Drawing iguana details

I used to have a lovely 5′ green iguana named King Indigo. Indy for short. I had this great photo of him out on the patio and always loved the warm tones and his handsome face. I have wanted to draw from that photo for a long time, but all the detail stopped me. I thought “no way would I ever be able to draw all the bumps and scales on him.”

Of course I could have just not drawn them, I could have just colored over it, but I really wanted the drawing with all those details because they are what made him amazing! The orange hues on his dewlap show that it must have been mating season. He showing off, hoping to impress a girlfriend.

So I bought some nice heavy Caslon Watercolor paper - 22 x 30. Clamped it to my easel and started one day.

It would never be finished if it never got started.

And man, it did take me a long time. I really do enjoy getting lost in a drawing. But it sort of consumes my thought and time until it is complete. So it’s finished and I like it and I miss Indy even after all these years. Here is a detail.

UPDATE: I found an old drawing I did of Indy – without all the detail afterall. This is a quickie oil pastel. (8.5 x 11)

Related posts:

1. Drawing cement
2. Sleeping dogs
3. Wild Edibles
4. Color pencils