Bird Watching - A Demo

Bird Watching

6x6in oil on Senso linen  $100. SOLD


I have been thrilled by the reception of my tutorial on Fracturing
A big thank you to all who have been interested.

Some requests have led me to show this demo of a more
"controlled way" to use the Fracturing technique.
Instead of multiple layers it is acomplished with one fracturing time.

I am working like crazy for my up-coming show so this is
a demo I did back in September, but never put on the blog.

I decided to use a previously painted image for my demo
- a painting of my grand-cat Pouncer from 9 years ago.
First I did a charcoal drawing which has been fixed with Krylon Fixative.
This is the way I worked as an illustrator because I could
always wash it off if I was not satisfied, and start again.

Next I applied transparent colors and as the canvas
already had a color I left some areas showing.

I forgot to take the photo showing local colors starting to
be placed. I used the angle brush to do that. Then I whacked
away with the handy dandy tool. As the paint is not on very
thickly at this stage this is an easy step and now you can see the
benefit of having the drawing underneath. Nothing gets too lost.

 I apply more paint with angle brush

After the brush I also used a knife, but your own
preference is fine at this stage. You still have to watch your
values and keep the light and dark areas separate.
(See the lighter/darker fur on the top of the cat,)

With the small round brush I reinstated some of the details
on the scarf and rug. You can tidy up as much or as little
as you want to.  I usually have the focal area less fractured.
I left the charcoal drawing showing here and there as I liked it.

(Take no notice of the pink area. I decided to crop this down to a
6x6in

I have painted this cat before... see Pouncer

Artist Note.
I was thrilled to get a terrific email from Ann Feldman.
Click  on her name to see the wonderful results she
had when she taught the fracturing technique to her students.
She obviously is a good teacher because they really went after it.
It makes me feel really happy to see such exciting work.
It is not that I expect them to continue fracturing, but now they
have accomplished fracturing form, light and space,
it could lead to explorations of their own.