Work In Progress: Osprey: Lover’s Key, Florida Update 9

            My apologies for not having posted this on schedule. My wife and I have just returned from a short vacation – visit in Virginia, and it lasted a bit longer than expected (it’s hard to turn back from the mountains). We spent some time visiting our son there and then visited a few historic homes of founders of this republic, as well as areas of natural beauty. It was a trip well spent.

            I was even able to make some progress on the Osprey painting. With the background completed for now ( I may want to further strengthen it after completing the main features), I started on the Osprey in flight. I started on this side because I want to complete the painting from left to right to avoid having to cover parts already completed and possibly smudging them.

            The Osprey colors may, at first sight be relatively simple – black (and grey) and white – but closer observation reveals more subtleties. Shading isn’t just grey but has a bit of blue in it – a reflection of the bluish background. Blue shadows are more realistic and more interesting. The dark feathers aren’t just black but also have other subtle colors depending how the light hits them. So, the colors I am going to use on this bird are:

                        Prismacolor

                                    Blue slate

                                    Cloud blue

                                    Light umber

                                    French grey 90%

                                    Warm grey 30%

                        Faber-Castell

                                    Dark sepia

                                    Burnt umber

                                    Light ochre

                                    Warm grey I

                                    Warm grey II

                                    White

            Seems like a lot, but they are all necessary to attain the effect. The dark feathers were the result of using dark sepia, French grey 90% and burnt umber. Highlighted areas were accomplished with light umber and light ochre.

            All the whitish areas of the feathers were accomplished with combinations of the greys and white. Even some light umber was used in the lighter banding of the feathers. Of course, blue was added to the greys in the shadow areas to bring even the shadows to life. The light is coming from the right side, so areas such as the side of the bird’s head and body are in some shadow. The detail pictures show more of these shadows.

            The eye was completed with very sharp points to get as much clarity as possible. Yellow ochre surrounds the black pupil. And, I’ve left a small light highlight on the pupil where the light strikes it. He is looking intently down toward his charges in the nest.

            I’m going to continue working on this bird and hopefully have much more completed by next week.