Painting Elephants With Cherryl

First Fire:

This is an under painting of color that will give a glow to the other colors we put on top on another fire.
Colors Used:
Mixing Yellow, Tan, Orange, Yellow Red, Pecan, Soft Pink, Deep Blue Green, Tahitian Blue Violet, Dark Blue.
Sketch or trace design on a 11 X 14 tile.

1. Work from lightest colors to darkest according to photo.
2. I started with Mixing Yellow moving into the Orange, Tan, Pecan and Yellow Red.
3. Darkest shadows are Violet mixed with Dark Blue.
4. Deep Blue Green and Tahitian Blue are used where you see the blue.
5. Eyes on elephant are Mixing Yellow and pecan no pupils at this time.
6. Cast shadow under the ear is Violet mixed with Dark blue,
Shadow is a found edge right under the ear but diffuses as it moves out. Soften edges on outside of shadow.
Make sure you have a good light coming from behind ear on left as this sets up the shadow under ear.
7. I found it easier to paint around the cut off tusk, then painted the shadows using Mixing Yellow and pecan on the tusk Keep ends of tusks round.
Wipe out with brush, wipe out tool, and Viva Paper towel to create a better light path. Soften edges don't let it show you used a wipe out tool.
Do this for the water as well.

Water: The water at the bottom of the painting is painted with Mixing Yellow and Soft Pink, do not paint this area solid but cross hatch the color to create illusion of light in the water. Soften edges.
Fire 016

Illuistration of how we painted the undercolors on the our first fire using saran wrap to keep from smudging our paints: