Tag Archives: dog portrait

October 27th, 2008 | By Judy Johnson

I have been out of the studio for a long time and finally got back in to work on this commission of two poodles. The client loves them-yeah. It is a watercolor about 8×10. I am also working on graphite drawings of two little girls for a girlfriend and I happened to send her a sketch of the two poodles to show her what else I am working on. She was surprised to see the two little girls looked like poodles-haha. But I have done one of them and it’s turned out fine, as well. She is pleased. I don’t want to get too cocky, but my human drawings have taken a turn for the better, finally. There’s no reason they shouldn’t, it’s all a matter of observation. Anyway we’ll see if the next one looks like a caveman, not that there’s anything wrong with being a caveman-I love cavemen!

©Copyright 2008 by Judy Johnson. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Judy Johnson’s website.

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Sep 1 - Dog Commission, First Lay In

September 1st, 2008 | By Elin Pendleton

Here’s the big blocking in of major values when starting commissions… not my usual “make the background beautiful first”, and that’s because the dogs’ bodies constitute much of the background –look how MUCH there is of them. The noses, eyes, paws ‘n’ claws will be the focal points, so I really am working on the “background” at this point.

The client has seen this image and approves it, with the admonition that the left dog “always” has his mouth open.

Now, the client doesn’t understand the painting process, so a reaction like that is normal. They can only measure what’s in front of them against their internal vision of the desired product, so they usually will focus on some area that hasn’t been started yet.

I had a bit of fun and good news today. As part of my ongoing marketing plan, I get notified automatically when my web sites are linked and information about me is elsewhere than just my sites. This came through from widgetbox.com, telling me that my daily paintings widget is the “Most Popular” for people to add to their desktop! I’m so pleased! Here’s the way it came in:

You can see my entire blog here.

If you need to email me directly, please click here.

©Copyright 2008 by Elin Pendleton. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elin Pendleton’s website.

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Start of new canine pencil drawing

June 24th, 2008 | By Sheona Hamilton-Grant

Start of a new canine pencil drawing. Copyright Sheona Hamilton Grant

It has been  a quite while since I last posted about what was actually on my drawing board…I seem to have taken to talking about what’s going on around it more than showing you the actual creating.

I  really have been busy drawing as well as typing.

A new commission  has started. It is a portrait of 2 Riesenschnausers (Giant Schnauzers.) Jack and Libby.

Both are dark and have beautiful expressive eyes hidden under their long haired fringes.

I researched a little to find more about the particularities of the breed - this helps me really pin-point elements which are crucial and typical to a specific breed.

Here is the first stage of the portrait: it is an initial layout and the beginning of detailed work on the eyes.  This is Libby.

I am using 6B and 3B Staedler clutch for the hair and 2B and 2H Derwent pencils for the eye. This portrait is being drawn on Steinbach paper (250gr. 73 x 110cm).

I have penciled in the second dog Jack and will start on his eyes in the next session…

The eyes are the most important part of the portrait.  It is when, and only when, I feel they are the way they should be (expressive and believable) that I feel I can get on with the rest of the study.

At this stage I am about 4 hours into the portrait.

I will keep posting as the portrait comes along.

©Copyright 2008 by Sheona Hamilton Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Sheona Hamilton Grant’s website.

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Worth More Than Money

June 22nd, 2008 | By Carrie Lewis

There are things in life that are worth more than mere money.

Faith.

Family.

Friends.

Faithful pets fall into that category, as well.

This spring, the faithful canine companion of Gene and Becky Newman, Katie, passed away after 13 years. I don’t know what breed of dog Katie was, but I do know she was much loved by the Newmans and by many of the other residents at Kansas Christian Home. The memorial held in her honor was very well attended.

Gene is a former Marine and past custodian at First Christian Church in Newton, where Neal and I attend. I first met Gene and later Becky during their visits to church and our visits to Kansas Christian Home while seeing other members and, early last year, Neal’s mom in her final weeks.

When I heard that Katie had died, my immediate thought was of my own canine companion, a ‘mixed breed’ (read ‘mutt’), the last of a litter of puppies that no one else wanted. Jessie was a boon companion for thirteen years. We walked together. We checked cattle together. She defended me fiercely when necessary. She died of congestive heart failure in 1996 and I have yet to be able to sketch her likeness, let alone paint her portrait.

But I could paint Katie’s portrait and offered to do so as a gift of service to Katie’s memory. The portrait is one of several featured demonstration paintings on this blog. (keyword search “Katie”). When the Newman’s agreed by providing a photograph, I set to work and the process is chronicled elsewhere.

Yesterday was Gene’s birthday and Becky had already decided the painting was to be a birthday surprise for him.

Today, he received his gift from Becky and me. It was quite moving to see tears well up in this ex-marine’s eyes at the portrait and at the happy memories it recalled. It put all the struggles over painting, technique, color mixing and all the rest in proper perspective.

Yes, some things are definitely worth more than mere money.

©Copyright 2008 by Carrie Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Carrie Lewis’s website.

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