Cloud

I took this photo of my little Rat Terrier, Cloud today. I like the diagonal of the drain against the vertical of Cloud. I also like the splash of yellow. He won't stay out of my flowers.

Lobo continued

I've been working on the background the last couple days. I don't want Lobo to look like he was just pasted on top of the background, so I create "lost and found" edges. Lost edges are where the subject and the background sort of blend together, and found edges (obviously) are the opposite - they are sharply defined. I feel this makes for more visual interest in a painting.

I've also been working on the chest area a little. Not quite sure how I feel about what's going on in the lower left corner. I might decide to lighten that area along with the bottom of painting. I think I'll leave it for now and see.

Lobo

This is a pet portrait commission of a beautiful wolf-hybrid. He is half timber wolf and half White German Shepard. I had the pleasure of meeting this dog in person to take reference photos, and I must say that I was impressed not only by his looks, but by how "wolf-like" his behavior was. Observing his facial expressions and posturing were like watching a wolf documentary on TV. What a bright and charming boy he is!


This is the main reference photo. I'll be changing the angle so he's more upright. The painting will be of his head and chest, with a smaller portrait in the lower left corner. Acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard, 11 x 14.


Here is the concept sketch.


Here I have the picture sketched out on the board and I am beginning the underpainting. The underpainting is like a map, it will show basic colors and fur direction. I'm not worrying about detail at this stage.


Here is the completed underpainting. It looks quite rough at this stage, although a friend did tell me that it already "looked finished." Thanks Andrea! :-)
This is only the beginning, now I start building up on top of the underpainting with many transparent layers of paint.


I am working on the ears here and starting the forehead fur. It can be a challenge getting the fur to convey the "fluffiness" of this dog, but I think it's coming along nicely so far.


I've been working on the eyes here...my favorite thing to paint. I love to see how the eyes breathe life into the painting.


The painting as it stands right now. Still lots of work ahead!