Wednesday WIP 06.01.16

I have this project that’s been in my head for over a year now. In fact, as strange as it sounds, the idea came to me one night just as I was about to fall asleep. Despite dozens of attempts, I just can’t get the final result to look like the image in my head. I’ve tried acrylics on canvas, a watercolor, and dozens and dozens of sketches. None of them came close to what I want this to look like. I actually gave up on it after my failed (and really faded) watercolor attempt in the fall. Maybe it’s the green grass sprouting up and the lilacs finally blooming, but I’m willing to give this one more shot. What better time than now to start over, right?

This is the most organized I've been before a project. Ever.
This is the most organized I’ve been before a project. Ever.
Reference photos on a grid because it's the only way I know how to make anything look realistic.
Reference photos on a grid because it’s the only way I know how to make anything look realistic.
That's a fox skull. That's right - this isn't going to be a project with rainbows and butterflies.
That’s a fox skull. That’s right – this isn’t going to be a project with rainbows and butterflies. And under the skull reference photo, you can see the top of my craptastic warm-up sketch…
...but it's totally fine because warm-up sketches are supposed to be craptastic.
…but it’s totally fine because warm-up sketches are supposed to be craptastic. See how the face looks a little “off”? It’s bugging the hell out of me.
A close-up sketch of the face. I want the final piece to look more stylized than realistic, so I'm messing with the "fluffiness" a little.
A close-up sketch of the face. I want the final piece to look more stylized than realistic, so I’m messing with the fluffiness a little.
Adding a few more details before I figure out how the skull is going to be placed.
Adding a few more details before I figure out how the skull is going to be placed.
Tracing paper is for preliminary layouts is completely underrated.
Tracing paper is for preliminary layouts is completely underrated.
Three layers of tracing paper until I got that skull to look remotely like I wanted it to.
Three layers of tracing paper until I got that skull to look remotely like I wanted it to.

Right now, I’m thinking the final piece will be a mix of watercolor and vector art. I’m hoping mixing traditional and digital art will be the key to finally getting this done.