Saturday, February 25, 2012

Rest On The Rocks-Pelican

Close up



Oil on 6x6 canvas panel.

This is my contribution to this week's WDE at Wet Canvas. Bonnie was the great hostess. Thanks for the terrific reference photos.
I really like working from photos. But never copy slavishly. Turn the photo into a painting!
Here's the original photo to illustrate the changes I made in cropping and color.

Pelicans are fascinating critters. There is a prehistoric manner about them.

First I answered Bonnie's challenge to crop. Then I challenged myself to push the chroma and texture in this one. I also changed the lighting in order to dramatize the color. As of now, I'm pretty satisfied with the results.

Available ... If interested, contact me at kkayangel2(at)yahoo.com

My Etsy

1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear ... "

19 comments:

Tim Robinson said...

Really nice. I love the amount of paint used in this one.

Pam Holnback said...

Love the strong highlights.

Catherine Kendrick said...

Dean.. I love pelicans.. and yours is gorgeously done!

hmuxo said...

Beautifully painted, Dean. I love the colors in the water and the feathers are beautifully painted as well..

CrimsonLeaves said...

Your interpretation of the photo is beautiful, Dean. I think the pelican itself is beautiful and the way you've handled the background is both inspired and magnificent.

Brad Miedema said...

Excellent painting Dean! wonderful brushwork

Studio at the Farm said...

Dean, I LOVE the colors you brought into the pelican, and how you used your brush-strokes with the feathers. It's a real beauty!!!

Viviane said...

Beautiful pelican !

Dean H. said...

Tim...Thanks for noticing. It's inspiring when it goes down more or less right.

Dean H. said...

I had noticed this type of lighting in one of my previous paintings as I looked through my blog. I'm glad I tried it again.

Dean H. said...

Ooops...the previous statement is in reply to Pam...I hit the send button too quick....Thanks, Pam.

Dean H. said...

Thanks very much, Catherine!

Dean H. said...

Thank s, Hilda! I was afraid I might overdo the strong color. Glad you like it.

Dean H. said...

Thank you, Sherry! I'm very happy that you like the changes I made from the photograph.

Dean H. said...

Thank you, Brad, my friend! I appreciate your kind comment.

Dean H. said...

Kathryn...Thanks for those much appreciated supportive words!

Dean H. said...

Thank you, Viviane!

Bruce Sherman said...

Hi there Dean!... You certainly transformed this fellow drastically... and more interestingly as a subject by cropping!

Everything necessary to read pelican... is there... front and centre... on a postage sized format!

Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce

Angela said...

Love the pelican. Your painting sure inspires me.

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