Panther Chameleon: Step-by-Step

[Martinotti Reptiles]

I've never done a progress list like this, not even on my art blogs or galleries, so I thought it might be fun. I'm also extremely proud of how this chameleon is turning out so far, so I hope people get a treat out of watching it come together too. Sorry that the photographs aren't that great!

The handsome guy is Plasma, an Ambilobe panther chameleon from Sunshine Chameleons. This is a large picture for me, measuring 24" x 19" and to be done completely in color pencils.


#1 - Lineart is down on the paper. I always start from the eyes and work my way around the face. Basic face colors are layed out and detail work starts on the eye.

#2 - The head colors start becoming defined. Lights and darks, blending, and the scales.

#3 - Things are better blended at this point (even though I've now lost my colorless blender pencil, which helps a lot lol). Darks and darker and little details are starting to get better defined. Scales and texture will be the next step for the chunks of solid color.

Lets see if I can get another progress shot by tonight. I'm moving fairly quickly, which is great. Thanks for looking!

 

[Scarlet.Escapist]

Wow!:shock:

That looks Grrreeat!! :biggrin:. The detail is awesome. How long do these art pieces take you? I doubt I would have the patience to sit down and draw so detailed:lol:.

Keep up the great work and please keep us posted on the progress !

 

[Martinotti Reptiles]

Thank you so much! This one might take me a week or a week and a half to finish. Typically I do much smaller pictures that only take me a couple days. I don't either, to tell you the truth! lol If it weren't a commission, I wouldn't put myself through something this time consuming either!

Of course, I'll take more photos as I make progress.

 

[Holly12]

Wow!! that is really beautiful I love it you are a awesome maybe I should come to you when I want something like that done lol.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Beautiful picture! Great job!

 

[Martinotti Reptiles]

Thank you!

 

[Martinotti Reptiles]

Step #4 - More torso coloring. The stripes are such a pain! I will go back afterwards and continue the texture.

 

[aquapimp]

looking awesome, Brother!

 

[Martinotti Reptiles]

Thanks!

 

[Martinotti Reptiles]

More progress! Almost done! It'll be done by tomorrow, hopefully!

Step # 5 - (Taking a break from the red) The background is starting! Grapewood branches.

The idea is to make the branches fade out the farther back they are in respect to the chameleon. This may change a little, depending on my sister's opinion lol.

 

[cliff_f]

WOW! That is really really nice! I love looking at nice art. I think because I couldn't draw a strait line if my life depended on it and I wish I could draw.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

That's really turned out fantastic! Great Job.

 

[Martinotti Reptiles]

Thank you for the compliments! I finished it today, so I'll take some good photos of it tomorrow morning and post what the finished version looks like.

 

[Martinotti Reptiles]

The finished picture! The photo doesn't do the colors justice, but that's true of any color pencil photo. Enjoy!

 

[BigBrown]

dude ur drawing is SICK. in a good way. lol

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Really stunning artwork. You should be making prints of stuff like this and selling them at herp shows (if you aren't already).

 

[Martinotti Reptiles]

Thank you!

Right now I'm working on a portfolio for my transfer to an art school, but I really want to make selling reptile art a big part of my website. So eventually I'll change my site around a bit and then look into offering prints. I'd love to sell at shows though, that's a great idea. It all depends how much a table/part of a table is worth!