Painting Sea Otters
Dear Blog Friends,
How are you?
I hope everyone is feeling the potential of Spring in the air…it is the dawn of the new year!
Thanks everyone for participating in my blog…now here is your lesson!
***PAINTING SEA OTTERS***
Remember to get out all of your research photos and really look at the colors.
Tip: Start with your lightest colors first.
Burnt Sienna, Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Blue, Payne’s Gray and Titanium White are the starting colors to create the otters light gray fur.
I mix the lightest shade of gray with Cerulean and Burnt Sienna…
This combination makes a textured gray that is much more interesting than grays mixed from black!
Tip: KEEP YOUR WASHES AS LIGHT AS YOU CAN…
With watercolor you have to use the white of the paper to create your pale hues.
I added Payne’s Gray to the light grays to make shadows.
I integrated the red oranges from the shells into the cheeks of the otters to create harmony in the color scape.
This was added later as a very light glaze with Vermillion Red.
The blues and browns in the water are the same colors as the ones used in the otters just darker!
After all the colors were in the painting I add shadows…this time using Payne’s Gray.
To create the fur I mix a new palette of White Titanium watercolor…or gouache with all the shades I used in the painting.
This is how I create the illusion of fur!
Tip: The consistency of the gouache needs to be as thick as possible to work. I use a #1 liner brush; a very small brush. This brush size mixed with the density of the gouache gives me more control over where I place these highlights and details.
The fur is created with literally hundreds of little carefully placed brush strokes!
Note how the colors are in harmony…The browns in the otters are repeated in the circle…
Look critically at the repetition of the colors…see how many are repeated…shell pinks…seaweed greens and blues!
“Stars of the Sea”…Keeping Friends Afloat!
***End Of Lesson***
The buds are all out on my trees…and the house project is now getting really exciting…framing starts next week…
This is my dream come true!
Jody Bergsma with her “fantastic” subcontractors…Michael Quelch, Electrician…John Fathree…Earth Mover!
I wish all of you a wonderful weekend and close this week’s blog with a quote from one of my all time favorite writers Leo Buscaglia.
When I was 18 I read his famous book, “The Greatest Salesman in the World”
It changed my life.
Share love this weekend with your family and friends…lift the hearts of those around you…and you will see…you will lift your own.
“Too often we underestimate the power of a smile, a kind word, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
~Leo F. Buscaglia
Blessings and Happy Painting!
Jody
OMG this is WONDERFUL! I collect sea otters and I have about 5-6 items of yours in my collection.
Gerri Curless said this on February 6, 2010 at 6:39 pm |
Jody, I love the beauty and fantasy with real life your gift allows you to portray! Your site is absolutely stunning and makes one want to paint. Thank you for sharing your gift and encouragement with us. Some of us really need it and your caring ability to share is very uplifting!
LA
LA Turnbow said this on February 27, 2010 at 8:36 pm |
Jody,
I just love all the work that you do. I wish I could paint but I do draw a little but nothing compared to what your blessed with. You talent is truly amazing. I hope one day to own one of your prints. I love dolphins & anything that has to do with the ocean. Thank you for being so compassionate about your subjects, also for sharing how to paint your paintings. You are am amazing artist & women. Keep up the great work!
Debbie Bradley said this on March 6, 2010 at 12:15 pm |
Thanks Debbie…Have you ever been close to a live Dolphin?
Simply chilling…in a good way.:0)
Also thanks for the compliments…my head is only a little larger!
jodybergsma said this on March 19, 2010 at 4:09 pm |
Hey Jody,
Thank you so much for replying to my comment. I guess I didn’t think you would respond to mine. Now my head is somewhat larger. (lol). As to me being close to a live dolphin, yes Mam. My Mom & my Aunt Carol took my 5 year old cousin to Seaworld in San Antonio, Texas. I went mainly to see the dolphin shows, orca whales & some of the other animals they had there. My little cousin Roni Lee was so excited about going, seeing Shamu & in turn that got me keyed up. It rained while we were there & they canceled the seal, beluga whale & dolphin shows. I did find out they had a dolphin feeding tank & there I was able to see a dolphin up close. I took lpts of great pictures of them. I about went broke buying trays of 3 small fish to feed them. Roni Lee was able to feed them, touch them & to see the enjoyment in her face was well worth the trip. We got soaked. When it was time to go I got her a t-shirt, my aunt bought her a toy, etc. For lunch we ate at the Shamu type cafe & we got a kiddie meal & the lunchbox was a orca whale. So when we left I got her into dry clothes & within in 10 minutes on our way back to my grandmother’s house she was fast asleep. She slept in her new shirt, took her Shamu whale lunch box to bed, etc.
But being so close to dolphins was amazing, electrifing for me. I wished I could draw a dolphin or a pod of them. My house is full of pictures, figurines, etc. They are truly amazing animals. My all time dream would be to have a painting of one or several & then also to be in a pool with one. Have you been up & close with dolphins? Is that where you got your inspiration to paint them? What animal will you paint next? What animal that you’ve dreamed of painting, but haven’t done so yet?
Thanks again for being a down to earth artist & for taking the time to comment on ours. I hope that you will have more contests for naming your painting’s. I want to win one of your painitngs so much. Keep soaring high & fulfilling our dreams with your amazing paintings.
Debbie Bradley said this on March 21, 2010 at 7:49 pm |
Dear Debbie,
I’ll be sending you a private email.
XO
Jody
jodybergsma said this on March 22, 2010 at 4:23 pm |
Jody,
I forgot to ask you but do yhou ever travel, paint, etc. in North Carolina? Close to Pinehurst area? I would love to meet you & see your works of art. Thanks for being so compassionate about your subjects!
Debbie Bradley said this on March 21, 2010 at 7:52 pm |
You know traveling for “signings” has become very expensive. I’m working more to connect with my collectors and students online. I look forward to continuing our conversations.
jodybergsma said this on March 22, 2010 at 4:24 pm |