Monday, June 27, 2016

5:54 in the morning. Part I

It's 5:54 AM, on the cusp of morning. The other half is at work, and I, at a Starbucks. As a millenial, of course I have just enough to have earned a reward for a free drink, 3 shot Latte Machiatto. The car is in need of repair, I have learned, mid-twenties, to finally learn of car pieces, ordering the part needed online. With the wheel hub in box on my passenger seat, I walk, with sketchbook and pens in hand, to the green mermaid inlaid cafe.

The air is sourly sweetened by the ocean air. Cool and crisp, the sky seems to float lightly and brightly, almost as if outlined with polish or a glitter gelly roll pen.

It's perfect. With my hair swirled and piled high on my head, nails just painted by myself the day before, I sit and draw.

Photo courtesy of Wolf Haven International
"Tamaska", a red wolf at Wolf Haven International.

Today's art piece is the red wolf. Terribly endangered in the world we live in today, strong conservation efforts have been put into place to keep this beautiful, shy and graceful beast alive.

With a recent visit to Wolf Haven International in Olympia, WA, I was able to learn about the special breeding program there, and see the vast area of America in where they used to live, to the now mere finger print smudge of a size where they live now.




To better interest you about the Red Wolf, and not bore you on my rant, let's move on. On to the art!

Step 1: Get that idea on paper
I have sketched out the Red Wolf portrait, with the help of reference photos and multiple tries at getting the eyes balanced.
















Step 2: Fur!

Once everything is balanced, it's time to fill in the fur. I have already done a couple of therapy-fur rounds, and am now completing the first layer of black fur at the cafe.                    


The most enjoyable, yet challenging, part about the fur is following the natural direction of the flow. I am not going to lie, I have to use a reference picture. If I don't, I lose the balance and sense of where it goes.