I just finished this portrait for the Decoys and Wildlife Show this weekend in Frenchtown NJ. I'm sorry there are no wips, I basically just found out about the show last week. I started it 3 days ago and just finished in time to deliver it. Despite the short deadline I'll never get tired of painting these guy's.
I know I skipped a few steps but I thought it was getting tedious. I basically finished the foreground and finally added the rose which I was really looking forward to paint. That being said,I'm calling this done.
I'm still gradually building forward in the foreground. I also enjoy painting the light on top of and coming through the leaves.
I've added the background roses which are in the shade and I'm slowly working my way forward to the sunlit ones.
I'm continuing to refine the bird and I'm also starting to add the background and foreground leaves and petals
This painting is for the Gallery One Masterworks in Miniature show in March. I've sketched out the composition lightly with a white charcoal pencil. I went right into the bird to establish my lights and darks.
I really like painting these guy's! I was drawn to this actor in particular by his naturally exaggerated features. He looked to me as though he had just stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting, one of my all time artist heroes.
