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Art Deco Magpie... by =steeljaw:iconsteeljaw:

Categories Traditional Art > Mixed Media

©2006-2009 =steeljaw
:iconsteeljaw:

Artist's Comments

...and I don't know why.

Another image that got 'stuck in my head'. This one was supposed to be used as a test for working on Clayboard, but I ended up doing it far larger on a piece of bristol (the Clayboard experiment failed miserably). It took me a long time to finish, I would work on it a bit, et sick of it, hide it for several days, then pull it back out and work furiously on it. I hate the steel cable, but I'm happy with the bird and the background. There is a /lot/ of metallic highlights in this, the background is overlayed with silver pearl paint, and many of the background elements are done in metallic Prismacolors. I may continue to tweak the cable, not sure yet.

Meant to be surrealistic, and mess with depth.

The magpie, the background shapes and the steel cable done in Prismacolor pencils. The far background is Com Art and Doctor Martins paints applied with an airbrush. Done on 9x12" smooth bristol.

Comments


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:icondaffyart:
~daffyart Apr 4, 2006, 7:52:32 AM
WOW! I like. Cable and metal aren't my forte, so I have no ideas for ya. Looks better than what I could come up with:)

Daffy
:iconglasnost:
~Glasnost Apr 4, 2006, 8:00:10 AM
Wow, that magpie looks amazing! I like the background; the colors and patterns seem sort of reminiscent of the southwest. It's obvious that you spent a long time on this, and I like it a lot.

--
Don't do things in your head; it's a dark and scary place.
:icontheriona:
~Theriona Apr 4, 2006, 1:06:01 PM
You know, magpies have become one of my favorite birds...

I remember the first time I went to the southwest, the first time I ever saw one. I must have been in elementary, possibly middle school. My family had just gone out to visit the Badlands, and while we were parked in front of a field, I saw a few of these birds. I watched them until my family had to leave.

Only later, when I was looking through a bird identification book (one of my hobbies, even then) did I discover the name.

And now, years later, I see these same birds every day when I look out my window, and sometimes it makes me think back to younger times :)

they're really striking, aren't they? Beautiful drawing, by the way. I like how you created the feathers around the face and eyes.
:iconsteeljaw:
=steeljaw Apr 4, 2006, 9:57:59 PM
They're one of my favorites too, and so much fun to watch! It's neat that you have such a positive association with them. When I was growing up my mom always cursed their names, since they often feed on the nestlings and eggs of the 'cute little songbirds' that everyone loves to feed. I'm hoping to attract magpies and crows (perhaps even a raven or two!) to my yard. I'm a huge fan of corvids. :>

They are wonderfully marked, all black and white as they are. I love them in flight, with the white wing patches. :>

Thanks so much for the kind compliments!

--
Down and gone,

~SteelJaw

Proudly flying with the ~Crow-Conglomerate! A club dedicated to Corvids!

Now accepting print orders and commissions! Help the birdy earn her wings!
:iconsteeljaw:
=steeljaw Apr 4, 2006, 10:13:37 PM
Thanks, man! I did spend a lot of time on it, too long really. Especially since I'm supposed to be working on other projects right now. I'm so easily distracted. :>

--
Down and gone,

~SteelJaw

Proudly flying with the ~Crow-Conglomerate! A club dedicated to Corvids!

Now accepting print orders and commissions! Help the birdy earn her wings!
:iconsteeljaw:
=steeljaw Apr 4, 2006, 10:14:04 PM
Thanks, sis! If you come up with any tips, feel free to drop them to me. :>

--
Down and gone,

~SteelJaw

Proudly flying with the ~Crow-Conglomerate! A club dedicated to Corvids!

Now accepting print orders and commissions! Help the birdy earn her wings!
:iconkarnival:
~Karnival Apr 5, 2006, 2:37:17 AM
I love it! :D

--
Karnival
:iconciuiniolar:
~ciuiniolar Apr 5, 2006, 4:15:59 AM
Interesting composition. The colours do work well, and the rendering on the cable's great. Not to mention the feather texture. Sweet work!
:iconsteeljaw:
=steeljaw Apr 5, 2006, 9:48:07 PM
Thanks! :>

--
Down and gone,

~SteelJaw

Proudly flying with the ~Crow-Conglomerate! A club dedicated to Corvids!

Now accepting print orders and commissions! Help the birdy earn her wings!
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