. your working method is almost identical to mine, and I'll be interested to see how you handle the areas that I have previously had trouble with.. most especially keeping wet noses looking wet.. I invariably lose my lights..

Looking great so far! Lots of close ups please!

[Toni]

Gemma this is coming along great!

yeah love that drk bg. Sets the boxer off ... gunna be sweet when your done.

Colorless blender markers ICK!!! I refuse to use em lol. I do recall reading that if you used a baby wipe on the tip, it would remove that color residue left behind though.

Maybe give it a try sometime and let us know? LOL.

TJ

[Bill C]

UHHH, where's an update??? :p :devil2:

[wanda]

This is going to be beautiful!! I am definitely watching. wanda

[Gemma]

Thanks Roni, Toni, Bill and Wanda!!


OK,,, I've finally gotten some time to work on this puppy and here's what I've done so far. In the fur area I pretty much continued what I did before, using a few more darks here and there to show the highlighting.

The Muzzel,,,,, I tried to create kind of a modeled look by using circular open strokes and then burnishing over it with white and doing the circular stroke again then burnish until I got what I was looking for. I used from 10%-70% cool grey, slate blue, cloud blue, greyed lavendar, true blue, deco blue and as I said I kept burnishing with white.

The Nose,,,, Again I'm using a circular but the circles much smaller. I'm building from 10%-90% cool grey, black, greyed lavendar, cloud blue, true blue and I also impressed some dots here and there so the white paper can show through.

Here's the update, the full face and a close up.

[wanda]

The close up looks just as good as the full face view! :D wanda

[Brenda]

Awesome! You are sooo good at this. I always appreciate your WIPs.

[Arlene]

gemma your fur always amazes me. looking great so far.

[Gemma]

Thanks Wanda, Brenda and Arlene,,, I really do appreciate your comments.
Gemma

[CindyH]

Wonderful Gemma....I especially like the little white whiskers under the chin that you can see in the closeup.

[Gayle]

Wonderful Gemma, I learn so much from you. :clap: :clap:

Gayle

[Bob Ebdon]

Ditto Gemma! Respect! As they say. So I understand.

[Heidi]

Can't quite get over how amazing this is :)
....as others have said you are truly astounding at dipicting fur , and those eyes...they are so wisful!!!!
I have bought a couple of books to help me to do animals but imo they don't come anywhere close in standard to your work.

Heidi

[Jazz]

Oh Gemma he is looking wonderful already :clap: :clap: :clap: ,

I think it is always better to learn from WIP's and so I so appreciate you taking the time to show us in detail how you do the fur and all the other elements that make up a dogs face and character, Thank you for sharing :)

I know all this will be precious information for me when I come to do a portrait of my dogs in CP, thank you.


Huge hugs,


ALI

[Jomitzi]

Keep going, keep going, I cant stand the suspense. :D
Beautiful, just beautiful.
Jo

[Gemma]

Thanks Cindy, Gayle, Bob, Heidi, Ali and Jo,,,, you guys are all so kind. I hope to get some time to work on this in the next day or two.

Gemma

[Gemma]

Here's another update to the Boxer. On this update I worked in the fur area. I used light peach or sand as my base color then added terri cotta, siena brown, pumpkin orange, yellow ochre, dark umber, indigo blue in the shadow areas, tuscun red and just a few little light hairs of black here and there.

[Gemma]

Here's another up date I started working on the right ear. I used sienna brown, dark umber, tuscun red, indigo blue and just a bit of black.

[Gemma]

Another update, more of the same colors.

[Gemma]

I forgot to mention that I used true blue, slate blue, and cloud blue in the highlights of the ear.

Here's another update. I'm now working on the white area of the boxer here I've used, all of the greys both warm and cool, french greys, slate blue, indigo blue, peach, dark umber and some yellow ochre.

On the jaw area I used sand, sienna brown, teri cotta, pumpkin orange, tuscan red, indigo blue, black, yellow ochre, dark umber and peach.

[Dee]

Wow Gemma..This is looking great.

Thanks for telling us the colors you're using. That helps a lot!!! :)

[Donna]

Gemma

He's looking wonderful already..looking forward to seeing him completed.




Donna

[Carol Stone]

Gemma, OH MY Goosh!! You are so artistic, talented and Blessed! This dog looks as if he could literally jump off this page. I thank you as well for going into so much detail about how you do the paintings. I am learning so much. Wish you could be my personal instructor and make me into an artist worthy of your artist time! I bow to your abilities! Great job!!! :clap: :clap: :clap:
Also, thanks for the very nice comments on my work! I will difinately remember those suggestions on the next one!

Carol Stone

[CindyH]

Gemma, This creature is wonderful! You seem to capture an animal's spirit which sets you apart as an animal portrait artist. I can almost smell dog fur ;)

[Judy Caudill]

I love when you include the step by steps--I learn so much from them--This one is going to be great I can tell already :)

[sunshine]

Hi Gemma - this is fantastic so real and I appreciate the lesson. Looking forward to seeing more.

On another note
Its great to see this beautiful breed without the ears clipped - such a barbaric trend as in the doberman, great dane and other breeds. Does this still go on in the US? Thank goodness it doesn't happen in the UK nor the tail docking any more. Sorry to mention this but I feel very strongly as I have seen a number of pictures of this nature lately and its quite refreshing to see this one.

Jenny

[Gemma]

Dee, Donna, Carol, Cindy Judy and Jenny Thank you all so much!!!!!:D :D :D

I've almost completed the muzzel,,,, I used all of the warm and cool greys, slate blue, cloud blue, greyed lavendar, slate gray, henna, indigo blue, flesh, white and black. I used a circular stroke and would then burnish over it with either white or could blue and then would add more color using the circular stroke again and then burnish again. I still have some more work to do on his lower left jaw.

Here's the update:

[Brenda]

GASP! This is marvelous work! I love the colors you've used in him. And he looks so real I swear I saw him move. SMILE!

[marilyn h]

Gemma,the midas touch is all your paintings. You know your subjects so well.
It is always a pleasure to see a real artist at work.

[Toni]

Gemma he's coming along just beautifully!!! So cool. Love to see how other artists work. :) Such a thrill.

TJ

[vltz]

Wow!
:eek:
V

[Gemma]

Brenda, Marilyn, Toni and Virginia thanks so much! I really do appreciate the wonderful comments!
Gemma

[Alyona]

Beautiful painting Gemma!:clap: :clap: :clap: I am a big fan of your artwork!

[Gemma]

Thank You Alyona!!!!!!!:D :D
Gemma

[Wes Hyde]

Beautiful work! I'll be looking forward to seeing this completed.

Burnish?

Wes

[wanda]

Beautiful! Is it hard to apply more color after you have burnished it? I recently read an article by a cp artist that does this after every color used. wanda

[Gemma]

Beautiful! Is it hard to apply more color after you have burnished it? I recently read an article by a cp artist that does this after every color used. wanda

Thanks Wanda! I have found I can burnish a few times and still add color, so you do have to be a bit careful here. I will add several layers, burnish and then go back and touch up here and there and then burnish again. Sometimes I can get a few more layers at this point and then do a final burnish.

Thank You too, Wes!

Gemma

[artfulscribe]

WOW. You're like the Rembrandt of dog paintings, I tell you! Apart from your flat-out exquisite technique, the mood you're able to invoke is just masterful!

Roxana

[Bob Ebdon]

:clap: :clap: :clap: Yeah - Rembrandt would be happy to have done this.

[Gayle]

Simply stunning. :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Gayle

[Gemma]

AAAAWWWW thanks, Roxanna, Bob and Gayle! You guys are great!
Gemma

[Jomitzi]

What fantastic portrait, I love it. You have just got to finish it!!! You have improved on the photograph no end.
Jo

[marilyn h]

Can I come and sit on your lap and watch you draw????? LOL!
I wish I knew how to do this. It is so fun watching you create. Just beautiful work.

[wanda]

I love the gradation of the bg! wanda

[Colleen_Brown]

Gemma this is wonderful. What a gorgeous dog!!! My fave touch just has to be that little whisker on his cheek!!! love the details!!

Cheers, Colleen :clap: :clap:

[Gemma]

Thanks a bunch Jo, Marilyn, Wanda and Colleen! I hope to have another update this weekend.

Gemma

[Angela]

As usual, it's beautiful and oh so real. I love your work.

[bmac]

I don't know how I have missed this entire thread! Gemma, you amaze me every time I see one of your WIPs. This one is no exception. I am.. :droppedja ! Looking forward to an update this weekend! :)

[Shey]

This is truly amazing.... you are so talented. I am feeling so inspired. Thanks so much for all the details in your description, I can't wait to get home from work and play with my pencils! :bounce:

Shey

[Gemma]

Thanks Shey, Beth and Aarmondo, I really appreciate the kind comments!

Well,,,, I finished it! In the white fur area I used just about all of the cool greys, Sienna Brown, peach, sand, cloud blue, deco blue, slate blue, true blue turquoise blue (derwent), blue violet (dewent) and white.

I took the picture with my digital camera so there's a bad glare. As soon as I have the professional picture taken I'll post it.

[Dee]

Fabulous...I can't believe how great this is!!

Well worth the wait. :clap: :clap: :clap:

[Genine]

Just beautiful! It looks like oil instead of pencil. Love the profile.

[Gemma]

Thanks Dee and Genine!!

Gemma

[Colleen_Brown]

Absolutely wonderful Gemma... have missed seeing your pooches... this one is beautifully rendered as always.!! :clap: :clap:

Colleen :D :clap: :bye1:

[Brenda]

Amaaaazing... This is gorgeous, Gemma! I love the background and the mood of this painting.

And of course the mastiff is unbelievable.

[Carol Stone]

Just marvelous Gemma, I am studying your animals, if you don't mind. It is unreal, well not unreal, your animals look very real, but I meant, it is indescribiably gorgeous and your talent just overwhelms me, BRAVO Gemma!!!
:clap: :clap: :clap:
Carol

[Gemma]

Colleen, Brenda and Carol, thank you guys so much! Your comments are appreciated.

Gemma

[Nancy]

Excellent job Gemma!!!! A gorgeous dog if ever there was one! :D

[lucky]

This turned out fantastic Gemma! His fur looks so velevety and smooth, just makes you want to reach out and pet him! Great work!

~Lucky

[lene]

Hi
absolutely stunning drawing :bye1:
.... and the way the light falls on the dog :clap: :clap:

[Jomitzi]

Beautiful, just amazing. I really love the shadow of his tag on his chest, just sets the whole portrait off. What a lovely piece, you should be very proud.
Jo

[Toni]

Beautifully done Gemma! Love the gradiation in be bg, and that shadow on his chest...... perfect. Sets the whole piece off so well.

:clap:

TJ

[larsnip]

Wonderful finish on this :clap: :clap: :clap:
But some how chest area seems a bit flat and bright, especially the left side. It makes his chest appear to be to wide and flat.


Dave

[wanda]

Beautiful!! I keep expecting him to turn around an look at me! :clap: :clap: wanda

[Gemma]

Nancy, Lucky, Lene, Jo, Toni and Wanda,,,, Thank You very much!!

Dave,, Thanks to you too and thanks for your input. I have to agree with you infact after I posted it last night I looked at it didn't feel there were enough darks on the white. I punched up the darks a bit more. It's at the photographers now so hopefully I did enough. I do however feel that the digi picture is so bad it is making everything in the white area real glarey so it does look much better in person. I'll post the professional picture of it when I get it back.

Gemma

[Bob Ebdon]

I love the way the the light affects the colour on the collar - amongst so many other things. Wonderful as usual Gemma.

[Heidi]

Wow Gemma I am totally bowled over by this :clap: ...what a thoughtful fella he looks , so so believable.The detail is fantastic , right down to the shadow cast by his name tag on his fur. :clap:

Heidi

[Gemma]

Thanks Bob and Heidi!!!!!

I got the professional picture back so here's the post:

[Bill C]

wow gemma, this is great! :clap: :clap: :clap:

just goes to show you that there IS a place for those grey pencils! :D :D

[Brenda]

Oh, Gemma! It's stunning. Every last little bit of fur. I love the whole mood - impact - feel of this. And to think... we got to watch it come to life. Sigh...

[Arlene]

wow gemma, this is great! :clap: :clap: :clap:

just goes to show you that there IS a place for those grey pencils! :D :D

hush your mouth. ;) gemma it came out great. you should be happy with it.

[Gemma]

Thank you so much Bill, Brenda and Arlene! And,,,,,, yes Bill there are some uses for those grays,,, lol!
Gemma

[Angela]

I can't believe how absolutely beautiful this is. Your animal work is always, always so stunning. Love it!

[Alyona]

Gemma, I LOVE YOUR WORK! http://www.scribbletalk.com/images/smilies/clap.gif http://www.scribbletalk.com/images/smilies/clap.gif http://www.scribbletalk.com/images/smilies/clap.gif

[larsnip]

Dave,, Thanks to you too and thanks for your input. I have to agree with you infact after I posted it last night I looked at it didn't feel there were enough darks on the white. I punched up the darks a bit more. It's at the photographers now so hopefully I did enough. I do however feel that the digi picture is so bad it is making everything in the white area real glarey so it does look much better in person. I'll post the professional picture of it when I get it back.

Gemma

It looks much better. :clap: :clap: :clap:
One of the great handicaps of showing our work in this format is these Digital Images. They really don't do our work justice.

Great job!

DAve

[Feathers]

He looks positively Regal. Your handling of his fur is masterful--I am especially amazed at your handling of his muzzel. He looks so real!

[bmac]

Gemma, This is beautiful! I love the atmosphere that is has. :clap:

[Gemma]

Wow you guys are all so great and so supportive! Thanks, Angela, Alyona, Dave, Feathers and Beth!!

[Wilfrid]

Very very beautiful, it's a really good job, I love it.

[llodercpart]

He is just gorgeous.

I just found this. I am still working my way around the site.
I hope you bring some of your beauties to the meeting on the 30th. I am so looking forward to seeing you again its been a very long time...

I am sure I will have website questions for you too.

wonderful job, Gemma.....

-linda

[one who sees]

ahhh i love boxers...have done a few as well.....you did a wonderful job on this one.....and just love the dark bg.....
and..eh...psst? i too believe there is a place for grays!. :o