"Flight"

This was a bit of fun to do. Finished at last!

"Flight" - Work in Progress State 8

My camera again is not helping this look wonderful where the light goes. I'm adding in HB, B, 2B and 4B gradient layers to bring out the details in the stripes and mane at this stage. I'm still working up the finer details with H pencil. There's some smudging across the white so I'll clean it up again with a kneadable eraser. Overall it's starting to come together.

"Flight" - Work in Progress Stage 7

My camera is letting this artwork down. The rendering looks far better in the flesh than in this digital image I've posted. I'm continuing to add thin layers of H pencil and adding in the finer details into the tail hair and mane. It still has a way to go yet with the landscape details being added in.

"Flight" - Work in Progress Stage 6

My camera is not doing this drawing any justice. I'm continuing to add thin layers of H pencil and putting in more detail as the drawing progresses. Still a way to go before it is finished.

"Flight" - Work in Progress Stages 3 - 5

 I'm continuing to refine the drawing by adding thin layers of H pencil. The photos of the work aren't that wonderful due to poor light conditions, but generally you can see the stages of each rendering I've done. I'll continue to refine and clean up the drawing and hopefully we will have a great result at the end. It pays to study the anatomy where possible of the subject being drawn. I've got horses which does help. Zebra are different in many aspects. Wonderful animals!

"Flight" - Work in Progress 2

 I've added in the rest of the stripes and started to refine the shape using an H grade pencil at this stage I'm in no rush to see it hurried along. This is a large drawing on A3 Bockingford paper. So far so good.

"Flight" - Work in progress 1

In between doing the Africa Lion I started this Zebra in motion. They're a stunning sight in a gallop. Like all equid their hooves will come right off the ground at mid point in the stride. This was the early stage of the drawing. It has progressed since then to a more defined shape and detail.

African Lion (untitled) Work in Progress - Progressions

These are the progressions so far based on a Lion I photographed a year ago when I was still involved with Zion. This is a male named Aslan. He was only two metres away (with a fence between us) watching the pair of cheetahs that were in the enclosure next door. At the moment the last image looks like he's cross eyed. I still have to deepen the eyes then enhance the light shine so it gives the right effect. I was asked one time about which colours to use for these cats. Frankly I go on intuition. I haven't had any formal art training. The Lion Aid picture is on hold while I take another look at it then have a rethink. At the moment it's a bit of a creative disaster. It happens sometimes. You think you've got it ,then take another look and it's a complete botch up. I think the other project will be a complete redo, but Lion Aid will still end up with something they can sell on to raise funds for their work in raising awareness of the increasing decimation of these magnificent predators. I do this because simply I love it. Lions seem to me my strength. I had so much to do with them especially in the last couple of years. They were captive cats kept in enclosures so I could easily photograph them well aware of the safety needed even with a fence between myself and the cats. Lions regardless of what people think are first and foremost an Apex Predator, and should be accorded the respect they absolutely deserve. My Ultimate Goal is to one day get to Africa somewhere and see these stunning cats in a wild state.