Inspiration:
I decided to go where my energy is, which is not to repeat an image I’ve already tried. I heard a radio report on wetland restoration in Minnesota, “Bringing back ‘bio supermarkets’: Program helps landowners restore vanished wetlands” It mentioned Blanding’s turtles (a threatened species). I looked them up and fell in love. Here is the species info and photos.
If you own land – especially wetlands – you have an opportunity (responsibility?) to maintain or restore habitat. Please do!
Creation and session log:
- I blocked in the shapes, trying to leave white for where the shell disappears. Put in the yellow throat.
- Short session today as I had difficulty controlling the brush. I started to put in the shell and have a strategy.
- Continued work on the shell and put in the yellow or the neck. Started to use blue-green to put in the head and purple and blue green on the front arm. Put in an eye and suggestion of another.
- I’ve lost the blue-green. Where did it go? Today I put shadow on the neck and took out the second eye because it was in the wrong place. I mixed some green-red dark and put it under the shell. I put in a lot of green grass for background… Possibly too much. (When I was envisioning this painting session, I imagined leaving white space, but once I got going, I enjoyed effortless green marks.) Next time I hope to refine the head and work for volume. Probably finish things up?
- I worked with the shadow under the turtle. I notice the neck is too thick and long, but there it is. I moved around the turtle, finishing what occurred to me. Paper became unwilling to accept more marks.
- Looking at the painting (and discussing it with my PCA), I added some paint to what I thought was the back leg (but maybe I was confused), the face, the edge of the shell, and the grass around the turtle. Made some weird weeds in the lower left-hand corner.
Insights
- overall, I’m happy with this painting. It’s mostly not overworked. There are some nice, loose marks. I’m getting better at shadows (though I have a long way to go).
- Next time: more upfront planning, whites and lights first. Background next. Get the animal in more accurately.
These turtles can teach us about BASKING and NOURISHING ourselves. Today, sit in the light and eat something lovely.