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Cerulean-Serpent — Ball Python - Shelby
Published: 2005-01-12 21:29:45 +0000 UTC; Views: 7054; Favourites: 44; Downloads: 416
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This is Shelby my ball python. I drew this from a photo I took with my digital camera.Related content
Comments: 85
Thank you!
Hmm.. It probably took me 4-6 hours to do the scales. That includes frequent short breaks.. (I often have a short attention span when I'm drawing)
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this is absolutely beautiful. you have captured so much detail, with the scales, and the movement of the lights and daks along its coiled body. I LOVE IT!! great job!
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Thank you.. there will be more to come.
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Amazing detail! I absolutely love ball pythons, and I want one myslef...but my parents won't allow a snake in the house. -__- I love the shading and scales. It must've taken ages to finish! Keep up the good work! xDD
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Cool! Too bad about your parents.. my mom used to hate snakes.. now she has one too! It took most of the day to finish the drawing, but I'm reeeeeealllllly slooooow.
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Yeah, I know my mom won't change her mind. Lol. Wow, I must be extra slow then! It would've taken me forever to finish a drawing with that much detail!
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Some of my 'sketches' take over an hour! lol I don't know how some of these people do these awesome things in 15 minutes.
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Lmao, I know...I don't understand it either. I'd make a mess in 15 minutes, thats about all. 0_0
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lol, yeah, me too! I've done it before.. many times.
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beautiful details and wonderful likeness. it is very real. A little Cc to take your drawings to the next level. never outline your subject. Your python has many different shades of spots, yet the outline of him is the same shade. For realism, when the line hits the white spots, there should be a much lighter line, or in fact you can completely omit a line, but the observer will still percieve the shape. We know the line of the animal doesn't stop, even though we do not see it. Our mind's eye fills in the blanks of what we literally percieve. Just like in reality. Beautiful picture. Hope my CC helped.
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Oh thank you! That's the kind of comment I need. How would you recommend I do the initial outline to rough it in? Just very lightly?
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I actually have trouble drawing lightly so I use a light pencil *^_^*, a generic #2 pencil works well, but sometimes go even lower. to erase the final line I use a gum eraser, you can just dab the line till it softens, play it by ear as you soften the line to see which is more pleasing, sometimes a slight line near the edges of the light spot and a complete invisible line at the peak of the highlight has an interesting effect. Also paper is important. I am in love with strathmore Bristol smooth or vellum paper. You can erase lines completely with a white eraser on this paper. Use vellum for dry medium, it has just enough tooth to hold and texture the graphite, but smooth enough to blend and erase cleanly. Smooth is good as well, but you don't get nearly as many shades with a single pencil. so hmm guess that's it. hope that helps.
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Paper-wise I use strathmore drawing medium (whatever that means) 80 lb.
How can I erase the outline line without erasing important details? I use the gum erasers too.. nice for getting into tight spots.. but I'd accidently erase scales on the snake probably.
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the scale details can be lightened too, it's teh same principle almost. A python doesn't have white scales with black edges, so why do you draw it? It's a mental thing all artists do at one time or another. Juts pay close attention to the light source. Think of the white cube on white paper in art class, the edge closest to the light source is almost invisible, and the only clue we have to the shape is the different shaded edges. Just like you snake. With the gum eraser don't erase the line directly, you lift out the color, putting more pressure where the light source is greatest.
Considering that all the details are in already, precuation has to be taken to protect the though, so you may be able to cheat a little. Just focus on a few choice white spots on the top of the snake, where the light source is greatest and just lighten the area and outline a little, with the gum eraser. Using you artistic intuition to see where this treatment would benefit the whole picture. Where does it need to pop out of the frame? Your the artist, just follow your gut
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I can't alter that picture since I sprayed it with fixative. I'm happy with it anyway.. I'd probably ruin it at this point.
I will take and use your advice, however. It is very much appreciated.
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She's such beautiful snake! Great drawing....very detailed and the shading it awesome! I'd love to see this in color 
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Thank you very much. I plan on working with colored pencils more.. so color snakes are in the works.
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Awesome I look forward to seeing some!
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Beautiful snake rendition. I love how his body is so fluent. Great work!
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Thank you! Fluent.. that's a good word for how a snake should look.
Attention everyone... Shelby is a SHE not a he. lol
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Looks good, the texture on his skin is very good. Only his eye looks a but strange to me, but I don't know much about snakes
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That is how her eye looks. Snake's have strange eyes... and ball pythons' eyes are different even from most snakes.
Thank you for the comment though, and constructive criticism is always welcome.
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Geez that was fast.. lol thanks.
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Aw I really like that! Ive always wanted to drawn my reptiles but Im not particularly good! I might have a go one day, you have inspired me
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Yay.. gotta love a fat snake.
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Thanks. Wow, quick replies.
It took me the better part of a day to draw.
BPs are not hard to care for snake-wise. [link] is an excellent forum if you have any questions about them. Just keep their temps and humidity right.. that's the hardest part.
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wow thats a hella lotta detail awsome work 
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Nice detail! Especially the scales. Looks like it took a long time.
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Aww. 
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