its incredible! amazing job cant wait to see finished

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Deviant since Sep 1, 2006 and still no idea for a signature...

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I think that you can tell how many hours you've put into this! Its coming on so well Alan, you must be very pleased! I think that the tree is really coming to life now, still with the reptilian feel that I may have mentioned before, and I particularly like the lighting effect you've put onto it.

Thank you so much and me neither

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Thanks Sue, thats encouraging I'm quite pleased with the lighting although theres quite a bit or artistic licence going on with it

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Oh Grims, your a master at the details, I wish I could sit beside you and watch you work, I could use the knowledge base you have when working your creations. I would be really really quiet, honest I would, Why I'd even be your gofer and get you or whatever you need well, I can dream...

What media are you working with on this one? I have my idea, but I want to be sure I have it right. Learning everyday...

Hehe, you're very kind Your paintings are pretty detailed though, I wouldn't know where to start on a digital work. I'd love to have you sit here with me although I'm not sure what you'd pick up - the art or procrastination probably Everyone needs a gofer

This is being painted with Winsor & Newton Finity Acrylics. I don't often think about how I paint, I just shove colour on and move it about until it looks like I want. If it goes wrong I let it dry and take a different approach. I'm always learning with this stuff, I'm slowly refining a technique of sorts but it changes subtly with whatever I paint. I really don't do enough painting to be honest, just not enough hours in the day I think I start with a wash to seal the surface as much as anything and then lay on fairly solid colours to get the lights and darks. After that it's all washes in varying degrees to build depth followed by some high and lowlights and little details. Oh, and I use small brushes mostly. Very small. Tiny infact I would say 80% of my brushes are size 3 and below. I like using Sable watercolour bruhses beacuse they hold their shape well and carry thin paint better but they don't last long. On this picture I've been using ProArte Prolene brushes. They're synthetic bristles but very fine and seem to last well although the smaller ones have a tendancy to wear at the tip and lose their edge. They're reasaonably priced though so it's not a huge issue.

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Deviant since Sep 1, 2006 and still no idea for a signature...

[link] <--- my traditional account

Wow, thanks, so, then, you are sort of using the acrylics like watercolors? sort of..are you painting on canvas board, or paper, looks like paper, I think I see masking tape. Was it watercolor paper? or bristol board? or..none of the above?

I haven't been painting lately with traditional media, partly because my studio has been overtaken by toys...it is a spare room, and well you know how that goes, lol. So the computer is my source for my art outlet. When I had last painted I was using some really nice acrylics by Jo Soyna. I am not sure if you have them available by you or not, they are not real new, to the market, but not always readily available. But they are a fantastic product. They tend to have a better drying base, which allows better color retention and brights stay brighter, and they are more intense. A little goes a long way, and they are moderately priced, of course certain colors are always going to be more expensive. But, they are a fantastic line of acrylics. You can get them online, artist's club carries them and jo soyna I think has their own site, (been awhile ) I use sable too love them. Luckily I have here in Ohio a great store that carries a fantastic line of art supplies at discount prices, able to get papillon, windson newton, golden taklon brushes as well as any paints and papers etc.

I really think you should get into the digital arts though, your style would translate so well, it would be amazing. I have been doing it just a little over a year, and have come a long way..and I am not a computer geek as some of you younger artists are. It took a bit of doing on my part, lol, but with each day I learn a bit more. I am hoping by xmas to get into photoshop where I know I am going to need a class or two to help me with it. Who knows...lol, well thanks so much for getting back to me, and the procrastionation thing, I am already way too skilled at that...lol.

Well kind of I guess. It's a little different because the colours are waterproof once dry so a wash doesn't mix with the under colour in the same way. It's more like glazes with oils.

This one is being painted on illustration board. It's a new surface for me but I'm liking it a lot now I'm getting used to it. I don't think I'll ever paint on canvas - too textured for me

I'm not sure about trying digital. I see some fantastic work produced using it but I have a psychologial hurdle to get over first. I'm no technophobe, I in IT for a living, it's just that move away from the hands on aspect and tradition of paint that I personally find difficult. One day though.....

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