Week 14: JD & MP

 Tricky Tails

A bit of a tricky subject this week - I can tell a few of you are still thinking about what to do. To inspire you JD and MP have drawn some great images of animals with flamboyant tails. First up is:

JD

I would like to congratulate JD on her superb drawing of this fancy goldfish. She has used her Windsor Newton 200gsm heavyweight diary with FaberCastell Graphite and FaberCastell Polychromo pencils.  Note her attention to colours and layering, flowing lines and strokes in the tail - I love how you can 'see' through the front tail fin to the one behind. The tail works and is enhanced by the upright top fin, which almost glows with colour. The geometric effect of the scales and shine created with yellow splashes works perfectly. JD has used a light graphite to delineate the edges of the shape, but has paid attention to how it blends into the slivery belly of the fish so it is not a hard outline.

Honestly one of your best drawings yet JD.

Goldfish by JD

JD created a second work as well - that of the rear end of a zebra. Always a fun zebra pose to draw - and a view the animal likes to present to you when it sees your camera.  Again in the WN diary with the same pencils this is a creditable piece. The shape of the animal is good and I like how JD has used ochres and indigo in the stripes to create more depth in the black. Stripes are hard to concentrate on, these work well. I would prefer to see shading to create the edges of the form rather than dark outlines, and I think the background needs work - it is a touch on the scribble-rush side, but points for including. The slight offset to the composition works well.

Zebra by JD

MP

MP has drawn a bushy tailed Red Squirrel just like the ones she used to watch in her garden as a child in England. And he's a lovely fellow! The shape and anatomy of the animal is quite well observerd, especially the grasping hands. The layering of the hair and fur is good and flows in the correct direction. The tail is very well done, lots of layering of colours to build up to a big fluffy bushy tail. I would have liked to see the shadow line where the tail meets the body eased off and graduated into the body more and perhaps a little more shadow shading in the back leg and tummy. Don't do any more now MP if you feel it would over work the drawing, just note for future.  Like JD above, points for adding a grounding to the animal, but again I feel it has been a little rushed.

The work is well drawn and really shows the character of the animal well. The use of colour is great - MP has not been afraid to include magentas, blues and violets into the fur to create texture and colour. His face with it's white whiskers and bright brown eye is very engaging. Well done on this one MP.

 

Red Squirrel by MP