The Nightshift (xpost A+W)

[catchlight]

Hi all!

Here's what I've been up to, I'm overcome with holiday laziness so prolific has been far from my middle name just lately! :)

This is 8x10 on drafting film using CP's and again, the photo is by Crias...thankyou again Cathy! :) I really do adore your photo's! :)

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/11-Jan-2007/57873-leopard.jpg

[Herb]

OK, Wendy. This is getting a bit boring. :lol: Why don't you goof one up so everyone can get some practice criticizing. :lol: :lol: Beautiful drawing!

[catchlight]

LOL, I'll do my best...erm worst hehe :D

[bobcat79]

Wonderful work as always Wendy. ( You still haven't tried one on a washerboard yet ) The quality that draws me to this painting is the strong light source on the left side. I like the brightness that you are able to get.

[catchlight]

LOL you know Greg, I've never been able to find a wash board yet :D hehe :D

[ArtyLady]

I'm with Herb here - why don't you try and do a painting with your non-dominant hand???

Superb as per usual!

[catchlight]

Oh crikey Liz, that'd be a challenge LOL!

[dogman63]

Absolutly stunning I love the colors in the fur and the detail.The way you use light to create atmosphere absolutly astounding.:thumbsup:

[cindyv4]

Hello Wendy,
Glad to see you drawing again. I love this , as I do all your work! You inspire me, and I feel othrs as well.
Thanks again for sharing!
cindyv

[plec]

Wendy , excellent well done,
Best wishes, Ken..

[Rita2479]

This is super, Wendy! I love the perspective on this one and that fur just looks so tactile, makes me want to pet him/ her.

Hey, since we've got a big cat challenge going on do you feel up to doing a big kitty WIP (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) ;)

Rita

[wet]

LOVE the lighting!! This is wonderful. If you can't get your hands on a wash board what about a tissue?:evil: :D Wanda

[Meisie]

Nice job Wendy!!!

I agree, Cathy is the Queen of wildlife refs :D

[green tea]

That's beautiful.

[Acker]

Beautiful work as always. Crias has great photgraphs but you managed to create great pictures with your choices of colors. You also manage to select pictures that some would pass by, such as the cougar washing its paw
as I did) and by cropping and color choices, make them into eye catching pictures.
Do you work on both sides of the film? If so, how do you decide which colors to use on the back?
Do you plan ahead on what color mat to use as backing as it will have an impact?

[JayD]

Cathy, just beautiful.

[catchlight]

Dogman thankyou! :)

Cindy, that's probably the nicest compliment a person could get. When I think of all the artists here who inspire me, I can't imagine anything nicer than doing that for someone else, thankyou :D

Thankyou Ken :D

Oh yes Rita, I forgot about that! I'll have to do one for that :)

Wanda - yipes that's a scary thought LOL! I'm so heavy handed I'd have it shredded in five seconds LOL! You're mean to me :D

Thanks Meisie! Cathy's photo's are just so great to work with, she gets such wonderful crisp photo's to work from :)

Thanks Greentea! :)

Acker, thankyou :D Well I do usually work both sides of the film, I did with this one especially for the dark background to get it dark enough. Usually when I'm working on a piece, I'll pick whichever backing is going to let me see the colours easiest, black or white. (for instance if there's a lot of white in it, it's hard to see if you work on a white surface). Or sometimes I work on an mdf table. And then when I'm finished I'll try a few different backings to see what I like the most. Now I've gotten better at darkening a background fully, I use white a lot more because it makes the colours stand out so much more. Really it all comes down to personal preference and what works best for a particular piece :)

To decide what colours to use on the back when I work the back, it sort of depends what sort of effect I'm after. Sometimes I darken the back if I haven't managed to fully darken a part on the front enough. Or sometimes I'll do an animals fur the same colour all over and then put darker colours on the back to create the shadows which can work really well. Sometimes I'll use complementary colours to give more depth or I'll do a background entirely on the back to give a blurred more distant effect. That's the brilliant thing with film, you can do just about anything you want with it :D

Thanks JayD :D

[brynmr]

Love that thalo blue popping out like that! Beautiful!

[Clever]

I agree with Tommy...the best thing about this is the blue in the spots popping in the light. Great!!

[catchlight]

Well that's done it, I'm gonna stick blue spots in everything now LOL :D

[fantaseepainter]

Hi Wendy!

I love the glossy fur and the blue highlights! Very Yummy!!!

I'm glad you are getting over your "holiday laziness". I am still stalled. This is my first post since before Christmas. And I haven't been painting either:o . I was hoping seeing everybody elses art would inspire me.

[faula]

Well that's done it, I'm gonna stick blue spots in everything now LOL :D

LOL!

You did a fabulous job with the lighting on this. Another great work of art. :)

[catchlight]

LOL Sonja I think that holidayitis might be contagious hehe :D

Rofl jennifer, do you think a shiny espresso cup with blue spots'd work? :D

[objectivistartist]

[hmmmmm - blueberry expresso......:rolleyes:]

[faula]

Rofl jennifer, do you think a shiny espresso cup with blue spots'd work? :D

Yep it would work :D
lol

[catchlight]

LOL blueberry espresso....well it's different at least LOL!

[IrishRose]

Gosh Wendy, this is gorgeous!!! I have been busy with my atc project and my husband's b'day... but finally got a chance to pop in and see what was going on and WOW!!! I also agree with the others about the blue... it pops right out at you.... blue is awesome! Your whole drawing is just the best!

[dotb]

:clap: :clap: :clap: Beautimous! (I love the blue, too.)

[Chapa]

Hi Wendy,
You have such a knack for interesting compositions and colors! I would have never chosen that angle and it works sooo well!!!:D The colors are gorgeous too!!:clap:

Aloha,
Ethel

[catchlight]

Thanks you guys! :)

[Northern Lass]

This is sooo lovely, Wendy. How many people just try and get a thick, thick black layer and not use a Blue at all? This really does seem a 'truer' indication of black fur. Excellent! Thanks for posting it for us to see,

NL - Ange in Lincs
xx:wave:

edit:: Just read other comments, seems I'm not the only one loving the blue bits!!!

[catchlight]

I'm definitely keeping that blue for the future LOL :D

Thanks Ange! :)

[Lucio]

Wendy,
I always expect the best coming from you and I never have been disappointed .
Great work as always :thumbsup:
Lucio

[Rosa Weitzel]

Its so beautiful I'm speachless. d:thumbsup:

Rosa

[couturej]

Wendy, your leopard looks gorgeous! :)

[catchlight]

Aww thanks guys!