This week’s 52Frames challenge is Inspired by an Artist!… well actually a photographer but I did Artist. All week I have been carrying a book around about Artist Dahlov Ipcar (https://www.dahlovipcarart.com/gallery). I came across her work a few years ago and loved it, so got someone to buy me The Art Of Dahlov Ipcar, by Carl Little. Her work features animals and birds, and many of the paintings are stylized with geometirc backgrounds. The colours are bright and the background shapes feed into the main image and are filled with individual details.

Dahlov Ipcar oil on Linen
https://www.dahlovipcarart.com/gallery

I really like them and they are not at all what I would do so I decided it would be a real challenge. This week I was very short of time but still wanted to give it a go. I used pelicans from a photo I took at London Zoo. I drew the birds, then tried to work in the shapes behind them. I filled in the shapes with watercolour and the did the birds in acrylic. I used drawing pens to outline them. I then added elements to the background shapes in acrylic. The finished piece is ok considering how rushed it was.

Watercolour, acrylic and drawing pen

However I think the lack of time shows. The geometric background could have been much better considered, which became obvious as I progressed. This includes both the shapes and the colour applied. This would have improved the cohesion of the entire piece. However it was fun and something I may well have another go at on a larger scale and with more planning.