![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aRIS2-PlPskLEeVbR5EV_Kuadw2mbr675hjYOIUBJ9pIhDz6RNE0Unl_sQ16V7Txg3zwI4qWLZ3AFzr0KwH19rDqo5noK_vLz1HsOylRkudt2cXf7TpYqEJu3MA3h24zijFvuENQSes/s320/Lobo+008s.jpg)
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!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_I2uTQ_q2Orkdpr56UtrF8DWjplaoa7u_EyR31NgI_veSR4hqDVmHcSXqunNpnLD-f2ndBv7WH6gse5VcYrt3eEVmaLnsv37CfTXJLWfGoidjNI7EwOuKU0CYqYPerzS5Y5sgwH8wY_Y/s320/Lobo+024blog.jpg)
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zK8DjC8z89ERrXLM8mP3tnPoF2QyNCOVVN4WiasTKw52h-POz6toQAP-LEVEuGfJEFJkBSmEr9JdHzzoDuZFV2_uwhmR_72N8Lein5edGTdWFXbFbN66HdLdOx3ScAfwlbju-a89-y8/s320/Lobo+1.jpg)
Here is the concept sketch.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8In0EX7IDrGCy8U_EsWVKFZkWAXqTXaHU6OH7O6f-0Ki9_xrkWcflJ2YsQO9CPafYhmcDR9H0J7p051IWEgXS_BljBoUUqOfxGrC-voT-xWGraIVLcwurW4ViyMamkPq2W8vKLHOJcY/s320/Lobo+003.jpg)
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQyF6fWGo_QdbHw7K0dpIVC28QVUw0QW4cmY3STIyTeVUHCeybfUqgDXTXtL6j8050s9OAImaud8500-66Bi8LOahhMeO-MS8SYdh1B_EyWagUWXE1YIt2B3J2o8N9glWH_epB-_rm8k/s320/Lobo+005.jpg)
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVN8qgJuRpz7I-zSxkaP_RmomD7e5e7V5KQ57Z3ssjinUQMERLSFQVweJOTV9rD0loCPtAPiyJ5BpXK2g2yVB-U98lcvI8iWlXd7WtKCzFd7dJSkdEHmAovbbs54IHmQO6CR5AgeX4i7E/s320/Lobo+010.jpg)
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHDosuuwqn3PJidKMa3oVG3qcboRQSZvytTpjru3vHdRc0FdbLEmmFOt6DnmohRg-nCPwI6hFdV1OKVjF_4TojdJhgyE-1QtHNElzC209Cb_EPkn6JH8nIRzjIKnRnXgHEP7XkV8SK3w/s320/Lobo+012.jpg)
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWqfJYcbkxZNKZu9wt8An2YoV9vJCGvHDHFjwjwjmpxKRtFO52_yp4HbLokwGwMboHWF_D1kf9aLNk5S08t1LeDiSJciDcFCd2mZHD_g7hvM3YRwvPtJRgTpEeI6zcm84EWQ05WbmL3Q/s320/Lobo+016.jpg)
The painting as it stands right now. Still lots of work ahead!
2 comments:
Kat - the painting looks beautiful!! I'm sure it will turn out great. I absolutely love the detail!!
Bella & Tucker's mom,
Nikki
Thanks for your comments, Nikki! I'm pretty detail oriented, which is why it takes me so long to complete a painting. I'm around 8 - 10 hours into the actual painting at this point - I think. I don't keep track of time very well when I paint.
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