How to paint the furs with oil painting?
TECHNICAL ADVICEBack
A hair is almost nothing. And yet....fine, soft, rough, coarse, short, long, curly or smooth, there are so many differences. Add to this a considerable number of colors, depending on the animal and species, and changes in tone when exposed to light, and the combinations are incalculable. A little nothing for a great whole, and a real treat for the painter.
How to respect the direction of the hair and the movement of the fur?
It's essential to respect the direction of the bristles. I use extra-fine brushes, number 0 or 1. When I can't find a brush fine enough, I simply take scissors and remove the superfluous hairs. Sometimes, just a few hairs remain.
Using medium, I liquefy the oil to obtain a consistency suited to this type of brush. The resulting flexibility enables me to make very long bristles oriented in the direction I want.
How to give the impression of suppleness or rigidity to the fur?
Simply change brushes to give the desired direction to the bristles. With a mesh brush, you can make the bristles more flexible by choosing the inclination you wish to give them. This technique is often used on dry surfaces. A short, fine brush produces short, stiff bristles. Working in the cooler* is then perfectly possible for a good blend of colors.
* Working in the fresh: Working on a layer of paint that is not yet dry.
