First oil painting

[Gatorjaw]

From medium to damn little! I have done some very life like wildlife for people, but to get all the detail to make it look real I have to go with a bigger canvass. My mother is a heck of a painter and one of my brothers is a hell of a painter and all around artist. My stronger point these days is really in wood carving. My only downfall is I never got into taking pictures hardly at all. Until I started this thread.LOL  I think I have taken more pictures of this painting than I have in my whole life of the rest of my works. I guess better late than never.

[BVanKirk]

its a good way to get a fresh look at work in progress, stuff looks totally different photographed

[Gatorjaw]

I know, there is a lot of detail the camera didn't pick up. It's still fun though, and this weekend I'm going to start a painting, (wildlife) and see if I can still do something realistic. LOL! I tell you what I would like to do is a detail woodcarving on here, that would be fun. I will do one out of a raw block without drawing it out first and y'all can guess what it is going to be. That would be fun. Anyway I've got to get back to work. Later

[Gatorjaw]

Here is the last photo of this painting. I am anxiouse to get on with the next one. So tune in, it could get interesting. LOL, NOT!!!!!

[Gatorjaw]

This is the first pictures of this painting. This is only 20 minutes worth, alot more to come. This picture is taken from a photo in a book and it doe's not have a lot of detail but I am going to change that and lay it on heavy.
We will see what happens.

[Gatorjaw]

That last picture was not a very good one...In the next few settings there will be a significant change in detail...I haven't been able to paint in a while - sorry it is taking so long.

[mayamike]

Liking this one a lot Gatorjaw keep us posted, and I know the feeling about not having time to paint
Good work

[Gatorjaw]

It's hard to set down only to paint for a few minutes. You don't even have time to get your juices flowin. So to speak! It will be a couple of days, but when I get into it next time, there will be a heck of a change. Hopefully it will come out good. Thanks!

Paul

[Gatorjaw]

I got to paint for an hour and a half today. Know I am ready for the detail and background. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for this painting. If anybody has any suggestions, feel free to post them!

[BVanKirk]

what were your thoughts for the background?

[Gatorjaw]

An iceberg in the far background some very small formations in the forground and maybe a hole in the ice. You know how to catch a polor bear? You cut a hole in the ice and open a can of peas. Poor the peas arond the hole and when they come up to take a pea you kick em in the icehole!.....Get it!

[BVanKirk]

lol, personally i would think of a shallower depth of field, put the iceberg and background into softer focus and blur the edges together some to really push atmospheric perpective to really push the detail in the bear forward

[Gatorjaw]

EXACTLY! That is my very thought. We will have to see how it comes out. There will be alot more detail to the bear but everything else will be drybrushed in. After I do this one I will carve something on here. That will be cool!