Buck in snow-WIP

[Bill C]

I'm starting this as a WIP. It's a whitetail buck in a harvested corn field in the snow. It will be 11 x 14, prismas on wc paper. Here's the first sketch

[Bill C]

The lines are there for ref, they will be replaced with corn stubble, I'll try to be careful not to lead the eye off of the page. Heres the sketch put on good paper, 11 x 14 on 140# cold pressed wc paper ( i found some with slightly less texture) I adjusted the contrast so you can see my line drawing (with col erase pencils)

[Bill C]

bill much better though i'd crop a bit from top, bottom and left side...like so

[Bill C]

OK, thanks for your help Arlene. the snow has me a little worried, at least it will be a learning experience. I'll get started on it tonight

[Bill C]

Ok Bill,,,,, I'm waiting,,,,, where's your first update???? :evil: :D
Gemma

[Bill C]

OK Gemma, here's the first update. Not the greatest image because it's too big for my scanner, i had to use my dig camera indoors. After the line drawing I used the colorless blender all over hopefully to serve as a resist for the snow.

For the sky and snow I've used the following colors:
cloud blue
greyed lavender
periwinkle
cold grey very light
cold grey light

for the trees:
celadon green
greyed lavender
henna
cold grey medium
ind blue
black cherry
violet blue

I've started indicating the corn with yellow ochre

For the snow flakes in the sky I used an electric eraser with an eraser shield, think that's going to work out great.

Now for a question: I want to do a value under painting on the deer. Deer in the winter are a reddish brown with a lot of gray. I'm thinking the underpainting should be either tuscan red, ind blue, or celadon green. I've never done an underpainting on a deer so suggestions will be appreciated.

If you've ever seen a deer in the middle of winter you know that they look almost completely grey, with the grey, snowy day of this piece I don't want the deer to be too warm.

[Bill C]

Bill,

This is wonderful, your snow really looks great! I can't wait to see this one done,,,,,,, fingers thumping on the table,,,, lol. WTG Bill!!

Gemma

[Bill C]

Bill i really like this. Yup I've seen this scene too (well takeaway the furrowed field and deep snow ;) )

I feel he could look either way, as long as you drop him into the sweet spot arlene suggested. Where he was put the tips of his antlers kissin the horizon line.

As far as the snow, falling softly works this time, after you get done with this you can go for blustery with some experience under your belt.

Can't wait to see it coming to life.

TJ

[Bill C]

last nights progress, underpainting on deer with indigo blue. I'm posting two scans (I can't figure out how to stitch them together.)

[Bill C]

July 31 update,

colors added to the deer:
french grey 50%, sienna brown, sepia, dk brown, dark umber and a little tuscan red.

horns: french grey 20%, beige, sienna brown, dk brown, white

corn stubble: beige, french grey 50%, french grey 70%

[Bill C]

Oh Bill, this is really coming along nicely. I'm so sorry we won't get to meet you at the conference.

Gemma

[Bill C]

Aug 1 update: I worked on this some more last night, digital pict so it's a little crooked. I mostly worked on the corn stubble. Lightened the trees on the left and worked on the values on the deer. I'm afraid if i push the details and values too much it won't look real. I think I'm getting close to being done with this.

[Bill C]

take a good look at snow pics...you'll see that even in a hazy snowday there are still more colors then you've shown on the ground...it's pale, but they're there. the deer looks great...that bush is still bothering me. why? because bushes, especially ones in the wild, are not so neatly "trimmed". bring a branch or two at the bottom into the picture plane a bit so the bush isn't just a frame as it is now.

[Bill C]

Thanks arlene, I see what you mean about the trees. Your right, they aren't so neatly trimmed. I've put some color in the sky and snow, periwinkle, cloud blue and greyed lavender, but I've kept them very light. I probably need to be more bold I'll study some more snow picts as you suggest.

[Bill C]

also there'd be more color in the foreground then as you go further back and it would have a bit more chroma then further back..

[Bill C]

OK, I'm thinking this is done unless you guys see something that could be improved.
This is a dig photo because it's too big for my scanner, quality is so-so, and all the color in the snow doesn't show (particularly the lavenders.)

[Bill C]

I added some perinkle shadows to the snow on the deers back. This is a better pict, taken outside in the sunlight.