Learn to Paint – Tutorial – Lion’s Eye

I did this little painting as a technique demonstration the other day and thought artist readers of my blog might be interested in seeing a little bit of my painting process -

Ok 1st image (above) shows the pencil outlines plus the very initial scrubbing in of some colour – burnt sienna and burnt umber / black

This 2nd image shows the continuation of the blocking in, it’s a searching time ie I am constantly squinting my eyes, looking at the reference for the major shapes and tones and also colours. Constantly comparing one part to the next.

Everything is blocked in now.

Here I am just re-establishing the darks and touching up areas. But notice how the eye still looks lifeless at this point.

Just the beginnings of a highlight and already there is some life starting.

Here I have added more highlight, remember the brightest white dot is the sun so the lighter areas is the reflection of the blue sky, I have therefore made the highlight a light blue, not white. The sunlight that hits the eye also travels through the eye, so the area directly below the highlight is also lighter.

Hope you have enjoyed this tutorial – remember there are a lot more on my “Learn to Paint” website – www.jasonmorgan.co.uk