Marine Iguana

[Val]

I don't mind saying this one is beginning to worry me a bit. I keep practicing the washes but still having difficulty with laying one over the other without mucking up the one beneath. I'm afraid I've pushed this one back a bit until I finish the mountain scene, and the turtle. If the turtle comes out not half bad I'll wrestle down the iguana. 

[Tony (ASM)]

Ah! Oh well, it's always good to have alternative choices to go at. Good luck with the progress.
Tony 

[Val]

Its deaded. It has taken me a while to come to grips here. I finally started painting the head and totally mucked it. Tried washing it away but the colours stained it too badly. Used it for colour testing when I did the Cosmos. I will not give up on this one, the gauntlet is down. Will just have to draw another one and have another go. I now have some watercolour pencils, might try that .... once I figure out how to use them!
         Oh Dennis..... 

[nolan]

  oh no

A new one will work too   

[Val]

Thanks Nolan, it does get quite disheartening at times. I'm lucky I seem to bounce back ... just a big sigh a lopsided grin and I'm even more determined. Not sure that's always a good thing sometimes 

[Leana]

Shame Val...    Just make sure when you bounce back... you don't bounce too far away from the Iguana... It might try and catch up with ya...    ... Great that you are even more determined... you will show it whom has the brush and colour in hand 

[eftpower1]

back in my nefarious past there was this tobacco product I NEVER inhaled that caused people to see things like that lizard

i am looking forward to seeing you painting!!

When you post, please, please give detailed notes on how you did the painting, I am fascinated with the idea of being able to capture an image like that in watercolor.  NOT that I will be trying anything like that in the near future...not for a long, long time
Regards,
 Brian

[Val]

Thanks Leana.

Brian, it may be a  little while before I take another crack at it, but rest assured I will do it!   Yes it was an interesting period to grow up in ...... 

[Tousabella]

Val...
I've been seeing your iguana in my sleep!! No, not nightmares...how to get him on paper. Have you thought about watercolor pencils?  It's easier to control, and you can use it as a template for when you want to paint him. Make sense? I haven't used pencils....yet, but it would be a great idea to mix the colors and tell where the shadows are for when you want to jump in with w/c, acrylics or oils.
Hope that helps....He is just so beautiful, and a painting would keep him forever.

[Val]

Tousabella....funny you should mention w/c pencils. I picked up a set in Martinique. I haven't really tried anything other than a few test patches with them as yet. Am so pleased that Dennis is going to do a lesson on using them.    We will be heading over to the Spanish Virgins in another week .... hope they have internet.