My e-Newsletter, Vol. 2

The Art of Animal Newsletter Vol. 2  

Styl(us)ized Art by Sherri Godsey -

creating paintings from photos creating paintings from photos

Visit https://www.theartofanimal.com

Welcome to the second addition of my e-Newsletter!

NOTE: I didn't realize that the background image doesn't show up unless it's really small, as the newsletter covers it. Which means you couldn't see it at all! So, I corrected the background, and I may have to rethink how I do that image. This is the same Newsletter, Vol. 2, but with that corrected image.

I love creating paintings of animals in their natural environment. No animal is without dignity, no mater its physicality, age, or habitat. They are a part of our world, which means they deserve our respect, our interest, and certainly our protection if we insist on disturbing--and in some cases literally destroying--their homes.

This week's background image is a young opossum comfortably hanging by his tail in the quiet, green environment that is natural to him. Opossum's have been forced to adapt to human development, so they can often be found in urban settings, hiding wherever they can find a shadowed area, scurrying to escape cats and irate humans, and always searching for sustenance. A few years back when I was living in a mobile home park, I found a very young opossum that that had been stoned to death by children in the community, right next to my house. I was horrified and saddened by such ignorance. These are not naturally aggressive animals, but they'll show their teeth if they're afraid or threatened, just like any dog or cat will do. I'd be willing to bet that those children didn't know what they were killing, just that it was strange and unexpected and not something they were used to. All I could think about was how awful it was that young animal died in pain and terror. I cried as I wrapped it in a towel and placed in my garbage can. What a commentary on our society...

I adore racoons. They can be destructive, amusing, fascinating, and utterly engaging. Once when my mother and I were in our mobile home, a racoon dug a hole through the ceiling in my mom's bedroom! Scared us to death when we saw a little paw reach down from the hole-- you would have thought it was an invasion by the monster from "Alien." The critter had accessed our 'attic' area via a hole in the edge of our roof where a metal tube that once held cable wires had fallen out. Both holes had to be repaired. Unfortunately, like opossums, racoons find themselves striving to survive in a man-made world that has usurped their natural habitat. The little fellow trying to climb a branch in the image above, is available as a poster and on tote bags at my website. It's titled "Achievement Takes Time."

Above is a painting of the Bengal slow loris. This endangered species is a nocturnal and arboreal primate found in the Indian subcontinent and Indochina. This beautiful little seed disperser/pollinator is a popular prey item for carnivores. It's also prey for humans, being threatened with extinction due to growing demand in the exotic pet trade and traditional medicine. My favorite digital brushes for most of my animal paintings are the "wet details acrylics" brush, "coarse smear" brush, "oily smear" brush, "just add water" brush, and the "juicy soft brush blend." I like the colors of this critter and drew those colors into the background of the painting. This image is also available as a poster and on a tote bag.

A Macaque and her baby

I work hard to get every hair in place, the colors correct...the animals provide a beautiful arrangement merely by being what they are! Backgrounds can be more difficult...I like to incorporate the colors of the animals when possible and make it interesting. Otherwise, I subdue the background to keep the focus on the animal. What I decide on depends on the setting.

Note: I can use different papers to create different textures in a painting. This is most effective if I use chalk, charcoal, or pencil brushes. You can get a really interesting and creative effect!

My Old Souls Series

Above is another image in my Old Souls series of older people and their companions.

Click on this link https://youtu.be/Q6k1pqVM5jk to see a short video of how I'm creating these paintings.

Making dreams come true! Have you ever dreamed of interacting with an unusual animal that you'll never be able to actually touch in life?

I can create the image of your dream. You can swim with a whale, ride a dragon, race on a zebra, sleep beside a lion, or even make friends with a rhino! It's just more of the magic of digital art.

Until next time, be safe, be happy, be creative. And, if you think about it, share. :)

The Art of Animal | https://www.theartofanimal.com