And finally he uses an enlarger to project the sketch onto his illustration board, adjusting proportions and composition as he goes. Using a mat of plastic or cellophane, he next blocks out the animal so that he can complete the background first. He begins painting dark brown shapes, then adds color with an airbrush. On top of that, to lighten things up and add texture, he applies gouache, an opaque watercolor. Painting the animal comes last.
Nature is everywhere.
The intent of the finished work is not just to interpret North American wildlife to North Americans but to provide a broad lesson about nature that applies universally. To be sure, Europeans have paraded to America for centuries to attempt to fathom American life and politics. Many have even taken it upon themselves to tell Americans what is unique about the American system and American culture. But in helping to explain the New World landscape, Brenders is different. Nature is everywhere.