Work In Progress: Osprey: Lover’s Key, Florida Update 3

After sending the thumbnails in an email packet to the client, I didn’t have to wait very long for a response. She liked the close up views of the osprey, rather than the more distant views. She also liked the idea of having a mama osprey and some chicks in the nest. That eliminated the first thumbnail.

            Which view of the flying osprey did she like? The one similar to the photo or the more dramatic, open wing, version? Well, the client liked the more dramatic pose. The open wing version was nearer the nest, nearer to landing, and showed more detail, especially on the wings.

            So, I now had a good starting point for a composition. Now, the next step was to work up value sketches. They would further enhance the composition by emphasizing some aspects and de-emphasizing others. Part of the value composition would be deciding on the light source. In my first value sketch the light is coming from the right. The bird in flight would be in full light, exposing all the details in the wings and body. I also added some variety to the background – the lights and shadows of clouds against the sky. They would be subtle so as not to compete with the bird but adding some interest.

            The second and third value sketches have the light coming from the left. The second has the light coming in more from the back of the bird while the third has the light coming more from the side. In the second, the front of the bird would be more in shadow while in the third the sides of the bird would be illuminated. Also, in the second, the sky is more uniform.

            I liked the idea of the bird in flight being front lit, so I decided on having the light come from the right. I also liked some interest in the background but knew I had to keep it diffuse and subtle. So, in the end I decided on value sketch 1.

            My next step is the work up a fairly detailed pencil drawing with values to see if I’m happy with the arrangements and values I decided on. I also am not sold on the poses of the birds in the nest, so I’m going to try a few different ones to see which looks best.

            Next week I’ll show some options for the birds in the nest, the one I decide on and also the final pencil drawing full size. I’ll need to work out a few color sketches, also, before I start the painting.

At this point it looks like I’ll be working up a 20” X 16” painting. The background will probably be watercolor and the birds and nest in colored pencil.