#36: Gulls

A 4-panel mixed-media seagull montage. On 12x16 canvas panels I had prepped a long time back with the background in acrylics and oils. I finally finished them tonight (as I was watching the Oscars) by sketching on them with oil-based Sharpie paint markers I found on sale at Home Depot.

I have no idea anymore what type of gulls these are supposed to be, as I was using a sketch of a photograph I've since lost. They were probably Bonaparte Gulls from California. There are few things more beautiful in this world than a flock of seagulls taking off in a flurry of white from a wet beach into the blue sky.

Initial drafts, p1-6

Although I have the plot all written out, I haven't gotten terribly far in painting the plates for my children's book. Maybe if I post a few of my initial drafts, it will inspire me to work on it some more.

My thought is to start off in faded colors, moving to more vivid, bleeding colors as the story progresses. Although I do plan to paint pages 1-2, these are the pencil sketches in my little notebook I'm starting from.