"DAWNWATCHER"

"DAWNWATCHER"
Pastels, Charith Pelpola, 2016

It's been good to get my hands dirty again and going mad with the pastels! I've been doing a lot of b+w pen drawings recently but pastel is where the heart is at!

Leopards are close to my heart and I wanted to convey a sense of mystery and optimism in this picture, as the Dawn-watcher patiently waits in his forest kingdom, waiting for the first light of dawn to herald a new day...

Below are stages in this work, from start to finish:

Please check out my Facebook page for more artwork.

Thanks!

A Company of Wolves

Sometimes a simple sketch has the potential to become something more...

When I was first drawing out this composition of a group of wolves, I was interested in the different positions and profiles of their faces.

But after the sketch was done, I went over it again in pen to give it more definition.

At the time I was also experimenting with watercolour pencils, so decided to apply a layer of colour as well.

In the end I cropped the picture to show just a trio - wasn't too happy with the look of the black wolf on top. Think it turned out okay!

"contact | margay" - progression

Here's another quick video, showing the stages of progress on my painting, 

"contact | margay'.

This took about five days in all, and was created with layers and layers of pastel.

Here's the finished piece:

contact | margay 2014, pastels

"In the heart of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, a stray beam of sunlight penetrates the canopy and illuminates a high branch. Resting in the cradle of its bough, a Margay opens his eyes, and surveys his lofty kingdom. As the Sun becomes obscured by cloud and this green world is plunged once again into emerald darkness, he settles back down - and waits for night to fall..."