Following on from the start of our painting last week I've began to work on the background. Unfortunately I'm not as far along as I would have liked by this point due to the black paint that I used for the shadows being a little 'too oily', hence that after a week and a half the paint is still not totally dry. To improve the situation I've removed some of the black paint and reapplied it diluted with a little liquin which is a fast-drying oil medium. Hopefully this should solve the issue.
I've been working on the rock texture and using light to add volume to the rocks. Once the rocks are done I can work on other elements of the background such as snow and pine branches and finally focus on the puma.
Here's the intermediate stage between last week's and now, which was where the black paint issue arised.:
.. or cougar, or mountain lion, or one of the other dozen of names it has (I think I'm going to stick with puma) is my latest painting in progress.
The Puma is the largest of the small cats (Felidae) and the fourth largest cat with males around 2.4 metres from nose to tail. It ranges across the American continents from the southern Andes to the Yukon of Canada with larger animals generally further away from the Equator. The Puma and its sister species the Jaguarundi are the closest relatives to the Cheetah. It is a powerful ambush predator relying on short bursts of speed to catch its prey such as White-tailed or Mule deer.
Here is my rough sketch on canvas for the painting. I'm aiming to put the puma somewhat sheltering from a snowy environment with snowed-up branches of pine peeking through but you can't really see that at this stage.
More to come soon!
For the next pet breed focus we're going from paws to hooves and talking about the Welsh Pony.
The Welsh pony originates from Wales where ponies have existed since before 1600BCE. Historically they have been used on farms as working animals, as postal horses, and as cavalry, and later pit ponies. In the Middle Ages, Henry VIII ordered that stallions under 15 hands and mares under 13 be destroyed to improve the breed for use as war horses. This was later repealed by Elizabeth I as it was hard for poorer lands to grow enough food to support them.
Arabian horses left over from the Romans and later from the Crusades have mixed into the breed. Later other breeds have been added including the Thorough bred, & Hackney and the stud book for the breed was established in 1901. Nowadays they are often used for recreational riding and driving, as well as showing and jumping. They are also a popular breed for children as a riding pony.
The breed is known for its hardiness as well as their good temperament, intelligence, and free-moving gait, and is split into 4 different sections: A - Welsh Mountain Pony, B - Welsh Pony, C - Welsh pony cob type, & D - Welsh Cob. Welsh ponies have also been used in the development of other breeds of horse and pony such as the Morgan horse.
The Welsh pony is characterised by a small head with larger eyes with short backs and sloping shoulders, and range from 11 to 16 hands. They may be any solid colour with black, grey, chestnut, and bay being the most commonly seen. The breed is also considered friendly and trustworthy, with great endurance.
