Fancy Cows in Copic Markers for Illustration Friday

Costumed Cows, Copic Markers 8.5×11

So I left town for about 4 days and when I came back I started playing video games (Civilization 5, meh – I start over a lot because the beginning is more fun than the middle) and some tower defense games, all the while glancing worriedly in the general direction of my drawing table. Before I left, I had been completing two pieces a week, posting 2-3 times, getting right on the IF prompts and so forth.

When I finally sat down to draw a couple days ago I was not happy with anything and started over repeatedly. Then finally I glanced up at the Bonny Bovines and I was back in business. (The last sentence was brought to you by the letter “B” and curious cows everywhere.)

This week’s Illustration Friday topic is “separated” and Mavis and Bernie (above) have not been separated for more than four hours in the twenty-seven years they have been married. The four hours happened the first weekend their neighbor, a Shetland Pony, first brought home a small herd of miniature goats.  The goats promptly jumped the inadequate fence between their properties and proceeded to stamp across Bernie’s garden.

Bernie, with ineffective help from the pony,  gave chase and returned home with most of the goats four hours later.  He extracted a promise from his neighbor that the goats would be properly penned in. (It was not, of course, the last incident involving the goats. But that’s another story.)

Bernie and Mavis sat for an earlier portrait in one of my earliest pieces with Copic Markers, which can be found here. And now some progress pics!

Costumed Cows Initial Ink

Costumed Cows Color 1

Costumed Cows Color 2

Costumed Cows, Copic Markers 8.5×11

There is an ear overlap problem that I left alone. Bernie’s right ear (our left) should just have been angled backward more (and been smaller), but alas! Mavis’ nose got muddied up because I forgot I had used the Copic black marker rather than pen for some of the dark in her nostrils. (The marker is meant to blend and so smudges easily, unlike the pens.)

A final note about this pair. They were bickering at each other ALL DAY while I worked on this portrait. Bernie wanted to wear the mustache on his nose and Mavis told him not to be ridiculous because it is too small for his nose. He retorted that her headdress thingie was totally from the wrong time period if they were going to the costume party dressed as Victorian steampunks. (The party, incidentally, is at the shetland pony’s house. Apparently the goats have been dressed as Oompa Loompas and will be serving oat and carob snacks.)

It is Sunday evening and already 186 IF entries have been posted!  Thank you for stopping by to visit mine!

41 thoughts on “Fancy Cows in Copic Markers for Illustration Friday”

  1. ArtSnark

    What a fun post & great color! I keep meaning to try those markers out and after enjoying your rich illo I’ll have to put them on my Xmas list

  6. Amanda Pollard

    I love it! (And the fascinating story behind it; I hope those were damned tasty oat and carob hors d’oeuvres – pesky goats…!). Great to see your process, too – I really enjoy watching a piece evolve and build over time, and there’s a real thrill when you see such a vibrant, engaging result as your extremely dapper Bernie and Mavis :)

  10. David Jernigan

    I appreciate vibrant colors and drawing with personality and your illustrations have both. I like the textures you include in your illustrations. Nice whimsical work.

  17. richard Ewing

    I don’t mind the ear arguments, but I think they should have some time away from each udder. Absence makes the the heart grow fonder, and love gets regurgitated in time.

    ok I’ll stop now.
    nice expressive bovines you have here!

    .

  23. Ann

    Wow,Great detail. And love that you use such dramatic lines! Thanks for ur comment on my blog! I do love your work and am glad to have found you. :) Bernie and Mavis should never part! Great story as well!

  29. Carole

    Can’t wait to see what you come up with in the new year. Happy holidays and glad to see you are getting your groove back, as Dorothy said “There’s no place like home Toto”. Carole

  31. Beth Parker

    WOW!! I was brought here by a link over at Leslie White’s blog. Your cows are wonderful and I’m in love with them. I can’t wait to explore the rest of your blog! Happy New Year!

  32. The Beast Tender Post author

    Thank you so much to all you great visitors, whether new or returned. And Happy New Years to all!

    I am definitely mentioning Leslie in my next post, which will hopefully be this weekend when I join Illustration Friday again. (I did add Leslie and some other terrific folks to my Neat People Links on the right side of this blog).

  33. Ruth

    Love this bovine pair. So colorful. I linked your blog onto mine so I could visit more easily. Your animals are always so delightful.

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