click to enlarge
The above painting was done, following the steps in the post found here. I used an eyedropper to draw the wolf paws but an ink nib to make a finer line on the human legs and feet. This piece was inspired by my sister. She wanted me to try to take my previous piece, re-draw it, and insert childrens feet dancing. She asked that I work with the color red indicating the first chakra energy. She wanted me to attempt to make the legs and feet of the human appear as though they blended with the reds of the background and not be as prominent as the foreground wolf paws. What I was striving for here was energy, earth, movement and union. I hope I have at least touched on some of these things.
Leslie White 
58 Comments
Oh, wonderful, Leslie! Great suggestions by your sister. I think you accomplished EXACTLY what you set out to convey. Love it!
Thank-you, so much, Kate! You came into my thoughts when I contemplated the red because I was originally going to use a campfire. Then, I thought about all the times you have posted what unleashed fire can do and I don’t think that is what I wanted to represent. Hot, yes. Primal, yes, but not rage and destruction. Thank-you, because reading your blog brought me to a better understanding of that. So, I chose, instead this hot glow. 🙂
I don’t just like it, I LOVE it! But this sister of yours is a tough customer, LOL! To give an assignment like this… WOW! The painting is amazing, very dynamic, I can feel the energy. I loved the first one when you posted it, but this one is over the top. I also love it how pudgy and soft children’s feet are, you can tell that they are young.
My sister can see things, Alex! 🙂 Those little feet are from references I snapped of my granddaughter. That was an accomplishment in itself, just snapping shots of her dancing around on the back patio and telling her to lift her feet higher and point her toe. Ha! Thank-you for this comment. The red was totally scarey to work with in this amount and strength!
Yes you accomplished the goal – this is full of energy – your colours are so vibrant and the dancing legs are so well done – I like this piece.
Wow. Thank-you, Stephen. As I said, above, to Alex, red at this strength, was kind of scarey. Thank-you for the comment on the legs and the energy.
I love it! I think you succeeded in every aspect.
Thank-you, Chris! I am really becoming fond of this drawing in ink with an eyedropper and taking a composition on from there.
Oh my gosh! It’s pure magic! I like that you leave the images large, so when I click on your paintings I can see all the delicious details. I just love wandering through them. This one is just amazing. I’m happy your sister encouraged you to try this! Bravo, Leslie!!!
On leaving those images large? It is funny that my BIG pictures come through on my blog, smaller and need to be clicked on. I know it has something to do with how I store them, but just can’t wrap my brain around it. I like enlarging artist’s drawings and paintings to look at their marks, also. ….and thank-you for that “magic” comment, Beth!
Yes, this definitely works! It’s lovely – and full of energy.
🙂
Thanks, Val. I actually came over and looked at the reds you have used just trying to get brave enough to include so much of it. 🙂
Leslie, you truly take my breath away. I adore your exploratory and courageous spirit. This depicts joy…a joyous exchange of man and beast.
Thank-you, so much, Amy! How cool about JOY! Thank-you!
This has tons of energy! I think you accomplished exactly what the customer ordered!
Thank-you, Carol!
Leslie, the concept is excellent and the the colors just apt to represent the Kundalini.. wow!
Padmaja, thank-you! That means tons coming from you on this one. I remember you speaking of this.
This is brilliant Leslie.. !! Instantly catches me and shakes me to exuberance!! Absolutely Star quality, I think, from me to you, this one I know a 100% what you wanted to convey!! This is painting genius Leslie! I would have named it the same thing even if you left out the title 🙂
I love that, that you would have titled it the same, Rachana. I could not think of anything else to title it. Thank-you! 🙂
I like this Leslie.
Gives it a kind of absract effect.
At least to my eyes.
I remember the earlier one and an equally impressed with this one
Thanks, Richard. I hope more ideas about ink line come to me, over time. I like expressing myself with these two mediums, in this fashion and together.
I think you succeeded with this painting. I definitely feel the rhythm in the dance and drawing. The warm colors set the tone. I like many of the ideas you wrote so well about in this post.
Thank-you, Al. Rhythm. I can relate to that, too. I see a stamping and circling with the feet and an undulating soft sound of the paws going past. Thank-you for this, Al.
Hi Leslie,
I recently learned about the five chakras and the colors associated with each chakras from my yoga class.I am so falling in love with the ink and watercolor painting.I may try one soon. This painting seems to have spiritual elements in it. Your explanation let me have a better understanding of it.
Oh Raji, how cool that you are being exposed to the chakras and their colors through Yoga. What I understand of it has been through listening to my sister, the yoga therapist, and through reading. I am really liking exploring this technique. I learned it through this blog: http://artistatexit0.wordpress.com/ Myrna is so talented and I do not have all the supplies she works with, but she inspires me to explore with what I can do. Thank-you for this comment!
i remember this work of yours. i like the idea – the combining of the two – human feet and paws. you’ve created a beautiful work here. i wonder… what might happen if… the paws were dancing along with the human feet – or – the feet ran with the paws? the spirit in animals is very pure – they are what they are. healing and energy go together in a flowing rhythm – dancing or running. you clearly know both human feet and paws – this is a beautiful process you are exploring.
Thank-you, Wrick! Interesting about the feet and the paws working together. I did not stretch myself far enough to explore that possibility. In fact, interesting challenge! Will have to settle into that thought for a while.
You have definitely captured the energy and movement in this painting. It looks great, feel great and i feel like dancing. Hmm…reminds me of the movie title “dances with wolf”
Thank-you, Francis. “Dances with Wolves” is one of my favorites to watch with my son. 🙂
Spectacular les! You have an unbelievably brilliant way of creating 🙂
Thanks, Nancy! 🙂
I am here from Amy’s blog and so delighted to find you. What stunning work. Thank you for posting all.
Best wishes,
Jamie Dedes
Well, thank-you, Jamie!
I’ve sat looking at this painting for twenty minutes and I’m almost speechless! Nothing short of brilliant, and if I’m allowed to say, one of the most unique and wonderful pieces of art I’ve ever seen. How big is this? I don’t just see movement and energy, I hear the sound of the feet. How often can you ever say you hear a painting? I love the white speckles, it adds to the sound. The colours are beautiful and your line work?…well,you’re my mentor!
It is 11 inches by 20.5 inches. But, WOW, thank-you for this comment. I heard the feet, too, so we are in synch. It is sort of a roll and a thump for me. I do have to say that the color was really intimidating for me and I just sort of held my breath as I applied it. I must have felt similar to how you felt on your recent work without the ink. Thank-you for this wonderful comment, Keith.
Leslie! I think this is great! Have you considered doing a series of these with different ‘feet/paws’? You’ve captured MOTION. !!!!
I have considered doing more work with the eyedropper and the watercolor! for sure! Thank-you for this comment about motion….I was hoping and I never know until I remove the splattered frisket. Thank-you, Eva!
Hey I remember these dancing paws from the original you did last year Leslie! They are a joy to behold – the close up really gives the feeling of life and movement 🙂 I love the vigour and exuberence they exude – so joyful! Another great Christmas card idea too!
In the last one, I had no human feet… Thank-you! Yes, perhaps a Christmas card, also. Good idea! 🙂
Love the snow widget too! 🙂 Can I borrow please 🙂
Hi Keith! Saw on the news that the UK is being hit with snow. Go to your Dashboard page and scroll down the left hand side to where it says appearance. Under appearance, click on extras. If it is offered for you over there, which I’m assuming it is, there should be a box you can click on that says falling snow until Jan 4th. Click on that box. Then, don’t forget to click on the little rectangular tab that says update settings. Voila! You will have snow on your blog!!!!! 🙂
This is great. The various feet/paws and I especially like the cooler wolf colors against that warm fading backdrop.
Thank-you, Bbrasseaux! It did take me some time to come up with the color for the gray wolves. I knew I wanted them to be cool colors.
Thanks Leslie, I now have snow! This is the worst November in 15 years. Not too far from where we live, is a place which holds the English record for the most snow ever in one day! I think this could be another record breaking winter.
I saw on the news last night that you all are getting hit!
This is one of the neatest piece of art I’ve ever seen. Great job! 🙂
Thank-you, Debbie!! It was fun to try and create this from my sister’s explanation. 🙂
I really really liked the original and I really really like this one too. I ran across another artist who did a ‘wolf’ painting and I think you would like it. The artist is John Nieto and the painting is titled “How sweet the howling wolves”. Here’s a link. http://www.artnet.com/artwork/426062906/425931941/john-nieto-how-sweet-the-howling-wolves.html
Wow!!!! What a beautiful painting! …and the colors!!! Thank-you, for this comment and sharing a very cool image of wolves!
An eye dropper? Wow, that sounds so tedious. I had to look twice to see the children’s feet and legs. THey DO blend nicely with the reds while still holding their own in the scene. Lots of energy in this scene 🙂
No. Tha eye dropper actually bumps along faster than my pencil and leaves a nice wobbly trail behind. I love that about it, because it gives me an entirely different look to what I want to say. Sort of like the work, itself, begins to separate itself from the reference material and have alife of its own. Thank-you about the legs! I have such a difficult time following another’s vision. I needed that! 🙂
leslie…leslie…leslie…this is absolutely spectacular and so spiritually alive…la loba sings…and she sings…i’m blown away by this. you’re quickly becoming my shaman painter… 🙂
Thank-you, JRuth! What a nice thing to say!
This painting looks great, what a good idea to add the feet dancing, love the splatters and colors!
Thank-you, Sandrine. I can’t take credit for adding the feet. My sister asked for me to try that. I can take credit for the actual painting, though. …and the splatters. 🙂
WOW ! This is wild and so filled with energy and movement! I love it! And I want to get up and dance too !!
That is what I was hoping with this.Bringing in the human element and that we are all connected. Thank-you, Isabelle!
2 Trackbacks/Pingbacks
[…] The above painting was accomplished similar to the elephant I posted, recently. I drew the pelicans in graphite and then went back over the drawing by drawing with an eye dropper and ink. Unlike the elephant, I did the whole drawing in ink before lightly spritzing it with water. This is because quite a large amount of ink is applied by drawing with an eye dropper. The effect is a little more loose and the spread of ink is large and blotchy. I think it enhances the feeling of movement. I splattered the drawing with frisket prior to painting and then with a dark watercolor once the washes were dry. I have used this technique, previously, here and here. […]
[…] before. You can view one I did with a nib here. I also have worked with an eye dropper here and here. This technique is defintiely not for the artist that wishes to control every element of his/her […]