Monday, 25 February 2008

Zebra painting - Stage One & 5 facts about me

Finally, I'm back to the Zebra painting! I currently have four paintings that I will be making a start on in the next week or so. Three are commissions. I will try and post the occasional pic as I go but, for now, I've started with the rough draft of a mother Zebra with foal. I can tell you I was quite goggly-eyed by the time I had finished all those stripes. This is on a gallery-wrapped 24" x 30" canvas frame.
Stage One - © Serena Lewis
Click on image to enlarge



OH, I almost forgot, Boyd, tagged me some weeks ago to list five facts about me. Sorry, I'm late with these, Boyd, but here goes -

1. I have a fetish for little notebooks. I think they're cute and I use them for all sorts of lists and reminder notes. I have quite a variety in different colours and cover prints. I particularly love handmade notebooks with fabric covers and handmade paper for writing on. I would love to learn how to make my own.

2. I had my navel pierced eight years ago but ended up letting it close up because it never seemed to heal properly. Admittedly, I had it done at a hair salon where they just used the same piercing gun used for ears. I should have gone to a body piercing salon.

3. I prefer savoury over sweet food anyday.

4. In my early teens, my heart-throb was Donny Osmond. And they called it Puppy Love....oh, I guess they'll never know.....how a young heart really feels....and why I love her so.

5. When I turn 50, I plan to get my first tattoo. Nearly 20 years ago, I fell in love with the cutest little dolphin tattoo that I'd noticed on a woman's ankle. We were sitting beside each other in the waiting room at the hospital. I then decided I wanted a tattoo but I couldn't make up my mind whether I wanted a dolphin or some other design. I'm still not 100% sure but I figure that a dolphin may win out in the end considering it was what drew me to getting a tattoo in the first place.

I won't tag anyone specific but please feel free to carry the 5 fact tag on if you would like to.

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17 comments:

  1. Jennifer Rose26 February 2008 at 06:04

    zebra stripes definitely make people's eyes go all crossed eyed. the painting looks good :)

    draw your own tattoo?

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  2. stapeliad26 February 2008 at 06:41

    I love zebras and this looks like a great start!!

    What are you using for your reference?

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  3. Northbrook Designs26 February 2008 at 06:46

    I will be waiting to see these beautiful zebras finished. The drawings are perfect as I expected they would be....Ro

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  4. Serena Lewis26 February 2008 at 09:51

    Thanks, Jennifer. :) I have thought about designing my own tattoo if I don't like what is on offer already.

    Thanks, Jessica. :) I use Copyright Free reference images gathered from the WetCanvas Reference library and free Stock Photo sites. This painting will be done using three different reference images. The mother Zebra wasn't actually listed as Copyright Free or in the public domain but I emailed the Photographer to request permission.

    Thanks, Ro. :)

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  5. Mahala27 February 2008 at 06:51

    I am in awe of what you do. I browsed a bit and you are so artistic and creative...I like the texture paint on the flowers and the Valentine pages...wow. I loved it.

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  6. Flassie's Fil'a27 February 2008 at 10:07

    You art is beautiful!!!

    I came by to say thank you
    for trying to help me at
    Violette's site.
    I still can't figure out what
    I am doing wrong. I even went
    to another site that tried to
    explain it in another way and
    I can't get it to work either.

    I'll keep trying to figure it out.

    Have a Blessed Happy Fun
    Creative Healthy Year!!!

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  7. Julie27 February 2008 at 12:50

    You should design your own tatoo...it would be the BEST!

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  8. Anonymous29 February 2008 at 07:24

    Thanks for your help Serena!!!

    I finally got it to work!

    Have a Blessed Year!!!

    Flassie

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  9. Anne2 March 2008 at 03:22

    Serena, thanks for the nice comments on my blog. I took a peek at your blog and you have some really amazing work here--very beautiful! I really like these zebras. I would go crazy with all the stripes:)

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  10. Joan Sandford-Cook3 March 2008 at 02:13

    Serena - you seem so busy and all so different. Why are you criticising you own seascape? Maybe the waves turning are too central, but other than that has a lovely feel of freshness and the small figures help give the feel of how awesome the ocean really is. What a contrast to your soft ochre/raw sienna background you have prepared. I sketched some zebra whilst in Africa last Autumn - and I agree the stripes get one cross eyed??!! Cant believe they are like our fingerprints and are different on every animal. Love your work and its variety.

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  11. Serena Lewis3 March 2008 at 08:25

    Thanks for dropping by Crafy Hala. I like visiting your blog too. :)

    Hi Flassie, glad to be of help. I knew you could do it. :)

    Awwwwwww shucks, thanks, Julie ~ :)

    Thanks, Anne. :)

    Joan, I'm my own worst critic, I guess. Hmmmmmmm, that could be the problem area....the rolling waves being too central in the painting. Thanks so much for your input, Joan, I truly appreciate the feedback. Yes, it's incredible to think that every Zebra's stripe pattern are like a fingerprint unique to that Zebra. :)

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  12. Felicity Grace3 March 2008 at 21:06

    Gosh, I wish I could 'not' be a beachscape artist like you! ;) I don't really see 'central' as necessarily a bad thing and in fact the figures are off to one side so the eye moves across the composition, drawn up too by the different shades of blue. It's gorgeous!

    Stripes are so difficult but I just love anything with them, they are such a strong element in a painting or drawing. I can't wait to see it finished!

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  13. Felicity Grace3 March 2008 at 21:10

    I can still remember how I felt when I saw Donny singing Puppy Love, OMG! I must be fickle because I dropped him for David Cassidy!

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  14. mrana12 March 2008 at 08:43

    I love stripes and I love zebras, so I'm really looking forward to seeing your finished pieces! And I have to empathize with your numbers 1, 3 and 4 facts ... eeek how embarrassing no 4 seems now! :D

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  15. Anonymous14 March 2008 at 10:07

    Interesting facts Serena and thank you.

    The Zebras are looking fabulous. I would love to paint them myself oneday.

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  16. Maria Catalina Wiley17 March 2008 at 08:16

    Love the zebras & can't wait to see them when they're finished :)

    I love reading your interesting facts about yourself. Donny still looks pretty good today!

    cheers, Maria

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  17. Serena Lewis26 March 2008 at 20:12

    Thanks, Felicity ~ :) Btw, my sister loved David Cassidy too.

    Thanks, Mariana ~ :)

    Thanks, Boyd ~ :)

    Thanks, Maria ~ :)

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