"Every Hair on the Dog" Animal Eye Acrylic Technique

Our sixth assignment was Brandes' "Every Hair On The Dog" technique. I won't go into the details of the actual process, but it's very tedious and absolutely cannot be rushed. Despite that, it's actually a lot of fun to do once you get the hang of it. The assignment was to focus on an animal eye. I chose a cormorant, like I knew I was going to do since the first day of class and I saw this assignment on the syllabus. Ever since working at the Wildlife Center I have fallen in love with the cormorants. They have more personality than any of the other sea birds and they have the craziest eyes.

Process work! My initial drawing of the cormorant.

Detail. Also brought the bottom of the beak down further to stay true to my reference.

Finished piece.

After I finished this piece I brought it with me to my History class (on the second floor) with plans to matte it afterwards. I decided to lean my work against the wall without realized there was an enormous crack between the floor and the wall that lead to god only knows where. My painting was gone in a second. Where it went, I'll never know. But after a slight mental breakdown, maintenance was able to retrieve it the next day. Enjoy my exasperated emails with my professor:

Hi Brandes.

Today I dropped my "Every Hair on a Dog" project down a crack in the floor in room 207 (see picture). Maintenance is unsure about how to get it out, but they are going to try tomorrow when no one is in the room. Needless to say, I don't know when my work will be recovered if at all. I don't have a scanned version either. I will keep you updated, but I may or may not have it with me on monday. I was going to matte it after class today, but obviously that isn't going to happen any more. 

I don't even know what else to say.  I guess I'll just go sit in a corner and cry forever now. 

- Jay

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Jay, I thought I had heard every excuse in the book but this is a new one on me. I will be telling this at the thanksgiving day table and am sure to get a laugh from the family and friends... at your expense! Keep your sense of humor on this one and other than that ...I do not know what else to say either. have a great thanksgiving break. don brandes

PS have you tried bubble gum on the end of a ruler?

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I will try to have a sense of humor between my buckets of tears.  If I never get my art back I hope that this is a good enough reason to give me an A. If not, I'll have to purchase a chainsaw that specializes in cutting through floors. 

Thanks for understanding.

- Jay

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I think I own a chainsaw made just for that. db

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After this email exchange I actually ran into him as he was biking and he stopped to laugh and tell me just how entertaining he thought the whole situation was. He then proceeded to tell his freshmen figure class about my misfortunes. And everyone else as well, I'm sure.  Thanks, Brandes.