Snippet Sunday

[wayfaringwordhack]

Junebug loves to watch this video A Wolf in Ink and regularly asks for it. It is fascinating to see the wolf appear as the ink travels through the water.  So, inspired by MaryDoodles, I decided to play with my acrylic inks (and a new waterproof black ink) this week and did two little critter portraits:

First I did an owl. I wasn't really planning to do a scene, just put the water down on paper, so the composition is a bit weird. I decided to experiment further with more color and some colored pencil details.  Important thing I learned: When doing a "real" illustration with this technique, take the time to stretch and tape down paper. It was a pain (and sad) to see some nice effects ruined by buckling paper. :(



As Junebug says, "This is a fox":

Lesson learned from fox: That waterproof ink really is waterproof. Once you put it down, it isn't coming off again.

I also did a few sketches of animals for my picture book.

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

It really is mesmerizing, watching the ink travel in that video!

I really love that you've done your versions in color; I like that addition (she does add color at the end of hers, I know, but you use color in the actual creatures). And the face of your fox is so expressive! And the detail of the whisker stubble on his nose--so delicate! (I love the watercolor effect by his ears, too) For your owl, I just love his warm colors against the moon--he's the colors of burnished bronze and gold, but soft.

Did you let Junebug watch as you created them? So he could see the effects from the video in real time? That might be a fun painting activity for kids too--how you can pull the pigments along by adding water.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Totally mesmerizing. :D The sepia ink I use gave all those lovely shades of rust and brown. It did the coolest texture on the branch. I almost took a close-up of it, but then decided maybe I was being too geeky. :P

I tried to get the kids to do some paintings, too, but they tend to go overboard, adding too much. They like to see the ink travel for all of two seconds and then they just want to add more and more and more ink. :P Then comes a lack of interest in the finished product. It's all process at this point. LOL

[nipernaadiagain.livejournal.com]

So cute!

The way those inks spread reminds me my frustration with watercolors as child - now I would like to try again, but I am aware that with my lack of uninterrupted time, I am better off with pens, where I can stop or start any time (not that I have been able to - even if I consider it a good thing to be active in helping my father, keeping in touch with relatives, it wrings me dry, uses up all my spoons)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Uninterrupted time, oh how I miss you! I had just put down the water for the fox when my doorbell rang. I almost ignored it, but decided it might be important. It was a deliver person with a lovely bouquet for us t celebrate Ti'Loup's birth, so I'm glad I went, but yeah, interruptions. all. the. time.

[frigg.livejournal.com]

Cute! I think I might just use that technique for an exercise in my next water colour class. :)

And yup, always tape or use taped blocks when you're working wet.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Tape is our friend. :P I did tape the fox first (and even pre-wet the whole sheet), but my tape is crap and tears the paper. I bought some more day before yesterday and am hoping it is better quality.

[folklorelei]

They're both beautiful, but I LOVE the owl.