I have been busy filling up space and time by creating a High Desert mural. I recently posted more details on creating my Outdoor Pronghorn Painting. This weekend I added three additional paintings to the mural.
As I mentioned in my post about the pronghorn painting, I use photos I have taken and other sources to do my first sketches. I like to refer back to field guides and set them up for easy viewing.
Creamy white paint is painted onto each piece to make the colors stand out. Here are the three back painted pieces.
Once I start applying the colors, the piece of paper I use for cleaning my brushes and trying out color mixes becomes a work of art.
Why did I choose these specific critters? They are all characters in books I’m working on. I once heard an author speak about surrounding himself with “artifacts” his characters use while he is writing. I’m displaying some of my characters so that I’ll see them every day, even on the days I’m frustrated with writing and revising.
Black-billed magpies are one of my favorite local birds. In my work-in-progress book, the magpie character is named a Chinese word that means “bright.” They are very intelligent birds.
The golden-mantled ground squirrel helps save the day in the book she is featured in. Her name means “green” in Spanish because she is the protector of green petrified wood.
The American badger is featured as a secondary character and is also featured in a fable. Though unnamed, the badgers are important characters.
I particularly liked how this painting turned out – especially the eye. This badger is guarding some of the rocks featured in my I like rocks! post.
With the addition of these three animals, my High Desert mural is complete. Well… at least until I come up with another idea for a book. 😉
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Fantastic work. The characters in your books-in-progress come alive. Can’t wait till I see the mural it in person.
Thanks, Suzy. Someday I hope you can see them in person.
You are very creative! I did not know you wrote books! Well done.
Thank! I'm trying to write books but none are published... yet. 😁
You have to tell us when they are!
♥ Oh, some day,,,
I think my comment disappeared? You are very creative! I did not know you wrote books as well!
Wow Siobhan - if we were giving awards (which of course we don't) you would definitely be in line for most creative. The mural is lovely, I love that you painted it to help you along with a book, and I really love the color swatch modern art you made from the colors on the brushes. Fabulous!!!
Glad you liked my contribution this week. I created the three new works over the weekend. Fast work for me!
You’re very creative, love the characters in your book as well as the work in progress mural. Good job 👏👏👏👏
Thanks, Teresa! It will help me write about the characters if I can see them.
Oh... I'm so impressed. Beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us. You are talented!!
Thanks so much, Amy! 🙂
I absolutely love it! And you have lots of room to add additional creatures! Thank you for sharing 😊💙
Thanks! Yes, there's plenty of space left. 🙂
I love how you are surrounding yourself by the characters in your book through your paintings and the mural looks fabulous! Wishing you happy writing and a successful journey into publication 🍀
Thanks for the encouraging words! 😁
You’re very welcome!
While doing an oil painting, I like to keep a blank canvas nearby to smear the excess paint onto-- before cleaning that brush and choosing the next color. That way I've already got a head start for the next painting-- which will have an interesting background to blend over.
Art
Good idea! Thanks for sharing.
WOW. You are creative!!!!
Thanks, John!