Tuesday, April 27, 2010

World Tapir Day Celebrations


Wow! I've just got back home and have been amazed and delighted with people's generosity. When I got to the MASC office there were people dressed in tapir gear ....... white T's underneath black tops .... then rolling up the tops to expose white bellies. Very cute ... I am so fortunate to know such great people! you can see some of them at:
http://tinyurl.com/2avob3f

Happy Tapir Day ... more to come

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Nine days to go ... time for a box



One of the last jobs is to make a box - a box big enough to take 30 tapirs. I took a photocopy paper box and decorated it with stamps. I cut the shapes out of thin foam that I can overprint and overprint. The great thing about this method is the random texture you can achieve. Gives the whole thing a 'rough' look. I like the 'rough' typeface of the titling.

Friday, April 16, 2010

30 Tapirs just about ready to go


I've now got 30 tapirs all dressed up and looking smart. I'll package the pictures in a stiff cellophane I think and include details of the proposed project that's going to be funded ..... once I've finished 'dickering' with the pics themselves that is.

Brendan Wenzel


I came across this the other day. A fabulous illustrator ... and a great interpretation of a Malayan Tapir. See more of Brendan's work at http://www.brendanwenzel.info/blog

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Towers of Tapirs



Once again, it's April and I have a studio full of tapirs! Towers of them. Seventeen days to go and the next stages are the best stages. I'll varnish each one and apply watercolour .... things can get really random when watercolour is applied to a non-absorbent surface.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

28 Canvases - 2 more to find



The canvases will have a neutral colour .... unbleached titanium ... it's got a bit of character but not too dominant.

In regard to donations, Sheryl Todd of the Tapir Preservation Fund has suggested some projects where the money could be directed. I'm really excited about having a specific project to aim at ..... more to come as I get confirmation.

Monday, April 5, 2010

What to wear????


For all those concerned about what to wear for World Tapir Day .... a suggestion.
Don McMillan is modeling the lastest in 'tapirwear'. A spring number featuring a shortened black polo shirt over a white 'classic T'. So fetching!!!!!!

The process




The tapirs are beginning to take shape.

The very first thing I do is to set up an interesting 'ground'. I do this with some modeling paste and a comb like tool.

Next, I paint a colour background (in this instance - red, though later I will use yellow and maybe a blue/green)

Then, I put down the shape of the tapir ... simply, graphically.

The next step is to put in some background (I have a liking for Naples Yellow - always have, can't explain it!)

Then it's a once over with some sandpaper ... this bring out the background texture. This is the real fun part as it's where those accidental shapes, colours and textures happen.

So the next steps will be adding the subtleties like colour washes and varnishes.