76: Giraffe bookshelf
A friend wanted a bookshelf extension to go atop her built-in cabinet and asked me to build something simple.
I finished the project pretty quickly, so I decided to add a little something. The plans called for a higher side on one end (to be used as a bookend), but I thought I could do something nicer than just a square piece of wood there.
I decided to make a giraffe that would look out over the top of bookshelf.
I slightly carved the end piece before I painted it, to make the drawing stand out more, and give it a realistic effect.
You can see how the carving enhances the shadows. Cut-out paintings are pretty cool. They always look more 3d than they actually are.
Right after I finished painting, I mistakenly picked up my red paint lid, and moved it over the painting to the red paint jar, leaving a long drip trail right across the font of the painting. (Yep, if you’re reading this now, Susanna, the bright red paint stripe was not an intentional design choice.)
I couldn’t get rid of it without redoing a big section of the picture, and after I looked at it for a while, it seemed like not a bad mistake. So, I just drew a shadow in, and now it’s part of the picture. Maybe it’s a red telephone wire, or the top of a fence at the zoo. Who knows?
And here’s a finished picture. It was a total surprise and she loved it.
See ya next week.
It’s the best! And I like the red line. I’d like to imagine that he is tall enough to go on the rides at the fair.
Adorable
You have very lucky friends! I love the giraffe. It reminds me of a coat rack I had as a child. The red line really works here… yeah for mistakes!
Thanks!
Beautiful work!
🙂
What inspired the giraffe (vs any other animal)? Something you knew your friend would like or just something random?
I really like it. If I had one, I think I’d put a Santa hat on it for Christmas….
I chose a giraffe just because it was on the top shelf. Seemed like a tall animal was the way to go.
Wow, the giraffe looks somewhat sad.
What’s painted on the other side of it? Nothing?
Books go on the other side, so yeah nothing.
Nice save.