Bon Bon in Space: Painting #97. A Unique Art Challenge.
Date Painted: May 8, 2020
Size: 8 x 10 Stretched Canvas
Let’s Get Started
This post is about my painting of Bon Bon in Space, a commission that turned into a fun little art challenge. First, I’ll talk about the inspiration for this painting. When I talk about inspiration in this blog, it will normally be why I chose a certain subject or Bob Ross or other artist tutorial to follow. Then, I will go over the colors and equipment I used and that you will need if you want to try your hand at it or something similar. Next, I will expound a bit about my process. Finally, I’ll wrap up with some lessons that I learned from painting this picture and things I could have done better or wished I had known. So join me on this trip down memory lane as I recap my 96th painting.
The Inspiration
Bon Bon in Space was a commission from a friend and fellow artist Drawing Xaos. Bon Bon is one of his original characters. Even though he’s an artist himself, he wanted to see how another artist would interpret his creation. The only restriction is that I couldn’t just copy the character, I had to draw/paint him in a different position. So I depicted him floating through space.
Materials Needed
Mediums
Colors
Ultramarine Blue
Cadmium Yellow
Equipment
Blick Bristle Round Brush Size 1
Princeton Synthetic Brush Set (4 pc)
Techniques
This painting was certainly a unique art challenge that took about 3 different sessions. The first session involved sketching and taping of the sketch in order to paint in the background. I used the standard black canvas technique for the background. That is I painted the canvas with black gesso then liquid clear. Then I used some transparent colors such as Pthalo Green and Alizarin Crimson. You can do so much on a black canvas. There are no rules except that you need to use a transparent color.
The second session was mostly spent meticulously removing the masking tape and painting the body of Bon Bon. I don’t paint animals very often, so this part pushed me a bit. It came down to taking my time, adjusting values, and letting the oils work for me. People get intimidated by oil paint, but it’s actually one of the most forgiving mediums out there.
The third session was spent finishing up the face and head. This part was a challenge with the perspective of the facial features. It took a few redos but I got it in the end. Just gotta keep at it.
Final Thoughts
This one took about 3 days in total. I’m used to doing paintings in one session over a couple of hours. It was a fun art challenge. I thank my friend Xaos for challenging me and forcing me to step out of my comfort zone. Certainly different from my typical Bob Ross landscapes.
I hope you enjoy this painting. In art, you can’t be afraid to try new things. Someone paying you to do it certainly gives you a little extra motivation! Comment below. If you want to see more of my work or see what’s for sale, check out my blog, gallery, or Etsy Shop to see other paintings available. You can also follow me on all my social media sites. Consider joining my email list for inside scoops and early access to new works.
Happy Painting!