Artist's Drawing & Inspiration
Spotted Pardalotes on Pink Flowering Gum
Meaghan Roberts
A true love and appreciation of birds and their habitats is evident in this glorious illustration.
STEP ONE
Source material and initial compositional sketch
The first step entails working out the content of the image, materials, composition and the source imagery that inspires you. For example if you intend to create a realistic portrait of a dog you either need a dog or a photo of a dog to build that portrait from, unless of course you have a photographic memory.
Source imagery can range from magazines, books, your own photos, the Internet and other illustrations or artworks. This particular drawing is influenced by Peter Trusler, who created the illustrations for a bird book my mum has, Birds of Australian Gardens. It is important to have good source imagery. I often rely on my own photos of branches and animals and yet at times am influenced by other artists. It is also important to have a few select artists that inspire you and give you a goal to achieve. I really admire Peter’s ability to capture not only the birds but also the plant life they are perched on. This is why in this drawing I have included more flora than I usually would.
First I sketched out the gum branches in an F pencil on A3 size paper. I then found multiple images of Spotted Pardalotes in books and on the Internet and added them into the composition. I chose not to limit the birds to the branch but also to have one in flight, adding more interest. Originally I had drawn three birds perched but decided to change this before moving on to the next step. Changes like this are a normal process of building a composition. When drawing an animal, I don’t just simply copy what is in the photo; instead I research the animal and find different poses so that I can learn about the animal. I research how the female differs from the male, where they originate and what habitats they prefer. All this information improves the likelihood of getting the animal right.
STEP TWO
Colour
After finalising the initial composition, I begin by building up the layers of colour in watercolour pencil. I usually start on the area that feels right, there’s no exact process, it’s what works best for the individual. This time I chose to begin with the leaves and flowers, leaving the birds until last. This process will happen in steps. I usually start by applying the lightest colour and applying it fairly lightly, building it up gradually. Remember that watercolour is easier to build up than to over paint or remove.
Start with the lighter colours such as yellow, grey, and light green, and build up to the darker colours such as brown and black. Keep building these layers until all the colour is filled in. I usually only do one section of the composition at a time.
STEP THREE
Wash
One branch is now completely filled in with colour and ready for a water wash. Using a fine tip Taklon brush dipped in water, not too wet, and start washing over the coloured areas. Be careful not to wash colours into each other, ultimately making them muddy and dull. Clean your brush in between colours and rewet when dry. When complete, repeat Step Two and Three until all colour is filled in and washed.
STEP FOUR
Ink
Once all colouring is filled in I determine if some areas need to be built up and refined a little more, choosing to apply extra colour in some areas, making the colour more vibrant or darker. The next step is building up detail with a fine tip black pigment ink pen. I work with two or more different sized tips, a 0.03 and a 0.1 waterproof and fade proof. Areas such as the eyes, hair, feathers and nails are good areas to start on. Emphasising these areas will bring the image together.
FINAL STEP
In order to bring out the highlights, and areas that sometimes get washed out from the watercolour, I utilise a white fine tip pen or acrylic paint diluted. Add to areas such as the white reflections in the eyes, on noses and hairs. When complete, erase all pencil marks from the original sketch. Last but not least I use a scanner to digitally document the original, as opposed to a camera; I feel I get a better result from the scanner. This will need to be slightly edited in Photoshop to adjust the levels and clean up the background.
This completes the process.
For more information on commissions or work for sale please contact Meaghan Roberts at:
Email: meaghan-roberts@hotmail.com
Or visit: www.facebook.com/Meaghanspetandwildlifeportraits
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