Fur Study
Step 1:
Gesso your board or canvas
Step 2:
Choose a painting that features fur from any museum in NYC (this can be an animal painting or portrait of someone wearing fur). Crop the image to focus on the fur.
Step: 3
Sketch out the general composition on the board with pencil translating the complex information into general shapes of light and dark.
Step 4:
Completely cover the surface with a translucent wash. While wet block in the large areas of dark and light by adding more painting or wiping off the wash with a rag to reveal the lights. At this point you may either let the underpainting dry or keep working wet in wet.
Note: most fur has layers of color. Establish what is the underneath color and then think of loosely brushing the outer layers of fur over the top using quick brushstrokes and varying your pressure on the brush.
Step 5:
Develop the painting in full color using paying attention to areas of light, dark and middle tones so as to create a sense of volume. Step back frequently. Notice how light plays over the surface of the fur, organizing it into general shapes. Notice areas of shine or reflected light.
Step 6:
Self critique and make changes to the composition, color, and surface where necessary. Finish.