Alpacacorn

(Realized that I hadn’t signed it on the canvas yet, so I did it digitally. Might alter the image when I sign the actual canvas and re-scan it.)

One of the hardest things for me to do as an artist is to call something done. But sometimes you just have to call a piece of art done and use what you learned in creating it to help improve the next piece of artwork. 

Why did I create Alpacacorn? Mostly because I wanted to test what acrylic paint to buy and use. I love to oil paint, but don’t have the space, money, or time to truly work with oil paints, and so I learned of ways to make acrylic feel a little more like oil but with a much quicker drying time.

For the test I wanted something fun, but also something where I could test shadow, highlights and texture. How well I could make smooth looking areas blend, but also how the paint could create textured lines over rougher (in this case fluffy) looking areas.

Process photos 

I accidentally threw away the sketch I made, so the trace paper I used over the painting to use as an outline will have to do.

Using burnt sienna on the under drawing to help in applying shadow and to outline the work.

Paint in the background.

Start applying the base colors. I’m right handed, so I try to start with the top left and work down to the bottom right in hopes of stopping myself from accidentally smearing wet paint. I don’t have a maulstick, but should look into either making or buying one.

Start adding shading, highlights, and fur texture.

And above is the final product. If you’re wondering why the color looks different in the process photos vs the final product, it’s because I have a yellow light in my home. I have been thinking I should get a natural light when working on paintings in order to get better color accuracy.