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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Cat Fur


In Progress: Mr. Fuz Zy Pants
Correcting the drawing and working the values, Taylor's cat is taking shape. The problem is I'm splitting my days  between the paint studio and the design studio. It's making me a bit crazy, but maybe that's a good thing? I can't overwork a painting if I don't have an endless amount of time.

After a morning out with the trades on the laundry room/garage site, I only had energy left for a couple of hours with the cat establishing lights, darks and midtones. There's a lot of midtones and simplifying them isn't an option--not if I want the cat to look furry soft and cuddly, which I do. And the cat's fur is costing me. I tend to scrubble with the application brush, rather than change to an inexpensive brush specifically for that purpose.

20 comments:

  1. Well... from this end ... a bit crazy seems to be working very well. The cat is developing a character, whilst Taylor is wreathed in mystery ... looks really good to me.

    Try not to overdo it! Work I mean, not the painting :0)

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    1. It is coming along. The cat looks done but more whipping in of fur colors is needed and refining the eyes--gotta get the eyes. I like that Taylor is there--then I'm just not painting a cat. My nose itches thinking about all the dander under all that fluffiness. :-)

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  2. This is coming along beautifully, Linda. If you were at my workshop....they would tell you you're finished..LOL. Wonderful job on the cat!!

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    1. Not quite. The eyes need attention, the fur, a whip and a polish--not too much. Thanks.

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  3. This one is developing well. I'm looking forward to the next instalment. I could do with paying more attention to the way you develop edges, I'm hopeless at it.

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    1. Soft edges: whip dark into light; and/or light into dark. Whippet--not the dog,the paint. Light handed on the brush.

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  4. Mr. Fuzzy Pants looks great--soft and fluffy.

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    1. And full of dander. Cats are a number five allergen with me. I've been sneezing the whole time I've been painting. Thanks Hallie.

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  5. I think your cat looks phenomenal! I wouldn't do too much more with him.

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  6. I appreciate the difficulty of ping ponging back and forth between right and left brain - its exhausting! However, it seems you are doing it with aplomb and great success, Linda!

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    1. It is difficult. I need some in between time to change orientation. I didn't when I was younger. Thanks. I'm rather enjoying the odd for me aspects of this painting.

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  7. ---painting a cat is a challenge...there is a lot of subtle nuance in a cat (and their scrunched up little faces) and you've done it! great work!

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    1. And I see them all. I was just thinking yesterday, how one would just knock this form down to simple shapes and values when they all run into one another and none of them are firm--all soft edges--including Taylor with the exxception of her jaw bone which balances the composition along with the highlight on her nose and underlines the focal point.

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  8. The cat is coming along nicely. I hope you got time to paint. I know too well how it is to divide ones time for several things.

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    1. Today, during the afternoon. Tomorrow and Friday all day. Nice. No getting dressed in fancy business clothes, just me and my jeans. I can't wait. These last couple of weeks, I cherish free days. They were the norm. I resent the intrusion of work, yet work, puts me back in the black and I definitely need a studio size tube :-)

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  9. Mr. Fuz Zy Pants is looking very, very good, trouble-causing or not. Where did he get that name???

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    1. From his mistress, my granddaughter. I'm not having any trouble really, his fur has so many values in it that need to be acknowledged even though details should be kept to a minimum.

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  10. Well, cats' fur usually do.. cost a lot, that is :) I'm sure he's going to be-already is- proud and cuddly!
    I hope you are taking some time to rest, Linda. I can't even find time to paint and I'm starting to thinking about vacations, which won't be happening till next year, maybe. I'm longing the time that I was wondering about the point of overworking a piece... now I barely have time to think about a new piece, let alone over-work it...
    By the way, if I'm to choose -wait a minute, it's my name.. of course I get to choose- my name is Konstantina :)
    Hugs and smiles.

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    1. Of course you get to choose, I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't think you had a choice.

      The cat fur needs more development but I was too tired today. I decided to clean up the bar that had suddenly become overrun with art supplies and assemble all of my supplies for the class that starts next week. I want to cut up that large sheet of colored Wallis paper to make it more manageable, but I don't know what size the instructor has in mind? I'm going to e-mail her- or just divide it into six. That's big enough for any academic painting.

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