Showing new paintings, and latest news.

A beautiful subject for a portrait. An original oil painting of a very beautiful German shepherd dog.

I have set out below with photographs the process I use to create my animal paintings.

I usually work from photographs so I spend some time drawing my subject on paper using several photographs for one painting. I choose the best one for the pose and then others which give details of the face, especially the eyes, and for example certain markings which may be important for the portrait. 

Once I am happy with the drawing I then transfer it to the canvas. I draw on paper first because there may be alterations I need to make to the drawing and do not want to make the canvas dirty before I start painting.

Below shows the first painting stage. This is an under painting in acrylic paint which shows where the light and dark areas will be in the final painting, so it is like map for me to follow! I usually use burnt sienna acrylic because it gives a good tone to the canvas for animal subjects. Also, acrylic paint drys very quickly and I then get on with applying the oil paint!

 I am right handed and therefore work from the top and right to left to avoid working over areas which are wet. At this stage I want to get the whole canvas covered in oil paint. In the above image I have blocked in the background and then the main colours of the dog. I have also added in some detail at this stage to the eyes and nose. 

In the image below I have started to add texture to the fur by using darker and lighter tones of the main colours I used in the last stage. I have painting in an 'out of  focus' background which will help make the dog more 3-D and not just a flat image. With the background finished the fur can be painted over and therefore not look like a 'cut out'. The painting was then left for two days to allow this first layer of oil paint to dry before continuing with the details.

I now work over the whole painting again adding the details over the top of the previously painted areas, and make any final adjustments to the tones to finish the piece. In the above photograph you can see how I work with my ipad on (or near) my easel. Clients send their photographs via email, it is then easy for me to view directly from the screen. Also, I can quickly and easily enlarge the photograph to look at certain areas for the fine details.

  I was given permission to use this super reference photo by: Крименская Мария ( Maria) from PMP.  I loved painting his thick fur and the contrast between the black and gold!

This painting is for sale as I did it as a demonstration piece. If you are interested in buying it, would like more information, or to commission a similar painting to this one, please contact me: [email protected] 

Another photograph of the portrait is below:

To be kept up-to-date with new paintings, offers and events  click here to subscribe to my newsletter!