Red Croc

I've had a really, really frustrating week of artmaking, let me tell you. I've been stressing out all week because the piece I was working on for our latest illustration assignment just was not getting up to par. I couldn't hand that thing in as part of my portfolio, nor would I ever want it shown in the Illustre exhibition. So I am doing it over again digitally.

Also in the works is a resubmission for a previous assignment, where we had to illustrate 3 characters. Despite the high mark I got for those pieces I am not happy with them and I am doing that assignment over again as well.

So here are the three sketches I will end up painting. The character is still a crocodile but he is drawn in my main style and he has a bit more personality to him. He's also red!






My first painting attempt was so bad that I couldn't even look at the thing, so I scribbled over it and threw it out. My second attempt was not much better, but I kept it this time. The problem I had with these ones is the paper, I reckon. It's canvas paper for oils and acrylics and I don't think gouache seems to work well on it at all. I like texture in my paintings too, but this paper was probably too much.



Tired and frustrated after two disasters, I decided to put the brushes away for the day and play some Warcraft. Yesterday's attempt at painting was much better, thankfully! This time I painted on pastel paper much like I did with this piece. Despite a little blooper which ended up being a background, it went well and I was pretty happy afterwards. I had redeemed myself. Now, I just need to go to the shop and buy some more white gouache, because I am all out! Doh!