Not quite sure where this picture is originally from but I found a powerpoint of National Geographic photos called - Photo Mix 21

Took about 2hrs and 30mins. I wasn't focusing on correct proportions too much but I do feel I get tunnel vision and don't 'stand back' from the painting. I also changed it to CMYK halfway through the darn painting - whoops!

Perdy berd

Life study from a Bird of Fashion slide show. Not quite sure what the primary source of it is but you can find the slide show in the link below. Lots of inspiring beautiful bird pictures.

2 hours

http://www.slideboom.com/presentations/631307/Birds%27-high-fashion-show

Boscimani

Needs more red and the forehead is too low though I still like how the colours and wrinkles turned out.

2 hour study

Picture from:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3479/3709823950_64d1ac27e0_o.jpg

Shrimp Mantis study

Was watching a documentary on under later life and this guy really caught my eye.

So colourful and nimble. Can strike an enemy with blinding speed.

I made a point of being deliberate with my strokes in terms of direction, value and colour while keeping things loose. Additionally, I used 100% for the majority of the strokes so that I could enfore this. I've noticed that if you use opacity pressure then you can compromise the form of your subject so thats why I went with 100%.

Wasn't an aim to go for fine detail. Just form, value and colour I would prefer to do that if I'm copying this for reference for a personal piece.

I can already tell where I went too dark and too light. Especially with the eyes and legs.

3 hours approx

Reference from:

http://www.scimix.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Mantis-Shrimp.jpg