Lucky piranha’s don’t like the taste of supernatural flesh. This gang of nippers much prefer the fresh swamp fish he has caught. But luckily Aaron is up to the battle. Can you get more badass than punching a piranha in the belly? O! Watch out, Aaron! You might loose a bit more than your dinner if you are not careful *points to sneaky piranha between his legs.*
I wanted something different for this werewolf painting, to break a few clichés of snarling barbaric beasts, and brain stormed some rather domestic things for him to do. Then I watched one of those David Attenborough nature documentaries and the footage of baboons wading through water peaked my interest. After all, baboons look like a hybrid of man and beast, so I thought they’re awkward pose would look interested transferred onto a werewolf (who are often depicted as strong sturdy beasts). However, the first sketch I did didn’t work for me. It was pretty static and dull.
So I thought a story behind it might liven up the painting. Don’t ask how piranha’s got into it (haha) because I simply don’t know. It was an impulsive move. I think it was the red of their bellies that drew me to that idea, because it would contrast nicely with the dull de-saturated cold world of the swamp. They also provided a good comic relief tool, with their near cartoony expressions.
Special thanks to:
*The late Frank Frazetta and Lucas Graciano for inspiration on the pose. They taught me strong angles give a character more strength and aggressiveness.
* Andrea Brunner for her Bull Terrier portrait that helped me improve the anatomy of this guy’s face.
* Sebastien Larroude for his Green Swamp painting and James Gurney for his book “Colour and Light: A guide for the realist painter” that helped me figure out the lighting and colour in a foggy atmosphere, such as a swamp.
