Foal in grass

[N.Wiley]

Hello. I doubt if any of us have "met". I am new and new to painting. This is my 3rd painting and first of an animal. Painting animals is my subject of choice so any C&C, tips, etc. will be so welcome. I started it yesterday, July 1. the first photo is yesterdays work, the second today. I have most of it blocked in. Any suggestions on where to go from here on foal? It is in acrylics on 16 x 20 canvas.

[annj]

awwww, this is going to be such a sweet portrait. Welcome to the zoo Nancy, I think you're going to fit right in :-)

[N.Wiley]

Thank you, Ann :) Went to your website. WOW!!!!! If I get half as good as you I'll be in heaven :)

[pjdee]

Welcome, Nancy! Looks like you're off to a great start. I'm looking forward to updates!

[PatrickHedges]

Not sure what kind of help you are asking for. By the looks of things, we should be asking you for help :clap:

[alicat]

Welcome, Nancy! You're off to a great start with this foal, I like your style!

[NickyW]

Welcome to WC Nancy, you will love it here. Everyone is sooooo helpful.
Your foal is lovely, you are doing so well keep up the good work..cant wait to see more..

[VeronicaF]

A big welcome Nancy,wow!! I can't see that you need any help
this is fantastic what you have done so far,can't wait to see more

[valchina612]

Welcome Nancy. :wave: WOW, this is looking gorgeous. :clap: :thumbsup:

Val. :wave:

[Jomitzi]

Hi Nancy, great start, I think this is going to look great when it is finished, I will be watching.:)
Jo

[N.Wiley]

Well gee everyone, thanks for all the nice comments :o . I do think it is coming out pretty well so far. What I'd really like to learn is very realistic painting. Like you guys do! For instance, there is a post up now called "Blink", how in the world does one do that individual hairs look????? I really want to know this.

Patrick: your animals are wonderful! I have been doing wood carving/sculpting for the past two years and did a Warthog at my sister-in-laws request. I did enter him in a large show and he won Best of Show.

http://www.sculptinwood.com/nwileysculptures

[jody007]

Welcome to the zoo! Wow I don't think you need any help from the looks of things. You are doing one magnificent job! I am really looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful work!
Jody

[FaeLynn]

Looking great Nancy! Welcome to the Zoo!!
I will be back for an update! Kepe going! :-)
~Fae Lynn

[Firehorse]

Nancy this is looking great! I really can't wait to see it finished. And I agree with the others that you don't seem to need help. Well done, and welcome!

[annj]

Hi Nancy

Thanks for the compliment on my paintings! :-)

For a hair-by-hair detailed look, there's only one way to do it - hair by bloomin' hair <g>

You wrote: "What I'd really like to learn is very realistic painting"

I love realism too, but I personally prefer not to see every single hair detailed in a painting, although I greatly admire the skill of it when I see it. My personal preference is for some detail to be "picked out", and some left to the eye to "fill in" for itself. You'd be amazed how your eyes can make up stuff for themselves, and to me it makes a painting more magical and exciting if the artist does it that way.

I'll post an equine example to show you what I mean. This painting was done by our very own Colleen (winecountry) - hope you don't mind Colleen!

There's no doubt this is a painting and not a photograph, but also no doubt that this is a real horse either... Can you see the areas in the mane and face where there is little actual detail, but your eye will still "read" it as realistic? This allows your eye to "rest" and linger in the painting, while in other areas, the detail is there to keep your eye busy.

You can learn a lot by studying closely the work of painters you admire. After your initial breath-being-taken-away of a work you like, examine it really closely and try to "deconstruct" it a little. Observe the way they use the colour to make darks and lights, their brushstrokes (or linework). That will really help you learn how to approach your next subject in a similar fashion.

Anyways, enuff babbling on from me - hope some of it helps.

[NickyW]

Hi Nancy, awww Blink is my painting. I have only been painting for around 3 months now so im still very unskilled. I agree with Ann and she has been a real God send to me, that its just hair by bloomin hair. It takes patience, but each painting you do you really learn so much, and by your mistakes, hehe. Colleens horse is awesome Ann..wow....I used Rembrandt soft pastels on Blink and a few pastel pencils..i just love the texture of them. You are certainly in the right place here, so seek seek seek..and you will find..i look forward to seeing more of your painting.

[N.Wiley]

Finally got this done! At least I'm calling it done unless any of you can tell me things to improve on. I know there's plenty but my newby brain needs stuff pointed out to me :lol: I don have to touch up along the edges, I tried the masking thing and I need to bring colorr on over to the line in spots. The grass made me crazy, especially in the upper left. Where the shoulder and barrel/girth meet . . .I'm not sure if it's good enough. Please, any comments, good or bad, welcome!!!

[flyfisherflyfisher1]

Very nice! Great composition and subject matter! This is only your 4th? Wow.
I only have one small c&c. I feel like the contrast between it's ears and neck could be improved on probably lighten the edge of the ears a little (make 'em pop forward). Thats it. great job! looking to see more from you! thanks for sharring.:clap: :clap:
Pete

[ColorsoftheRainbow]

Oh this is so sweet! Great subject! I like the detail of the clover too. just where a horse's nose would like to be!

[Firehorse]

BRAVO!!!! This is really good! And that foliage is amazing and so life like. I wish I could do grass and clover like that. You should be proud of yourself for creating such a wonderful piece!

[N.Wiley]

Thank you everyone :) I really had to work on that one, man, who would have thought that simple things like grass could be so difficult. I spent several days on that alone. Whew.

[annj]

Well done Nancy! The foal is adorable, and you have handled the grass and flowers very very well.