Experimental Swan

A4 210x297mm Strathmore Series 300 Bristol Vellum
Prismacolor Premier with hair of unicorn core, PanPastel blusher
Ref Photo: Bryn Ditheridge

Determined to turn over a new artistic leaf and learn from my fellow colour swishers, I actually planned some of this picture.

I meticulously selected a wonderful, close cropped reference photo with my usual alacrity, big thank you to Bryn Ditheridge for that. Paper was selected, a first piece for me on Bristol Vellum, a test with PanPastels mixed with colour pencils. Newly ordered Slice cutting tool and masking film arrived, the scene was set. The auspicious day arrived, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, coffee was steaming, life was good.

Now folks. This is where it started to go a little wrong, despite the planning and promising omens.

The Slice tool had disappeared for starters. No doubt I will sit on it soon and be the local hospital's first ceramic knife, backside-impaled victim. It is nice to be first.

Hey ho! On to the background application. PanPastel on this surface was a little underwhelming, it worked but I couldn't layer enough and would need to come back to it later. Masking film removed, on to the main subject. The application of PanPastels to underpaint was discarded as an option, so I went straight to pencils, building layers and values all over, burnishing where needed.

Eye in and now watching me, then that beak of a thousand valleys done. On to the main feathers, where I took some artistic licence to alter things a litte and had fun with textures. Getting back on track, so back to the background.

I covered the swan and then cleaned the workable fixative nozzle and gave a quick test spray. Perfect. Applied to the background for extra tooth, a few spatters to clean up but then was able to layer nicely with PanPastel again. On to the droplets to finish off and hey presto, done!