by Reid Case

Created on: October 02, 2009

The Giraffe stood there stoic and calm. It stared at the child inquisitively before gracefully lowering its head to gently take the food from her hand. It moved off to rejoin the other members of its herd. A day spent at the zoo is never a waste. How many times have you wished to portray those small moments of grace and beauty through a photograph, illustration, or painting? It seems an illustration could never convey the depth of color apparent in this wildlife. Likewise, how many people have taken photographs? To paint these creatures would be the only worthy medium, in your mind. A good choice would be watercolors, due to the size and relatively light equipment needed to create a work or art. The main question is, where do I start?

Watercolor painting is a process in which a staining paint is suspended in a vehicle and applied to a surface, usually a type of paper. The vehicle is obviously water. These paints, for the beginner, can be very difficult to master. They do not layer like oil and acrylic paints. Mistakes are difficult to overcome, so planning is crucial. There are many techniques for increasing the vibrancy and opacity of the medium as it is applied. Likewise, there is a large assortment of brusher, papers, and paints to use.

We have chosen our subject, the animals surrounding us. Whether they reside in the zoo, the park, or our own living rooms, it is important to observe them tirelessly. The first step to creating a wonderful piece of watercolor art is to sketch. Obtain an inexpensive sketch book, or even some standard printer paper, and a pencil or compressed charcoal. Carry these with you at all times. When you are at home you should sketch the dog, cats, or even the goldfish and hamsters in your children's rooms. Pick up a few magazines featuring wildlife and sketch the animals in the photographs. Take a trip to the park and eventually the zoo to study wildlife in a slightly more natural setting. The key is to practice your skills in taking what you see and transferring it to the paper. You will learn that you must be quick; animals do not stay still for long. In this exercise you can develop an eye for composition and proportion as you fill the pages.

When you are satisfied with the sketches you may proceed with the painting. Purchase the goods and supplies needed and sit down with the magazines you used for sketching. Practice painting small portions of the pictures. Try to be conservative with the paper and place multiple images

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>