SQUIRREL IN WINTER - CHRISTMAS CARD 2017

Hello there, did you manage to get all your Christmas cards made?

I had a brainwave last year when I realised that it was going to be impossible for me to make individual cards for everyone.  So I hit on the idea of drawing and colouring my own design, which I could then replicate.  OK, that meant stretching myself to do my first ever fine art piece of Copic work, but I did it and saved myself from, heaven forbid......buying cards!

This year, I just had to decide on the subject matter and it was whilst I was pondering that my Westie, Pip went tearing down the garden chasing after our local squirrel.........lightbulb moment!

Last year I didn't dare take photo's as I worked for fear of goofing, but this year I managed to tear myself away long enough to take a couple:

Having sketched out the squirrel, I started with the greenery in the background before turning my attention to that rather fiddly log the squirrel is perching on.  Oh, not to mention snow, which as I discovered last year is not white.  The knack is to colour the shadows, to give the impression of depth, rather than leaving areas of blank white space.

His fur was a challenge too, its made up of so many shades of red and grey, but as I built up the layers  the little guy started to take shape.  He looked so much better when I gave him two eyes, I almost felt him watching me as I continued, steadily to add his fur.

And, now for the final photograph - for my Christmas card prints, I used a scanned image as I did last year.  But in honesty my new Canon camera did a fab job, so next year I may skip the scan.  Anyway, enough waffle, I'm sure some of you have already moved on to the final picture...............

His bushy tail was wispy and I hope I've managed to capture that.  I opted for a simple background, lets face it, it's the squirrel that should have centre stage after all.

I have actually entered this little chap into the Copicaward.com competition, but he is up against some awesome competition.............whatever the outcome, I am chuffed to bits with my tufty little boy!

Happy Christmas everyone and I wish each and every one of you all the best for 2018