Monday 23 February 2009

Art Monday: inspiration interruption

Inspiration can strike at unlikely times. Usually, once I feel bogged down and frustrated while waiting for the oil layers to become tacky and the details to swim up and wow my eye, I am struck by competing compositions that fight my attention.

This time I'm going with it. Yeah, sure I have a sketchbook-load of ideas waiting to jump out this year, but I need to explore this Darwin and South American mammal fossil thing for a bit. My wife was great, just said go for it. Sure I spent ten hours drawing, painting and liveblogging; but I'm going where the Muse leads me.

So here's is where I left Charles since Darwin Day, discovering our friend the glyptodon.

It's not complete, and I'm still working on it. Remind me to fix the wrist. And the sky remains a mystery for now.

But I'm not about to abandon two of the other ideas that have been rattling around in my brain, waiting for release through my micro-paintbrushes.

Here's the beginning of one. I was hoping to sketch megatherium, but it turns out the Royal Ontario Museum doesn't have one on display. So, after a hasty 20 minutes between work ending and the R.O.M. closing, I sketched the distinguished skull on the left, an eremotherium.

You may notice I was looking up at it. On the right is the glyptodon again, a new drawing.

There will be more to this image, including Charles. To picture him, think of this quote: "He should be quite well-protected. If he survived the freezing process, that is."

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6 comments:

Karen James said...

'And the sky remains a mystery for now.'

I suggested it before and I'll suggest it again: consider putting the ocean out there & a tiny Beagle at anchor.

Anonymous said...

10 hours?! Wow, dude! I like it so far, although the face looks a little chunky with the cheeks. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

BTW- I've got a Styracosaurus waiting to be finished for Art Evolved and Deviant Art. It's in pencil. No color will be added.

Glendon Mellow said...

Karen: Hopefully I can finish it up soon. It may be the Beagle. But I have an idea that may require a separate piece for that.

Raptor: The eremotherium face is a little chunky.

Anonymous said...

I like your portrait, because it gives me an idea to make my own too.. But my problem is, an inspiration.ltr

Anonymous said...

I was referring to Darwin face.

Glendon Mellow said...

Ooo, Raptor you're right.

He was a bit jowly, but it's too far. Still some work to be done. I may try a digital overlay of my original sketch to bring the detailed contours back into the light and shadow.

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