“Eclectically me”

Iguana in Week #2-- background started

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:16:38 -0500

The second week: I decided to do a duplicate painting as a ‘trial run version’ to work up a background that I liked. So, I started with orange, brown and black. Have decided to make it darker on the final painting. Worked on the spikes on his back and put some color on the underside of his belly, front legs. May quit this painting and go to the final one I had frisquetted. This watercolor will be a gift to my son and daughter-in-law as a memory of the Cozumel, Mexico, trip this spring. This particular fella lost a major toe on his hind left leg. Would be interesting to know the story behind that.

Iguana-- frisqueted

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:23:22 -0500

Added frisquet to the edges so I can apply the background color and it won’t ‘bleed’ into the iguana. A tedious job, but a necessary evil! This will eventually be rubbed off when the background is finished.

Iguana-- the beginning sketch

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 07:55:01 -0500

I am starting a watercolor of a colorful male iguana I saw in Cozumel, Mexico. He was probably about 5+ feet long from nose to tail. A very docile herbivore that was so used to being around tourists, he literally ‘posed’ for pictures. He LOVED pieces of banana. The males are very intricately designed and colorful. The females are smaller and rather drab and grey.
So, this is the pencil sketch of the beginning watercolor. I’ve drawn his tail off the edge and then had the tip returning back into the painting. Stay tuned for further developments!

My Red Boots

Fri, 4 Jun 2010 11:22:53 -0500

The pencil drawing I did of my boots didn’t do them justice. I HAD to paint them as they really are... RED! I will shed some huge crocodile tears when these boots wear out and finally hit the dust!

“Mister Toad”-- Finished Watercolor

Mon, 31 May 2010 20:05:44 -0500

This is the final, finished painting of “Mister Toad”. I added more color and highlights to the rocks, more dark shadow where is is sitting and more lumpy-bumps to his skin. Also finished the eye. I think he has the expression of a Pug, with his flat nose and turned-down mouth, and wrinkly skin. He definitely is a favorite of mine because of all the paintings I have done of animals he has been the most fun. Leave me a comment if you have any thoughts about him.