Following last month’s article when I introduced you to the techniques I use to paint animals in acrylics, I hope you enjoy painting our little Merlin this month. He’s a great example of how to create the effect of fur in acrylics and show you how to create opaque layers followed by glazes (both transparent and opaque) in order to achieve a nice rich coat, full of interest and detail.
IMPORTANT MIXES
Natural black: Payne’s grey and burnt umber
Opaque mix: Titanium white with a little raw umber and Naples yellow
You will need
■ Surface
• Belle Arti Extra Fine Linen canvas 11¾×8½in. (30×21.5cm)
■ Brushes
• Pro Arte Series 202 No. 1
• Short flat filbert of any brand (for base layer)
• Rosemary & Co filbert, Series 305, Nos. 6 & 2
• Rosemary & Co Red Dot 10/0 liner
■ Liquitex Heavy-Body Acrylics
• Cadmium red medium • Yellow medium and orange (I use the cadmium-free versions) • Fluorescent yellow • Titanium white • Burnt umber • Raw umber • Burnt sienna • Payne’s grey • Raw sienna
