I love animals, be they pets or wild animals. Squirrels are among them. I haven’t taken a usable photo of a squirrel yet because it’s moving so fast that by the time i turn on my camera, it’s already a long way off. Of course, i’ve also heard of gentle squirrels eating out of hand. At the highest point of the country, Kékestető, they are so gentle.
A couple of years ago, i pitched my tent next to Lake Balaton in the belief that i had chosen a good place. But there was a war over me at night, two gangs of squirrels fighting loudly against each other. Needless to say, i didn’t sleep all night because of the deafening screams and the acorns and pine cones slamming into the tent like a projectile.
However, i couldn’t get mad at them as they only lived their natural mating instincts.
They look very beautiful and cute animals with big eyes, fluffy tails, nimble and graceful movements.
Last night, while searching Pixabay, I found such a beauty. I mirrored the image vertically because i prefer to look to the right of the one it depicts. In the original photo, the squirrel's tail was cut off halfway, but i completed it.
I tried to bring a bit of lightness into the whole picture, in addition to making the squirrel quite detailed.
Now let's see the step-by-step process!
Colors used (Sonnet watercolors, 24): golden ocher, burnt siena, natural siena, sepia, black, light green, dark green, light yellow, Indian yellow, natural umbra.
Paper: Fabriano 300g, A/4 block.
As a first step, i drew the squirrel and its surroundings, determining where the highlights will be.
I covered the highlights with masking liquid. Plus, i also surrounded the edges of the image with it in a way that was irregularly jagged like some old image.
I started with the background, going from layer to layer.
I painted the darkest parts with several layers of sepia.
Painting the hair was not easy. I didn’t want it to be mechanical and overly elaborate.
Thicker brush strokes were followed by thinner ones. I drew the shiny, fluffy hairs with white gel pen.
The squirrel's eyes sparkle brightly.
I also had to pay attention to the direction of the hair.
Bokeh effect between the trees in the background, the thick branch is coarser (dry brush technique)
The whole picture:
Very cool work ...happy that I see it first ☺👌👌👌👌🤭
Thank you! Does it matter if someone sees/upvotes a post for the first time?
It just was make me happy :))
It’s beautiful and thank you for letting us see your prosess ❤️
Thank you! Not easy to paint it but you can try it.
Adorable little critter.
!LUV
Thank you very much! I think all birds and animals are adorable, except for creatures like mosquitoes, ticks, etc.
I grew up in Hawaii, which has no squirrels. Now that I live in the continental US, every time I see a squirrel I'm like that dog in the movie "Up," (except I don't hate them, I love them).
@sidekickmatt(1/1) gave you LUV.
Wow great drawing
Thanks!
Love it. Welldone. Looks very good. Wish I could learn to draw.
Thank you! There was a time in my life when I couldn’t draw yet. Like much, it can be learned.
Love it so much 😍 the brushstrokes and the colors are so well managed, great job.
Thank you! It was a big challenge for me to paint fluff, i’ve had a lot of failures with it already, but it’s already something i can take on.
I love this.
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Awesome
This is a brilliant illustration, captured the cheeky character of the Squirrel!