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Friday, November 16, 2007

Creating From Imagination


Still working out the background details and lighting on this one. It's been slow going. I tweak and look, tweak and look. Gradually this is coming along to my satisfaction. I may leave this and just look at it for weeks, especially in different light. Many times there's an *Ah Ha!* moment and I'll notice something that was missing or needs adjusting.


Right now I'm working with charcoal and soft pastel on tracing paper. Why tracing paper? It's cheap, it works well with several mediums, erases well and I can put different colored papers behind it to get different effects.


I'm keeping the background fairly simple to keep the focus on my main subject...the cat. I've 'suggested' a few ferns, added the trunk of a tree for the cat to lean against and maybe a few fireflies will get in there somewhere. I want this one to be all about the cat and the lighting. Of course the moon or lack thereof is important also. I've decided to create a hole in the sky where the moon had been with a dark night sky and a few stars peeking through. I've abandoned my references completely now and I'm moving on, using only my imagination. I have the concept in my head. Now the challenge is to get it on paper.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is so cute Billie. What a clever idea. You are always coming up with wonderful new work. I will be watching to see how this turns out.

vivien said...

what a great idea :)

it's looking good

Jeanette Jobson said...

I can sniff a children's book in here somewhere...

Very sweet drawing Billie, it all fits together beautifully. I be lining up for a signed print of it please.

Billie Crain said...

Robin, Vivien and Jeanette, thanks for stopping by to comment.:)

Jeanette, i've never done anything remotely illustrative before but i had to get this one out of my system. it climbed up out of my imagination and demanded i paint it. weird, huh?

Tracey said...

Just adorable, love the belly! It does have a very illustrative feel to it.

Stacy said...

Billie, this kitty is looking great. His belly is so full, he looks like he might regret eating that big moon. Kind of how most Americans will feel tomorrow night after Thanksgiving dinner! :D

Mary said...

Billie, I think you are doing an excellent job at putting your ideas down on the paper and you are creating a wonderful piece of art perfect for your cat series. I love the humor I this one too.

Billie Crain said...

Tracey, thanks for commenting.:) this fella's a bit of a departure from what i usually do. it's certainly been fun to let my imagination run wild for a change.

Haha! Stacy, i know what you mean. he looks like he needs a dose of Pepto Bismal.

Thanks Mary.:) this one's going into a different realm from my series so i'm not sure he'll fit in well. we'll see what happens when he's finally painted.