Owl - Step 4 - Anticipation

This is it!

It's starting to look really cool at this point.

I'm anxious to complete this piece but am scared it won't turn out right.

At this stage I'd say the painting is about 90% done.

A noticeable departure from the previous step is the background. It didn't feel right as a shocking pink. Something said to me that red would be more fitting.

Now there's a primary color scheme happening with the yellow eyes, blue feathers, and red backdrop. How cool!

All that's left is to add the blacks--which will either fuck everything up or make it brilliant.

We shall see!

Wordless Wednesday - Southeast Side of the city along Brainard Ave. (bench since removed)

Renewing my faith in work.

I smile and feel accomplished just thinking about it.

This past Friday marked the two-year anniversary working at my part-time university job!

Close-up view from behind the front counter!

I actually look forward to going there.

There we are very much a team unit, always helping one another out. And my coworkers appreciate and notice the things I do for them.

Good morale, good atmosphere, good intentions.

So very different from the crafts store where I'm always stressed and left on my own.

Working at the university renews my faith in the possibility of a healthy, nurturing work environment.

They show me it can be done!

Owl - Step 3 - Underpainting

It's always the scariest moment yet also the most exciting.

Adding paint to a carefully drawn illustration.

Infusing the image with color--a pulse--but not being able to go back once you begin.

The pinks, purples, and blues are "loud" but I always lay in the most intense colors first then dull them down as needed (part of my "un-training" from art college).

Think of it as a blueprint for the rest of the colors to build upon.

The next step will be to block in the shadows and enhance the owl's coat.

Little by little it's getting there!

Wordless Wednesday - Remembering "The Kelpies" of Museum Campus (sculptures recently removed)