BW Lion

[Steve]

Hello all thought I’d challenge myself with this one, I’ve done a lion before but the fur didn’t look right. I’ve gained more experience now after researching and doing my own paintings. I’ve got quite far but the fur looks like straw I know I need to keep layering and scratching but has anyone any advice? Thanks in advance!!

 

[markjthomson]

It's looking pretty sharp... what does the refence look like? If anything I would say the strokes are "too regular" and maybe some errant hairs are needed...

 

[Steve]

It's looking pretty sharp... what does the refence look like? If anything I would say the strokes are "too regular" and maybe some errant hairs are needed...

Yeah understand what your saying I’ll try and mix it up a bit more see how that goes

 

[wickedartstudio]

It looks good, but I think you're going a little overboard. If you try and render each and every piece of fur and/or hair, you lose the realistic look and end up with more of a spaghetti or "straw" look as you called it. Try picking out shapes you see in the reference and render clumps, or sections of fur instead. I think you'll find the less is more approach produces better results.

 

[erwin de pan]

It looks nice. The top half and his ear look realistic.
The left bottom side, gets less light.
So keep in mind that if you scratch you cannot leave the scratches white.
That side has reflective light.
And so it cannot be just as light as the side that receives the light directly.

I have used this photo before but it immediately shows what I mean.

 

[Steve]

Great advice there, I agree it is a bit busy I’ll have a go tonight and look at the light as well. By rendering do you mean blurring some points and sharpening others? Again thanks for the advice!!

 

[erwin de pan]

Before you go too dark.
The bottom photo shows the difference in values.
That doesn't mean you have to use them all.
If you want to keep it lighter, you can move the line between light and shadow a few spaces.
And skip the darkest shadows.

 

[Steve]

Done a bit more tonight after the advice and agree that less is better thanks again for everyone’s help so far

 

[Steve]

Almost forgot, I’ve got an electric eraser but some of the paint has dried and won’t erase, do people have harder erasers and what type?

 

[wickedartstudio]

By rendering do you mean blurring some points and sharpening others?

Rendering is just another word for creating, painting, drawing, etc. But yes, focal variation is also very important in your artwork. Keep the area (or areas) you intend to be the focal point of the viewer crisp and sharp. Blurring out other areas, even very slightly, creates more dimension and adds realism. It's looking much better in the second pic!

 

[wickedartstudio]

do people have harder erasers and what type?

You can get soft and hard refills for electric erasers; however, I'm not sure what's available in England. Hopefully, another artist from that side of the world can chime in. Generally speaking, white colored eraser tips are soft (less aggressive). The gray eraser tips are harder (more aggressive and better suited for removing dry paint).

 

[erwin de pan]

The 2mm fiberglass pens I use most to do hair.
A normal eraser (orange / blue) is also good to use, but first test some leave color behind.
Faber-Castell erasers can be made a bit more aggressive by wetting the tip.
But only if your surface can handle it. wouldn't do it on normal paper.

 

[Steve]

Ah right, I’ll have to order some different erasers and test them out, the lion is on YUPO Synthetic paper so hopefully strong enough.

 

[jord001]

Fiberglass pens work well on yupo. Not sure about paint that's hardened though, Depends what paint your using and if it can be re-wetable then maybe you could remove some of it.

 

[Steve]

Sorry should of mentioned I’m using createx wicked paint.

 

[Steve]

Morning! Done a few more bits, well gone over the same bits again and again . I’m going to call it a day but again feel I’ve learnt quite a bit thanks to all the comments. I did make a stencil that helped me with the fur which I’ve included in below if anyone once to try.

 

[Steve]

 

[erwin de pan]

Good job.
It is beautiful .