This project is a departure for me. I’m still not quite sure how it happened. I mean, I meant to make a cow–but I thought it would simplistic or cartoonish. I can’t draw. I can’t shade. But something about this seems to be working. It’s funny. I worked more than half my life as a floral designer for special events—mostly weddings. I always found that even though I was designing a bouquet in my hand, right in front of my face, I had to look in a mirror to see what it really looked like. It’s shape. It’s color balance. With this project, for some reason, I started taking pictures at various stages. I was having a devil of a time figuring out the shading of the lower snout and mouth. I couldn’t even tell you how many times I ripped it out and tried again. The camera shots helped. Even if I looked at the shots immediately after having taken them, still in the camera, not even downloaded, it gave me perspective. A perspective that was separated from me. It’s a curious and useful tool. It could also demonstrate how I tend to get in my own way when I design. The mirror or camera image seems to separate my id from my ego and just shows me the truth. Or so I hope.
I live around lots of cows, out in the country, and That is a very fine cow! You can be proud of her.
Holy cow, nice cow.
thanks!!!