11/24/09

SOARING

This weekend, hawks seemed to be on every fence post and telephone wires. I saw several Red Tail Hawks soaring on the wind currents, too. It's always a thrill each time I see one.

Here's an updated version of the Red Tailed Hawk that I painted earlier this year on YUPO. The tree was brought more into focus to anchor the foreground of the bird, and a few lights and darks were adjusted, too. The hawk's shoulder was emphasized to show that he had his back to us, and the extra branches and twigs added the needed detail to the painting.

Below is the earlier painting before these changes, and you can see that the final one has been cropped a little. YUPO is incredibly fun to paint on because anything goes - including being able to easily adjust and change areas. I do love its versatility and the way that it continues to challenge me creatively. It's like it has a life of its own!


"SEARCHING" Transparent Watercolor on YUPO 14 x 18"




3 comments:

Vicki Holdwick said...

Hi Sandy,

I've been seeing lots of hawks, too.

On Saturday, I believe I saw a falcon in my sister's back yard. It was fabulous!

xoxo

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

I like both versions. The earlier one looks as if the hawk is in mist or snow and is somehow more emotive, despite the additional warmer colours in the revised piece. Thanks also for sharing all the ATCs of late.

Billie Crain said...

I like both versions also! Either background works for me. I do like the cropped one a bit better. The hawk is no longer center of the comp. You really managed to capture the hawk's tension in the turn of the neck and the stare. Looks as though he's spotted something of extreme interest. I love what you do on Yupo.:) Amazing