Without a doubt, the second most frequently asked question that I get is, "How do you paint your fur?" Well, not being one to keep secrets very well, here's the technique(s) that I use:
1. Start with the right brush! The single most important factor in painting hair or fur is having the right brush. For me, there is NOTHING that is better than the 7800 Dagger/Striper made by Loew-Cornell. Here's a link to their website so that you can see the brush:
I use the 1/8" size, almost exclusively for painting fur or hair. I like it's shorter handle, it's easily maneuverable, and simple to care for. I use this brush for more than just hair/fur, too! In my recent painting, "Early Spring," I would guess that about 90% of the painting was done with the Dagger brush...every blade of grass, most of the flowers, and ALL of the tiger was painted with this brush. It has become my most treasured brush, and I simply could not do nearly as well with any other brush!
What makes is so special? Simple...the unique shape allows me to paint very fine lines from the short stubby hairs above a cats nose, to long flowing manes. The brush is designed to be painted on the "Chisel Edge" and I prefer pulling it toward me. Whenever I need to change directions of the hair, I turn the painting...not the brush! Almost always, I keep the strokes going toward me!
Is there a downside of this brush? Well, yes, there is. Because I use this brush waaaay more than any other that I own, I tend to go through a LOT of them. I find that even with good brush care (regular cleaning, using "Pink Soap" to help shape it, etc...) I still find that a brush will only last me about 2 or maybe 3 paintings before the bristles start to spread apart, and the chisel edge is lost. At about $7 per brush, that means that I need to keep a regular supply of them on hand, and when my inventory dips below about 10, I tend to break out in a cold sweat until my next shipment arrives!
In my next few blogs, I will continue the discussion of "Painting Hair & Fur" and give you some tricks that I have learned that may really make a big difference in your paintings too. Thanks for following me...and happy painting!!!
