Wildlife Painting Step-by-Step Demo: Chameleon

Adding Color to the Background

Green was introduced into the background.

Image: © Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc.

The painting was looking a bit too monochromatic, so I decided to introduce another color into the background.

Why green? Well, partly because it introduced a bit of 'natural' color appropriate to the subject, but mostly because, being an analogous color (adjacent on the color wheel), it works well with the yellows and oranges.

• Character of a Chameleon
• Blocking in the Initial Colors and Shapes
• Keeping the Painting in My Mind's Eye
• The Ugly Stage
• Adding Color to the Background
• Adding Green to the Chameleon Body
• Finishing with a Palette Knife