Bongo:

Jan had been working on an idea for a Bongo painting for a little while. She had even started it but set it aside. Then AFRICAN SPORTING GAZETTE asked if she had a Bongo painting that they could use as an opening to story for their January convention issue. So Jan has begun to work on it again.

Jan has not had the opportunity to observe Bongos in the wild. While she prefers to paint animals she has seen in their natural environment, she will still do animals that she hasn't seen as long as she can do sufficient research to be sure the painting is accurate. Here Jan has sketched and taken notes of captive Bongos at the National Zoo in Washington DC.

Jan has decided on doing a big male with a female behind him. Here she's done the sketch to size on tracing paper.

Even though this is going to be a deep jungle scene - Jan wants the light to glow through the leaves so she is starting with a yellow ochre underpainting.

To create an organic undertexture and give the feeling of heavy foliage, Jan applies a wash of brown mixed with green over the yellow underpainting. While the paint is still wet she crumples cellophane into it to give the impression of leaves.

Here are the "organic" textured background areas giving the impression of leaves and ground cover that Jan will now use as a base for the Bongos and more detailed plants.

Jan has transferred a portion of the drawing to the painting surface so she can start developing the leaves, bushes, etc. around the bongos. You can see where she has started to do this.

Jan has now blocked in the forms of the bongos and what will be backlit leaves in the foreground with her purplish/white gesso.

Jan has now done the female Bongo in the background. She has purposely made her in shadow - with just a hint of light touching her here and there so she does not detract from the male.

Jan is now working on the male. His face is close to completion. These beautiful antelope are a very reddish color, Jan is playing up the underpainting very orange so that the coat will "glow", especially where the sun will be hitting it.

The male Bongo is done, and the leaves in the foreground have been started. These are sort of like painting a puzzle - carefully observing where the light comes through, where shadows are and where the leaves are reflecting the sky.

Here is the completed painting "INTO THE GLADE", 11 x 14. It will be appearing in the January issue of AFRICAN SPORTING GAZETTE as the headline to a story on Bongos. The original is sold, but Giclée prints will be available.