Now to do Sally

I think Pip is nearly there now, I've finally got to do Sally. She's a golden retriever and black labrador. I think she's going to be hard, she's very black and glossy.

A moment of madness....

I had a rash moment today, I completely erased Pip's head! I'm not too sure if it was the right thing to do! It all looked slightly wonky. Now I think there's something about her eyes I don't like now. I'm having problems what to do with her nose. In the photo its very over exposed. I think she looks more like a girl dog now, less broad. The chihuahua is floating in mid-air until I decide what to do! I'm going to start the last dog as I need a break from Pip. She's a cross-breed again black lab and golden retriever.

Pip

I made a start on Pip today, I'm not a doggie expert but I think he's a border collie crossed with a spaniel. I stopped today as I could be sure of his colouring as all the photos I have had different colours. I've now been told he's dark brown and beige, similar to a Alsatian.

One done (nearly), two to go!

Here's how my chihuahua is looking, I'm going to move on to the other dogs now, then decide on the final tones and details. I've had to do lots of research to get the details, computers are a life-saver! I've brought down her leg, so you can see it, so her back appears flatter than the photo, also her tummy is more relaxed down. Next I'm working on Pip, the dog on the bottom left, it's a much better photo, so I'm hopeful it will be less challenging!

Doggie commission day 2

Well I made a start on this commission today, I spent a fair bit of time squinting at the photo of this chihuahua, its probably the worst photo I've ever worked from! Fortunately she's a thorough bred, so I've managed to get the basic form of a chihuahua's face from stock photos, then added her colouring and expression to it.

Heinz variety!

Here's my latest commission. The photos are poor quality and titchy. Having said that I think the three poses together will work. Lots of artist licence will be required! Its an A3 pastel painting. Heinz variety refers to the dogs breed, the chihuahua is nearly thorough breed, long-haired, but not the standard, the other dogs, golden retriever/black labrador and a border collie/spaniel mix ( I think!)

Tufty is finished

He's finished, his owner has seen a photo of the painting and is pleased so I'm looking forward to letting her have the actual painting next weekend.

The commission came about after I donated a gift of a pet portraiture for a charity auction for Downs Syndrome. I am very aware of the challenges bringing up a child with a SEN, Michael my eldest has ASD. The cause is also special to me as my 6 year old nephew Max has Downs Syndrome.

To finish him off I reshaped his rear end, added some texture to the background, and some textured whiskers, so the white whiskers would stand out against his white chest. I'm happy with result, next I have another commission, this time 3 dogs. The photos are terrible and the dogs sadly no longer around. I think its going to be tough!