"Red Fox" - digital painting

[PogArtTi]

There's some story behind it...
I painted this fox nearly two years ago using the airbrush onto clayboard.
I sent it to the Laser Studio in York to get the digital scan and prints done.
Full story in short - that studio has bankrupted,it was locked down, somebody has received the painting,no phones were ever answered afterwards, I lost the painting...

So this is the second time I did paint that fox, it's the third digital learning piece I did so far.
I'm painting old fashion way, so tracing the outlines, then blocking in roughly, and carry on working from that stage towards details.
I hope you like it...

[Mike Sibley]

I didn't know you lost the original when ReproTech went under. That's sad news indeed. Fortunately, I didn't have anything there at the time, but, equally unfortunately, I've not yet found an alternative pre-press house with a laser drum scanner.

Lovely drawing! Perhaps a little too well-groomed for me, but that's just my preference and not something to take notice of.

On the other hand... I can see this, and any similar drawings, making excellent book illustrations. It's clear, concise, very easily viewed, and devoid of printing problems.

[PogArtTi]

We did discuss that ReproTech "thing" in past Mike, you must have forgotten, it was quite long ago...
You told me that you're searching for new place with the drum scanner, I can see now you didn't find it, so sad, because I loved my arts to be scanned with such perfection to the detail

Anyway thank you again for kind comment.
I love the idea of book illustration, yes, it might work very well for that purpose, and obviously the printing too
You're right regarding grooming I suppose
Now when I'm looking at it, after reading your words, I can see the fur is so tight shaped to the perfection alike
Maybe I was too much after to match the reference photo...
I will remember your words
Thank you.

[Mike Sibley]

I'm reminded that I have a good artist friend in Montana who is an absolute perfectionist. His animals, such as a Bison I recall, are perfect too.

The problem is... Bison are not perfect!

Perfect is OK. But real life is scruffy!

[PogArtTi]

I know you mean very well, and to be honest I'm thinking that I'm avoiding the "perfection" , but the fox looks very "clear" - I do agree
Why it's that - I'm wonder
I'm always messing with the fur, placing my strokes randomly, trying to cross over, different angles, you know...
But I can see the fox is looking like after barber shop
No idea, as if I look at it closer, all I said above is visible
The fur is a bit messy on the chest, on his face goes different shapes/angles so on the ear...
The ony two places I can see the fur is very straight forward is back of the head and the neck, and the leg, where it's very short...
Also the tail ..., I tried to make sure it's randomly stroked and blurred too, as it's at the back of the fox a bit ...
No clue why it does look so clean
I'll send you the reference later on, the answer might be over there...
Thanks