morning!...hopefully i can get this posted on the first try...the last size posted was a huge suprise to me! i thought for sure it wouldnt go through so go figure!.....so i will try again to post that size and lets see what happens!

a bit more glaze work...more glazes layers with raw sienna......then additional glazes with raw sienna and a touch of indigo.....which gives me that gun metal type of goldish green i am looking for in the off color sections of her coat...

i think its turning the corner now....and next steps, because i have been working on her rougher parts of her coat....now i will move into paint the silkier sections....parts around her muzzle and more small details....

anna? no problem...you ask any questions ya want!

-Do you use Liquin or transparent paint for glazing?=i use liquin, normally i also would pay attention to the transparency of a paint too, which most times should be listed on the tube someplace if it confuses you,but with liquin in tends to make just about any paint translucent...depending on the amount of liquin to paint ratio
-How many parts of liquin and parts of paint?=okay first off...as a cook? i dont even measure for recipies most times...lol....so trying to figure out how much liquin to my paint ? was a bit tricky...until i figured out a way that was fool proof....i dont mix it into my paint....and because it makes my layers dry quickly, a day or so, i normally can work on the painting each morning....so this is what i do....the painting MUST be dry before doing this technique.....i take a lint free cloth, and pour a small amount of liquin in a tiny bowl....actually this really tiny bowl i fill half way....if there is any liquin left, i cover it with tin foil and put it aside for the next mornings use...but..i dip the cloth into the liquin...and begin from the left upper corner working across till i cover the canvas, with a thin even, no drip coat, of liquin....i dont worry toooo much if its not totally even...liquin tends to ~level itself~ so as long as i dont have really thick spots or drips its all set to paint ~into~....i mix paint on my palette...and using very lil paint on the brush i now paint into the liquin..using too much paint will create more opaque layering....you begin to the feel for it pretty quick...for those who tend to paint with a lot of paint it might be a bit hard to get used to..

-How many layers do you put on a painting?=lolol..........more than i can count! though i dont put liquin on in the first blocking in stages because i want the paint to opaquely cover the canvas...elsewise you will see white canvas for a long time....so the first few sitting are to get elements set, correct, and cover the surface of the canvas
-Do you paint on canvas or board?=i only paint on stretched canvas, there are many levels of quality, one for everyones pocket, so no, its not expensive to use stretched canvas
-What kind of brush you use to glaze?=tricky question....i do not use a bristle most times....i use a flat langnickle brush, too old to see what specs it is anymore.....but its a soft flat that has kind of spread out a bit cause its old....but remains soft.....so a soft brush....but with some volume to it...you dont want it like a brand new flat bright....you want something that will permit you to create texture...so a bit raggard .....glazing, your layering the glaze ontop of each other....mixing sometimes yep but its  finesse work...

its the accumulation of layers that will create colors or details...so its a learning curve, but o ne that you can get great results right away...it also will enrich the paints look..hope this helps?

morning!....i got the other to post this morning so i am daring to take the chance this update will too!...

although i still have a small bit to correct on her, anatomy wise, i have turned the corner and started to concentrate on small details, working back into the shadow, light or midtone areas to find lil nuances about the texture of her coat or how the light or dark is broken in that area, soft or sharp..

the liquin now begins to build up, after all the glazing layers, and creates this wonderful luminous effect...i have always beeen drawn to the old paintings, with their thick layers of varnish....they just seem to be so rich in color, that a matt finished painting cant....because i didnt want the problem of dealing with varnish or complicated medium mixes,  which i would forget to add when i was ~in the zone~  painting....i had tried Winsor and Newton's Blending and Glazing medium...which is also excellent, but different...i would consider using it again to see if i have learned something from using liquin, to understand it a bit more...butttt..

hopefully, but sadly, this lioness will be completed soon!...and then? its wondering just which one of the mighty pack will i do next?

good morning every one....i hope its a fine sunny morning everywhere....

i finally finished the lioness....tentatively deciding on the title ~The Matriarch,Clan Mother~ still might change that up to just ~Clan Mother~...i have about a week to figure out what i want to do before submitting it...

the frames are being made for this and two other pieces,~plymouth estuary~ and ~black and white with apple~...i will post them when they are set,because these will be custom made, the frames are perfect matches...it was a lot of fun choosing em up instead of selecting ~off the rack~...its so much better to personally chose what you want framing your works...because when they corners were put up to the canvas? i knew which ones i wanted right off!...the lioness is getting a chunky distressed warm pecan type of wood..perfect match for her coat...

thanks for sharing this journey with me...

thanks heather!....i think your right about the title....i was going back and forth about it and the combo....but something about ~Clan Mother~ tends to say what i am trying to get across....soooooo i think thats it....~wink~..

i had mulled over that ear several times when i was working on her...but i came to the conclusion that most times they might not hold the both ears the same...sooooo opted to leave it out cause i liked her clean lines too...

i had a bit of a hissy fit this morning...when i realized the submission date is this saturday...not NEXT saturday!....i chomped at the bit till michaels opened and i could speak with the custom frame mgr...which by the way? her name is heather too...lol..she tried to assure me they would do everything they could to keep track and try to get the frames by friday the latest...yikes!....is this cutting it close or what???

if i dont get them....i have the option of hunting for a frame or two on friday...but i am not sure that i can find something...i still have two more shows...but i had only planned to enter her in two of em....keep your fingers crossed!