When I look over my portfolio, sometimes I try to see what’s missing. It’s difficult to look for ways to add some variety, while at the same time challenging myself artistically. For a while I’ve noticed that I never really paint any types of animals. So when I was given the opportunity to paint something I haven’t tackled previously, in this case a great white shark, I went for it.
I have a tendency in my paintings to feature one individual prominently, so it was refreshing this time that the “main character†in the painting would be a shark. Water is also something that I enjoy painting, playing with the shifts in color and its reflective qualities.
Over the last few months I’ve been approaching the process of painting differently as well. In the past I would simply jump in with the characters until they were fully rendered and then proceed to paint the surrounding background.
I would find many times that color relationships would be drastically different, some colors would be too intense while others may be too saturated. The result would feel muddled and haphazard. What I’ve been doing recently is beginning with the most distant objects in the background, in this case the sky and sea, and gradually working my may to the foreground. It’s never a perfect process, but I think the initial layers of paint form a more cohesive image.
Since college I’ve been using Golden Acrylic paints, and while I’ve used all sorts of other brands and find most of them to work just fine, I simply prefer Golden’s line of acrylics. Recently they released a line of Historical Acrylic Hues, which are supposedly recreations of colors available long ago. I first tried these out a few months ago but struggled with the paint flow and low viscosity. At first I didn’t think I’d be able to use them, however I really enjoyed the range of colors I could achieve with them, particularly with skin tones. I decided to stick it out and now, with the exception of Titanium White, Jaws is painted entirely with these historic hues.
Often I butt heads with a painting, so it was nice to work on something that went as smoothly as this. The final painting is acrylic on canvas, 18×24 inches.
dood. you can paint? i could never get the hang of color – nor did i have the patience for really detailed drawings. i’m calling you if i need an illustrator for that children’s book that’s been an idea for ages.
Naw, son… check the post author’s name. I couldn’t draw a smiley face with a stencil template and two pages of directions.
Justin Reed does all the artwork on the site. His website is over in the blogroll – lots more cool stuff on his site, check it out.
wait – you expect me to read and figure something like authorship out? surely you jest 😛
aight justin – can i put you on a shortlist for children’s book illustrator?
Justin,
Our family, and especially both me and my 5-year-old, “M”, are real Jaws fans. We watch it practically weekly. M absolutely loves your painting, and he wanted to say this to you:
“How did you do that drawing? I like your picture really a lot. ”
Thanks!
Thanks!
I appreciate the positive responses.
Arp-I’m open to the possibility of children’s book illustration. I think it can produce some really strong work. In particular I really like the work of David Wiesner and Mark Teague.
I like both Wiesner & Teague’s work. I just read How does a dinosaur go to sleep? to my daughter the other night too.
Justin:
Thank you for producing such an awesome work of art. I enjoy having the original to look at everyday. It is even more impresive in person.
You’re very welcome. I personally feel that a painting needs to be seen in person. Something is always lost in a photograph. Glad to hear it arrived safely.