Page 98 - The Decorative Painter Summer 2014

ACRYLIC
STEP 3: Refer to the Step-by-Step photo on page 93 and its accompanying diagram below for placement of shad- ows and highlights. Shade the lower part of the beak with a float of Antique Gold on the no. 4 shader. Deepen this shade with a small amount of Lamp Black+Snow White (2:1) just below the upper part of the beak, but not com- pletely over the Antique Gold. This medium gray mix will be used throughout the project.
Using the no. 10/0 liner, separate the area where the nostril will be placed from the main beak with a very thin line of Honey Brown thinned to an inky consistency. Clean the brush and create a Burnt Umber seed stroke nostril. Clean the brush again, and then place a narrow stroke of Snow White along the left edge of the nostril.
Without covering the entire beak, use the no. 4 shader to apply a mottled (blotchy) area of Antique Gold, just be- low the nostril on the widest part of the beak.
With the no. 4 shader, float a narrow shadow of Lamp Black+Snow White (2:1) where the beak and feathers meet. Continuing with the no. 4 shader, gently float narrow highlights of Snow White along the top, curve, and bottom
of the top beak.
HEAD AND EYE
STEP 1: Do not thin the paint or moisten the brush. Us- ing the no. 6 shader with Snow White, solidly basecoat the
INDIvIDuAL FEATHER
SHADING AND HIGHLIGHTING ON AND uNDER THE BEAK
eagle’s head. Using the no. 10/0 liner with Snow White, ap- ply the thin feathers that stick out around the entire head. When these feathers are being added, it is easy to gradu- ally increase the size of the head until it is eventually too large for the body. Take care not to let this happen.
The distinction of the large feathers on the head will be done after the eye is created.
STEP 2: Using a sheet of graphite, transfer the pattern for the eye and brow line onto the head.
Using the EZ Dotz Tool or end of a brush, apply a nearly perfectly round Moon Yellow eye. When this is dry, add the Lamp Black pupil to the center of the eye. With thinned Lamp Black on the no. 10/0 liner, outline the eye and add the tear duct. Clean the liner and then add a thin- ner Moon Yellow line around the outline.
Using the no. 4 angle shader, apply a blotchy float of Moon Yellow over the white feathers that lead from the beak to the eye. This will give the look of being able to see what lies under the feathers. Using the no. 10/0 liner, stroke several tiny Snow White feathers over the blotchy Moon Yellow float, making the feathers appear to grow from the beak toward the eye.
Thin Lamp Black+Snow White (2:1) to an inky con- sistency. With this mix on the no. 10/0 liner, create the fold of skin under the eye by painting a thin, broken line. Clean the liner, and then stroke a curved highlight of Snow White on the lower part of the Moon Yellow iris. Place a
XXX Shading on breast under right wing XXX Shading left wing
OOO Highlight on breast
Direction of feather strokes over basecoat of White
DIRECTION OF FEATHER STROKES
96 The Decorative Painter • ISSUE NO. 2, 2014
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