- Jack 8 (Final)
Jack's finished portrait. 7" x 5", scratchboard with watercolor. Everything except the whiskers was scratched with a #16 X-Acto blade. I used a Slice ceramic cutting tool for the whiskers. The color in this image is more accurate than the previous one, it leans more toward magenta tones. - Chrome Rising - detail of process on hood
This series of 5 images shows how I started work on the section of the hood of the "Chrome Rising" drawing.
This is an eyebrow (or cosmetic) tattoo needle. I used it to clear away some of the black on the car hood. - Chrome Rising - detail of process on hood
I used the tattoo needle in the lengthwise direction, then in an angled direction (but not 90 degrees to the other direction). - Chrome Rising - detail of process on hood
My trusty #16 X-acto. I used it to further scratch the area where I've used the tattoo needle. That breaks up the linear effect, I want a smoooooth effect on the hood. - Chrome Rising - detail of process on hood
The section on the bottom left shows how it looks after I've scratched w/the #16 X-acto blade. - Chrome Rising - detail of process on hood
Close up of the eyebrow tattoo needle. It has multiple sharp pins that create a linear scratch pattern. - Off Duty? 1
5" x 7" scratchboard of a Border Collie: "Off Duty?" because anyone who knows Border Collies knows they're working even when they're playing. - Off Duty? 2
Still working on scratching the dog, but I've started adding a water background. Read the story about the water here: When You Want Different Water - Off Duty? 3
Border Collie is all scratched, ready for color! That will help pop him out from the background. He won't have spooky eyes either. After adding color, I'll scratch as needed. - Off Duty? 4
With color (watercolor). I didn't spend a ton of time on color-correcting this scan. The dog looks pretty accurate, but the water isn't quite right. I'll take more time when I scan the final. At any rate, in the home stretch at this point. Next:scratching to add highlights on the dog, and separate him from the background. - Off Duty? 5
Almost finished ... Since the last scan, I scratched to bring back highlights on his fur, added a lighter edge on the tennis ball and the highlights in his eyes, and worked on the white parts of his fur a little bit. And miracle of miracles, I used the "Auto Color" adjustment in Photoshop and it did a pretty awesome job of fixing the scan. I usually can't rely on that setting, but I'm sure happy it worked this time! - Off Duty? - Final
Finished! 5" x 7" scratchboard (Ampersand Scratchbord), with watercolor and some India ink for re-inking & drawing long, black hairs. From my own reference photo taken at a dog play day many years ago. - Jacob (Final)
Jacob's portrait is finished. I love his crooked little smile! 5" x 5" scratchboard, with watercolor Scratched with a #16 X-Acto. Color is minimal - a purplish grey for everything, except brown for his eyes. About Jacob: https://chimphaven.org/chimps/jacob/ - Jacob 2
The drawing of Jacob is all scratched, ready for color. - Jacob 1
5" x 5" scratchboard drawing of Jacob the Chimp. The back story: a call went out to members of the Society of Animal Artists to create art of Chimp Haven chimps, with the artists granting permission for image use on merchandise to benefit the chimps. Reference photo courtesy Chimp Haven.