project 1 animals second painting

For the first two projects I was required to paint a couple of paintings of animals. The first one of an animal laying relatively still, and the second painting of animal or animals in a natural setting.
For my first painting I chose to paint my dog asleep, its hard to say whether I painted her without sentimentality. I have tried to paint her as I see her, so maybe it is unavoidable to a certain extent. Although she layed relatively still she was still pretty fidgety so in both paintings it was a case of getting the information down as quickly as possible. Although I did actually paint her from life I ended up having to paint a fair bit from memory. My tutor actually commented that although she wasnt painted quite correctly, I had managed to convey a sense of twitchiness , as if the dog was going to get up and move at any given moment. So I am pleased that I a managed to capture that.

The painting of pigs I sketched and completed quick colour studies in watercolour. The finished painting was actually constructed from a composite of different sketches, although I was glad that I had taken a photo as I hadn't really got quite enough information down in my original sketches.

I decided to paint a couple of pigs walking into the picture as I am quite interested in the composition of a photo and the compositon of a painting, not too disimilar to how Degas composed his paintings. I just thought it added to the painting personally, although its quite amusing how different people respond I have had both positive and negative comments about them walking into the painting.

I hope I have managed to capture them in their environment just doing what they normally do rooting around in the mud. I wanted to paint them as they are just behaving naturally not posed or cute looking, just being pigs.....

On reviewing my work and taking into account my tutors comments I have made some studies in my sketchbook on capturing the texture of the pigs skin.
Pigs are, and especially these particular pigs are very hairy, I guess I cheated a bit when I painted them originally and didnt choose to paint that particular detail. However my tutor is correct as they do look a bit shiny and smooth. So after experimenting in my sketchbook with different brushes I have attempted to get a more lifelike feel to the pigs by adding texture and hair. This has made the painting much more lifelike , I am pleased with the result.I used a fantail brush and also very gently run an oil pastel in places as this I felt portrayed fur quite nicely.
My tutor also commented on the two pigs coming into the painting, the addition of theses pigs does indeed change the whole compostition of the painting and adds further interest, so I am pleased that I went with that decision as I think it was a good one. Thanks Degas.

picasso

Bird and Cat 1939

I found the animal paintings painted by Picasso really interesting. The painting, Bird and Cat is painted in a simplified almost childlike way he has managed to capture the ferociousness of the cat, with the bird ripped open hanging from its mouth.
Picasso shows the energy,violence and movement in his paintings of animals, particularly his bullfighting paintings. I can see the progression of how he has simplified the animal down until there is minimal brushstroke.These two images are really inspiring and interesting and show great skill in the portrayal of the animalistic characteristics. He gets beneath the actual visual interpretation and manages to show the violence and unsentimental side of these animals.

This is the colour study, Still not entirely sure at this point about the background. I painted quickly in watercolour. before she moved again so I am going to have to go back and do some studies of the folds in the bedding that she is laying on.
This is the position that I chose to work from in the end as she is often asleep in this position enabling me to get the image down from life and I still had this sketch to fall back on for information. I painted my dog over a few sessions once I got her shape down and basic tones I painted the final details including the bedding from memory. I am reasonably happy with the end result and I hope I haven't painted her too sentimental, I just painted her as I see her.......