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Original Creation

Down under glory

Voy Kay 31 Mar 2020

Still in lockdown .... still inspired ..... still have canvasses in the house .... so here I went for another 'world part silhouette' again. Last week Africa ... today it's 'Down under country'. I visited this country (Western Australia) only once, in 2003, for a (WAY TOO SHORT) vacation and made the biggest mistake of my life there ..... since I used my return ticket!!
The canvas used was a high quality 16"x20", carefully prepared with a silhouette of Australia, shaped with black gesso. Few colours were used here, mostly transparents inside the shape and always non-transparents outside the shape (READ the article on transparents please!).
This was a real fun painting to do and perhaps this will inspire people to take on silhouettes of (their) countries or states. Soon, I will work on South America and that might be my final continent since Europe and Asia are VERY difficult to do in silhouette shape.
Hardest to paint was the kangaroo since that was painted against the sun (painting with sunglasses is never easy! :) ). Easiest were the sky, the water and the sandbar with the surf girl in her wetsuit. I'm very fond of Mount Uluru and the parrot, the shark is a nice twist and well intended.

PS: I know this painting isn't exactly Florida but the intention and technique are the same as Bob's so .... I parked this creation here.

Featured Article How to paint animal silhouettes.

Comments

lightsnow Community Helper

This is fantastic! So you essentially painted the shape of Australia with black gesso? Were you just eyeballing a shape and then tried to copy it? It's very well done.

You are so creative Voy! Thanks for another online travel to the another continent!

Voy Kay Conqueror of Challenges

Vraiment Lightsnow, first I did the contour of the continent with a very small brush in black gesso, and then filled up towards the edges with a larger brush. Thus I created a white infield that I could color in. This method does obligate to use liquid clear since liquid white would totally ruin the contour.
Merci pour votre acclamations!

Voy Kay Conqueror of Challenges

Dear Sunnylady, this whole community and Bob Ross do feed my creativity to the full, I am so wild about it!
More to come soon, since the contour painting of South America is already ready and waiting!

MHK Helpful Friendly User

What an awesome use of your style. Very creative, very well composed and a stunning way to blend a unique style with different environments. Great job!!!!

Voy Kay Conqueror of Challenges

Thanks MHK, always valueing your honest opinions and cheers! Both wife and daughter like the surf girl the most, since they never expected that in one of my creations. For Australia, this was very suitable.
South America is destined to come the next days/weeks, so watch out for that one.
I'm hoping to do the polar circle as well, but cannot find a descent shape/silhouette for that. Pity!

Voy Kay Conqueror of Challenges

Forgot to tell Lightsnow that the contour is from the internet, although one can use any kind of available map of the continent. The trick is to get some reference points in (Like Tasmany is one, or a large bay etc...) and roughly start drawing the coastline, more or less following the real contour of the country. Anything close to that will always be a success!

You have a great idea. Very beautiful work!

Voy Kay Conqueror of Challenges

Arigatō Jin, always a pleasure welcoming the cheers of a great artist! Till next one!

I like it. Love the kangaroo

Voy Kay Conqueror of Challenges

Thanks LJM, your visit and cheers are much appreciated!

Oh, wow! This one is just as amazing as the South African one :) can't wait to see more!

Voy Kay Conqueror of Challenges

So great you love these!!! One more to go, which is Africa. The other continenst: Europa, Asia and arctic circle are hardly feasable to do with this technique used.
Please enjoy!!

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