WIP - Rattlesnake

base layer

In the few weeks since my last post, I had the opportunity to visit the local wildlife hospital and rehabilitation facility, called The Wildlife Center for their annual open house. They had many of their educational animals (the ones that cannot be released back to the wild) out, and I got many great photos of several owls, an osprey and a peregrine falcon. But my favorite photo of the day came from the snake demonstration. We got to see several types of snakes, like corn snakes, bull snakes, and, of course, the diamondback and prairie rattlesnakes.

detail added to the head

The rattlers were kept in boxes with clear fronts so we could see them. This one I am drawing would get very upset any time someone walked near him, apparently because snakes' eyesight is based on movement, and spent most of the demonstration in this pose.

I find I can get a bit impatient when I have to draw large areas of the same thing. This goes for fur to some extent but I knew these scales would drive me crazy. So I took the fiberglass brush and marked in where all the scales will go. Since taking the first photo, I blacked in most of the left side and re-did it (this was the last part I worked on, so I was rushing too much instead of paying attention to where the scales should really be). Next, I took my new really sharp knife - I'm going to do a post soon on all my new tools - and started detailing the scales on the head. I'm using a diluted ink wash on each scale followed by additional scratching of highlights on top. In the second photo, the head is nearly finished.

I know this drawing will take a long time given its tedious nature and large size (9"x12"), but I am enjoying working on it and I know it will be worth it in the end.

Upcoming Exhibits

I am happy to announce that my work will be part of two exhibits this spring.

Two of my recent scratchboards, Vantage Point and Spotted, will be in the International Society of Scratchboard Artists' annual exhibit, to be held this year in Vancouver from June 7 through 23. This will be my first international exhibit.

A little closer to home, I have several pieces including both scratchboard and charcoal drawings at the Karen Wray Fine Art Gallery in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The exhibit is titled "Living Things" and will run from April 19 through June 1. View the article in the Los Alamos Daily Post.

Chimpanzee

The chimpanzees at my zoo are behind plexiglass, which makes them very difficult to photograph. Last week I surprised myself by getting the reference for this drawing, in focus with no glare or fingerprints to ruin it. And so I had to draw it. This is an 8"x10" scratchboard and is still untitled.

Vantage Point

Wow, I just realized I never posted a work-in-progress for this one. This scratchboard is 8"x10" and went pretty quickly.

This is an Asian leopard cat, one of the smaller wildcats. I hope to be able to see one someday. The reference photo for this drawing came from WetCanvas user Skappy.

Stop and Smell the Wildflowers

This moose scratchboard is 8"x10". I used colored inks with this one. Reference photo courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, since I don't get these guys where I live!

American Eagle

This is my reconstruction of the coat of arms of the United States, one half of the Great Seal of the USA. The bald eagle stands with wings outstretched, holding a ribbon (traditionally a scroll) with "e pluribus unum" in its mouth. In front is the shield with 13 stripes, here engraved on a breastplate. In one foot are arrows, depicting readiness to fight if needed, while in the other foot are olive branches, depicting peace. That the eagle faces the olive branches denotes a preference for peace. Usually, there is one branch and 13 arrows, but I expanded it to make a nest of these materials (though I imagine half would not be pleasant to sit on). Finally, there are 13 stars above the head, showing through the clouds.

This piece has been sold, but prints are available.

Huggable

This is a quick 5"x7" scratchboard I did in just a couple days. I have always loved red pandas - they look so cuddly (though I'm sure those claws would say otherwise). The goal of this one was to practice getting the color right, which took several layers.