Artist EMMA COLBERT answers your queries on how to paint beautiful animals
What are the benefits of using pastels for wildlife paintings?
Their soft appearance can create the textures of animals. And being able to blend easily, work in multiple layers and create soft feathery edges is vital for capturing realistic fur.
What’s the best way to capture images of animals in the wild?
Ideally you need a long lens and a lot of patience. I prefer to take my own reference photos giving me a first hand experience of the animals, as well as control over composition and lighting.
Do you work in the studio or on location?
My process often begins behind the camera and with sketches on location. I will use these images in Photoshop to come up with my composition. At the moment, I live and work in a motorhome travelling around Europe, so I am lucky to have a studio space that is ever-changing and connected to the outdoors. I have spent a lot of time in deer parks where I can see the creatures from the window while I work. I don’t often paint outdoors though because I rely on photo references on my laptop screen and prefer the comfort of the studio space.
Do you have any advice on getting animals’ anatomy right?
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