THE EARLY BIRD-unfinished Whiteboard

[FoggyMountain]

This is great already. I can't wait to see it progress.

[jbeausoleil]

sheesh ...
when my experiments go "awry" it is classic definition from the good dictionary!
when you say something is awry I sit back in awe of what you've done.
i strive to reach your definition of awry and as always look forward to watching any and all of your art develop!

[jonc50]

Excellent revelation! It is nice to see different techniques and experiments, not only after they are all finished, but during the process. Thanks for the sharing.
JonC.

[PatrickHedges]

Harold, I love what you and how you do it. You seem to open all our minds up

[snoball]

What! You're not finished yet??

[annamelia]

Harold.........waiting, waiting........for more.

[Garbonzo]

Allan, thanks brother, you know I really appreciate that.

Emerlye, thank you and you're welcome, and yes I meant airbrush. Sorry about that.

Lynn, thank you.

Jean, thank you very much, that is one of the nicest compliments I've ever gotten.

JonC, thank you, this is just one way I am able to try a few different things to see what might work and what doesn't for future reference.

Thanks Patrick, the feeling is mutual.

snoball, believe me, I'm trying.

It seems like every time I sit down to work on this, I get interrupted, nothing new, and also I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for as a finished piece here. I was mainly wanting to test some background ideas when I started. I plan to texture a couple of limbs as mid distant ones to see what it does to my depth of field. I will probably cut a stencil to cover the bird and maybe overspray the textured limbs a little. I may add a couple more limbs also, not sure just yet. Before I do I'll lay some tracing paper over the board and draw some in to let me see what they would look like, or I might draw a limb on tracing paper and move it around to a few different places to see if it looks right. The hawk obviously needs a lot more work but he's coming along.

[aaces]

It just keeps getting better and betterest!
I'm squinting my eyes and studying those feathers big time.
I'm not sho...I mean saying why yet
keep it up Brother!

[Harry Seymour]

As Allan says it is "getting better and betterest!"

[snoball]

Seeing those stars, he really IS an early bird! Poor little rabbit!
You are doing a great job on this, anxious to see the background treatment.

[lorna12]

This is already looking amazing with the stamp of "Harold" all over it.Thank you for sharing your experiment with us...it's how we all learn. Sometimes the journey is just as important, not to mention as interesting, as the destination...definitely true in this case.

[Garbonzo]

Allan, thanks buddy. Don't get too comfortable with the look of this as I'm staying true to my word and by experimenting will be changing things around to see what I like and don't like before I finish it or trash it.

snoball, thank you, I'm not completely sure how the BG will end up OR the hawk for that matter but hopefully it will show us something for future reference.

Lorna, thank you, I really appreciate that. This is something I usually do behind closed doors because it can blow up in my face but hopefully it will show us something useful. I am a little self conscious with colored ink on my face.

I've been jumping around like a one legged man in a butt kicking contest lately but I've made some adjustments to this to change the look a bit. I will definitely find out how much abuse Ampersand Claybord will take before I'm through.
I tried texturing a couple of limbs behind him to see what it looked like but didn't like the look so I airbrushed light blue over everything including the bird. I decided not to mask it. This isn't about airbrush, it just happens to lay down smoother colors than my hand brushing. I started bringing out some highlightes on the feathers also.

In this next pic I am trying a different look with the feathers of the upper wing but don't like it much so my change it again. I added some different limbs and will most likely texture the closest ones and the one the bird is sitting on for sure. This is a little darker image. It was taken under a daylite lamb at night and the other in the daylight. I also decided to only brighten some of the stars instead of all to see what that does. Still a ways to go and some changes possible, maybe, most likely.

[Garbonzo]

This really wasn't taken under a daylite lamb. I doubt it would have stood for it.

[FoggyMountain]

This is looking so incredible Harold! You are getting a very unique night atmosphere perfect for your hawk and the depth you're trying to get is really working well. It is always a pleasure to see a master at work. And we really appreciate your taking the time to show the steps of this piece.

[snoball]

Looking good Harold! Keep going, we's a watchin'.