Some hyena studies
4yr
Olga Bruser
Hi everyone!
I really like the community so far.
A month ago I did some hyena studies as a preparation for a specific painting that I put on hold for now.
I focused more on colors and worked on 1-2 layers.
I got into a conclusion that I need to do another study where I try to break it down to a process that I could use in personal projects. Like a recipe for future paintings. For example, some people start with line, color block then ambient shadows, direct light, drop shadows, bounce light highlights and texture.
In this study I did everything at once so I didn't have a real process.
So I'm thinking maybe I should start from simple line - shadowed shape with some color variation inside and then add light in such a way that it will already create some textures.
Ho do you approach your studies, do you also try to break it down into steps?
Hi @Olga Bruser, I've definitely run into the same problem as you when doing studies for my personal pieces. I think the issue that I run into with my studies is that I have a completely different process while doing studies, and I don't get to apply that process in my personal work. The other issue I run into is ONLY trying to copy the painting 1 for 1. This helps to some extent, but for me personally, it is definitely more helpful to try to break down and analyze the piece in other ways that may not involve ONLY painting. For example, I may look at your second pieces and take note that they are done under an ambient light source (probably taken during an overcast day). I have to take note that the painting study that I do for those images may not be able to be directly applied to the piece that I'm working on if it has a different light source.
Personally, I like to do work on my personal piece up until I run into a part of a painting that feels completely unknown to me. THEN I will do a study that directly addresses the issue that I run into. It makes the study more intentional, and by directly applying what I learned from the study into my painting, it helps solidify the learning process a bit more.
Finally, you should experiment with the process that you feel works best for you. I personally learned how to draw first before painting, and I like to think and plan my images in line, then value, then color. There was a period of time where I wanted to be 'more painterly' because of some other artists that I watched. Over time however, I learned that this process did not work for me, and I've reverted back to working in line first. Try different things to find out what works best for you, and don't try to be like anyone else!
Hope this helps!
Hi Olga :) Wow wonderful paintings :) I really like how you nailed the lights and darks. I know an artist who paints the objekt roughly in monochrome first to get the right lights and darks and than paint over with a little thined and translucant colour. Gives the painting a beautiful feeling of depth and looks super realistic. When I paint something in acrylig I tend to roughly paint the dakest colous and brightest highligts first. This gives me a good measurement for the middle-tones. I first try to nail the values, the detail I add later to the drawing.
Wow these rock! I love the texture, especially of the one alone, you got the way they stand well in that one
