Attempts to paint wildlife are proving to be very fun and very challenging!  I love a challenge.  "Elkington", as he has been referred to by a friend, is starting to take some shape.  I'm using a different approach in that the Baltic Birch surface has been treated with two coats of GAC100, an acrylic polymer to seal the wood, and rather than applying my usual gesso layers to add "tooth" to the board, opted to leave the natural wood finish.  "Elkington" is standing in a field of late fall/early winter grass so the natural wood painting surface can be left to show through, adding its own dimension.  That is my hope.  At this point in the painting, the antlers have been "rubbed out" from the dark green background exposing the natural wood colour below. I will paint in greater detail and colour switches but am enjoying the "block in" the rub out has created for the mighty rack.

Back to the brushes.

Until next time...