Silvers - Painting realistic wildlife in acrylic : 30 step-by-step demonstrations

PAINTING

REALISTIC
WILDLIFE

in ACRYLIC

30 Step-by-Step Demonstrations
William Silvers

NORTH LIGHT BOOKS
CINCINNATI, OHIO
www.artistsnetwork.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William Silvers (www.williamsilvers.com) is an experienced artist with twenty years of success both commercially and as a fine artist. He has worked for Disney feature animation as a background artist on films such as Mulan, Tarzan, Lilo & Stitch and Brother Bear ; for Industrial Light & Magic where he worked on The Day After Tomorrow and Star Wars: Episode III as a matte painter; and for EA Sports as Associate Art Director where he worked on titles such as the award-winning game, NCAA Football.

METRIC CONVERSION CHART

Painting Realistic Wildlife in Acrylic . Copyright 2009 by William Silvers. Manufactured in China. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by North Light Books, an imprint of F+W Media, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236. (800) 289-0963. First Edition.

Other fine North Light Books are available from your local bookstore, art supply store or online supplier. Visit our website at www.fwmedia.com.

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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Silvers, William, 1962-

Painting realistic wildlife in acrylic : 30 step-by-step demonstrations / William Silvers. -- 1st ed.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-60061-135-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)

eISBN: 978-1-44031-740-8

1. Wildlife painting--Technique. 2. Acrylic painting--Technique. I. Title.

ND1380.S49 2009

751.426--dc22 2009005934

Edited by Mona Michael
Designed by Doug Mayfield
Production coordinated by Matt Wagner

DEDICATION

I would like to take this opportunity to make a dedication to my father, who was also a painter. Although he was a great artist, he never painted full time. He rarely picked up the brush for years at a time. He worked in factories to support the family of eight instead. A World War II veteran, he died in 1985 at the age of 59, long before his time. Along with his passing went the only one in my family who truly understood who I was. Everything I have done and accomplished over the years has also been for him and the life he sacrificed.

I would also like to take this opportunity to dedicate this book to all the people and organizations that play a part in protecting our natural resources from industry and greed.

Finally, I would like to make a dedication to artists and their pursuit, passion and determination against all odds and hopelessness to achieving their goals of creating art for the world to enjoy.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Although I painted wildlife at an early age, I drifted away from it after college to pursue a career in illustration. It wasnt until 1996 when my love for wildlife was rekindled. My life-altering experience happened when I had the privilege to meet John Seerey-Lester during his visit to Walt Disney Feature Animation to teach a master class. I was a Senior Background Artist working on the movie Mulan at the time. I was so taken in by Johns paintings and his graciousness, we became great friends and Ive been painting wildlife ever since.

There were always those moments in my life when I met people who truly altered the course taken. My seventh grade art teacher, Terry Davis, was one of these people. He gave me a great sense of mixing paint by allowing only three colors in my palette: yellow, red and blue with a white base.

Ive been fortunate enough to have true friends from my hometown of New Bremen, Ohio, who have followed my career from the very beginning and who have always supported me. I really cherish their friendship and thank them for believing in me.

I would also like to take this moment to acknowledge my high school teacher, Mr. Don McDermitt and his wife for being like second parents to me.

I wish I could have spent more time with a dear friend of mine, Tom OBrien, whose life recently was taken away. After graduating from Bowling Green State University, I was fortunate to start my art career with Tom on my side as my first boss. Tom made a huge impression on the development and direction of my career.

I want to thank my children, Thomas and Stephanie, for being there through hard times. I couldnt have made the journey without the two of you being by my side.

I want to thank Ewa, who came into our lives at a critical time, making us a family again.

I would finally like to thank all the people who worked on my book at North Light Books, especially Jamie Markle for pitching my idea and Mona Michael for her many hours of hard work editing.

CONTENTS

by John Seerey-Lester

Using a palette of just a few pigments and brushes can simplify your supplies so you can spend more time painting. Learn what to look for in acrylic pigments, as well as simple techniques, and the all-important first step: blocking in.

Learn about the basic tools and requirements for shooting your own reference photos, including finding animals to photograph and getting good photos.

Refine your composition skills with easy techniques for choosing color schemes, directing the eye to the focal point, and managing tension in your paintings.

Follow along with these technique demonstrations to learn to paint all the separate elements of a wildlife painting.

Put it all together to create beautiful wildlife paintings: Golden Eagle, Swan, Wolf, Fox, Giraffe, Deer, Elk, Black Bear, Polar Bear, Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Alligator, African Elephant, Sea Lion.