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Here is the Vampire Bat, finished. In the picture I painted this from, he looked so happy, I couldn't not paint it. For such a small little guy, he gave me some difficulty. On the other side of this sheet is an unfinished bat, jaw left off because I just wasn't doing it. Finally after Christmas, when I returned to the unfinished painting AND book, I realized I had lost the actual drawing in the paint. I turned the paper over, and was finished within an hour and a half. I've been told to not fall in love with your painting, or any part of it. Not until you are satisfied and done. As I was neither, it was time to move on. Lesson well worth learning.
The first wash of the wallaby, or rather, my first session with this lovely critter. He/she is sitting, with the long tail between her two legs. I put a yellowish wash down first, very wet, and then put the reddish color right into the still-wet yellow and let them blend together. I wanted a high-light at the top of the left hip/thigh area, so I blotted the paper with a paper towel, to sop up some of the paint. Hopefully, more work on it tomorrow.
And for those who have been following my progress with Carrie's alphabet book, I should tell you she did get all I had done, including a cover page which I have not shared with you yet, and knew immediately she would be giving it back to be finished. She shoved it back toward her mom, and went to the next gift! So much for worrying about disappointing her! I am glad she gave no fuss about it, and Grandma made sure she had other gifts from us for Christmas. So she will get the whole deal soon. There are only 26 letters, right?
Tops as always....
I like bats. They fly low between the cottage and the cottage next door on warm evenings in the summer. Love to watch them. At the top of the road we have Horseshoe bats, but down here most of them are piperstralls, we think they live (hopefully) under the railway arch. I always think they smile. As they sweep low and fast, wish I could see. But I'm sure they do....
You are making a beautiful heirloom for your children's children's children. Your Granddaughter will love the book, as most kids do, but in time, she'll love the LOVE you put into it.
I think that is the kindest looking bat I've ever seen. I can't imagine a little girl being afraid of THAT! And the idea of the wallaby with the tail between its legs... oh how cute is that?!
You do marvelous work, Michele. Thanks for sharing with us.