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	SPEED SKATER... For once I didn't do any thumbnail sketches before getting to this, the final sketch. The S is a very difficult letter to do because of the curves...only a few things can assume the shape. I knew the dog would form the ess shape...nothing to really work out. I got the idea for the illustration, traced the outline of the letter in my sketchbook and drew this. Wasn't exactly sure how long the shirt should be. Click on any illustration for an enlargement. The final drawing. I ditched the elbow and knee pads. Dachshunds have such short legs, and roller blade boots are normally tall, so the knee pads had to go. The elbow pads were traded for flapping shirtsleeves (after all, this is a speed skater). Because of all that has to fit inside the letter shape, I quite often have to trade realism for space. And, as long as you can tell what's going on... At the beginning of this step, where I apply the watercolor dye to hide the white of the paper, I thought the design looked too bland, and thought if the shirt was more colorful, it would make the whole thing more interesting. Then, I thought it would be funny if the design was a hot dog pattern, which quickly became wieners on a wiener dog. The detailing begins with the colored pencil step. For some reason, this letter went smoother than I thought it would. I wasn't all that excited about the design during the black and white line drawing steps. Once I began detailing the dog and then the shirt, it really became fun, and everything seem to happen like it was supposed to. At the end of this step, the letter was 98.273% complete. The letter is finished once I painted in (with acrylics) a few highlights, strengthened the lighter areas and a couple of dark places. I need more of these projects where something doesn't go wrong...I finish it in good spirits and can't wait to get at the next one! Top of the page.