After a great deal of additional practice drawing spikes on paper, I was ready to improve upon my first attempt at creating the 3D appearance of spikes on Pamela’s neck, back and tail. The Drawing Course I’m taking is from The Great Courses “How to Draw”. It is a series of 36 lectures on 6 DVD’s. Professor David Brody is your instructor. Lecture 5 – Line and Shape: Volume and Figure Ground illustrates the use of Cross-Contour Lines to create volumetric solids. The use of ellipses and triangles will aid in the creation of spikes on Pamela.
The first step is to get the proper triangular/ellipse combination using the Hammered Gold. Spraying the paint into the cap and using an artist brush can accomplish this task. After the gold has sufficient time for drying, the Kona Brown mixed with the Hammered Gold will be used to create the cross-contoured lines. Again, spray into the cap to mix the paints. I used approximately the same amount of each paint to get the shade I wanted for the cross contoured lines. You will need a very fine tipped brush to make the cross-contoured lines. These lines aid in the illusion of a 3D image, so practice on paper with pencil or pen until you have the look you want before attempting this with the paint brush.
When you are happy with your painted results. It’s time to make final touch ups and then Clear Coat. Pamela’s plastic eyes will be reinserted with silicone glue for the final step. Then it will be time to finish Pamela’s new base for her special spot in the Park. Look for these steps in a future post.
The Natural History Museum in Los Angeles has a special exhibition – “Green Diamonds”! As a Fellows Member, we were invited to a special lunch and private tour of the “Green Diamonds” with the Curator of Mineralogy Dr. Aaron Celestian and other special guests.
Membership has its Privileges and is a Great Way to Support the Museum too! Check out their website www.nhm.org and find the membership level that works best for you.
Gamma Radiation turned these Diamonds shades of Yellow, Green and Blue. Don’t worry they are not radioactive, so you won’t turn into the “Hulk” when you move in for a closer look. Green Diamonds provide information to Mineral Scientists about radiation deep in the Earth’s mantle. There are many things that can cause diamonds to be other than white. Impurities trapped in the carbon when the diamonds are forming can change their color. Hydrogen inside a diamond can make it violet. Nitrogen can make them yellow. Green Diamonds are different. Exposure to radiation gives them their color not a pigment or impurity. The gamma rays bombard the atoms in the diamond displacing electrons and carbon atoms. The gaps left behind bend and splits the light in a new way reflecting green light.
Another very interesting Diamond waiting for you is the Chameleon Diamond. These Diamonds are very rare and change color over and over again for seconds or minutes. They can change from Greenish Yellow to Bright Brown or Orange! Scientists don’t know exactly why. We were treated to behind the scenes items not on display in the public area. Slices of the Moon – Definitely Not Cheese, Gems that Glow Different Colors under a flashlight, Salt Crystals and a few Minerals that looked like they came from a Science Fiction Movie. There are many other Gems and Minerals on permanent display even Meteorites!
However, The Green Diamonds Exhibit ends April 1st! Make sure you don’t miss it!
Look what I found in the Minerals Gift Shop!
This Tuesday March 13th at 7:00 PM, Kevin the T-Rex hatchling and I will be back at
The City of Camarillo Library for
“Family Story Time”!
See the “Events” section tab for more details.
“Encouraging the Appreciation of Art and Education through the Inspiration of Dinosaurs”
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
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