Six:

Since the greatest part of my background area is still basically the blue of the denim, and knowing I want to create a moss covered stone effect, I continue to extend these darker areas with a mix of Titanium White, a couple drops of Paynes Gray and a drop of Carbon Black, for a "stone gray" base, and I further tint this mixture with a couple drops of Hansa Yellow Light. When layered over the denim blue, it creates a gray/green mossy stone effect - you could mix this gray/green color, but the interaction of the Yellow of the paint with the Blue of the denim gives a more ‘dimensional’ perception to the eye.

By continuing to systematically add a couple more drops of different yellows (Hansa Yellow Medium, Yellow Oxide) to my 'gray' mixture, I bring certain raised aspects of the stone head into the light, so to speak. The head is beginning to take on a definite mossy look.

At this point I begin to move into the lightest values needed for creating the detail of the raised areas of this stone head and also the ‘dappled’ effect of light filtering through the leaves of dense rain-forest undergrowth. Colors used here are; Ultramarine Blue, Quinacridone Violet, Hansa Yellow Light - in each case, a drop or two of each colors is added 1:10 (1 drop color : 10 drops White) with Titanium White to create pale shades of each of these colors. I also ‘cut’ each color with twice the necessary amount of Airbrush Medium for more transparent shades where I want my moss effect to show through. After applying each color, there is a noticeable difference in the perception of depth.

A little history about Jaguars and Art

Commanding fear and respect throughout Latin America, the Jaguar looms larger than life. Ever since the Olmecs created one of the earliest known Central American civilizations, the Jaguar has appeared as a symbol throughout Latin American art, religion, and culture. From Mexico to the Andes, Jaguar images appeared in nearly every cultural facet of early indigenous peoples.

Thousands of years ago, the Olmecs built elaborate monuments to this jungle deity, carving massive 20-ton stone heads of Jaguars. The Aztec and Mayan civilizations incorporated Olmec were-jaguars (half man, half jaguar) into their culture and religion. The Jaguar was also embodied in mosaics, textiles, ornaments and figurines.

At this point I use a mix 20:1 mix of Airbrush Medium to paint, and I go back with a bit of the original blue/black color used to lay in the original dark shadow areas, and I 'glaze' the areas furthest in shadow, adding any further shading where needed, and also touch up any little cracks and crevices to refine their appearance as such.