They are all absurd notions. That's the only kind of notion I really entertain.

So if step one is to have an idea, and somehow the last step is to get published, then somewhere in there like step 437 or 438, right after draw all the pictures and then Redraw half of the pictures, is make a felt doll of the main character, to include in the proposal.  Is that an absurd notion? Probably. But if it gets this story off of my drawing table (kitchen table) and onto a book shelf at powells or Elliot Bay books someday, than the last fifteen hours of felting will have been worth it. 

Credit where it's due, my little man helped a lot, especially on the leaf cloak, and also climbing the tree to pose him.

How to paint a very grumpy lion

Start light, choose a few complimentary colors, reds and yellows. As you add detail you revisit darker areas of the image and fill in the details with lion shaped lines.






 I try to keep the background soft and out of focus, cause that part is really hard to draw, and there's a lot of leaves and sticks on all the trees and that is just too much junk that nobody really cares about. Nobody has ever been like "wow that lion looks cool, but the trees in the background are amazing!"

Then with the lion I just keep drawing fur all around its head, longer fur for the mane, cause that's where the long fur is on a lion mostly, and short fur lines on the face part. Then just keep that up until the lion gets this big sourpuss scowl going on and looks all mad about life.

Add darker lavender hues and be all like "I didn't mean for it to turn out this way, all drippy and purple and squiggly, so drop it. The world doesn't need another big grouchy jungle cat going around complaining about how the art is turning out. What do lions know about water color pencil anyway. Forget you. " If this lion is going to be such a whiner I am done. I'm not even bothering with the paws. Take an attitude lesson.

How to paint a grumpy lion part 3

How to do Bobcat art.

Bobcat Tutorial, for Bobcat Art Enthusiasts!

1) Find a picture of a Bobcat on the internet.
2) Find your Derwent water color pencils.
3) Draw the Bobcat all night on Friday.
4) Have your son do the fill in parts during breakfast on Saturday after cartoons.

5) Walk everybody to soccer practice.
6) Draw your Bobcat some more with details and hairs and all the spots and stuff.

Viola! or Booya!, depending on your tastes.