Another new portrait

I have just started another new portrait. This was donated for a charity auction and is a 12" x 16" graphite portrait of a working police dog, Quanto.

Here is the outline:

Original Art for sale

I have just listed an original Coloured Pencil painting of a Yorkshire Terrier For Sale on ebay. It is a 5" x 7" painting that I did a couple of years ago as a sample for a project that never happened, so I thought I may as well sell it as it wasn't doing anything just sitting around! Here it is

The auction is here: Yorkshire Terrier Painting on Ebay

I have also just recently started on a new graphite pencil pet portrait, this time of a pony. It is a surprise gift, however so I can't show the progress on here. I will be able to show you in August.

I also have some reference photographs ready for some ACEOs, so there should be some more art to show you soon.

Ben - with whiskers

I was wrapping up my latest completed pet portrait of Ben, the Collie, when I realised that I'd missed his whiskers! So, here he is with his whiskers:

Pet Portrait completed - Ben

I have now finished Ben's pet portrait. It is an 8" x 10" graphite portrait. Here it is finished:

Pet Portrait update

Here is the latest update on Ben the Collie's pet portrait. It is developing quite quickly and will be finished by the end of the week.

Pet Portrait Update - Ben

I spent a little bit of time on Ben's portrait today. I have started on one of his eyes and worked my way out from there. Here is the most recent photograph:

And here is a close up of the eye area:

New Pet Portrait started

I have started a new pet portrait today. It is an 8" x 10" graphite pet portrait and was donated as the best in show prize for a dog show held at the pet shop where I work part time. It is of a very handsome collie named Ben. So far, I have just done the outline:

Pet Portrait finished - Guiness

Here is the completed Pet Portrait of black and white Springer Spaniel, Guiness. It is a 10" x 12" graphite portrait.

Pet Portrait update

I have completed the pet portrait of Guiness today, however, it was too late to get a decent photograph of it finished, so here is the latest photograph I took of it and I will add the finished pet portrait photograph tomorrow.

Pet Portrait update - Guiness

Here is another update on my current pet portrait of Guiness:

Portrait update

Here is an update on my current graphite pet portrait of a black and white Springer Spaniel called Guiness:

New pet portrait started

Here is the first scan from the latest pet portrait I've started. It's a graphite pencil 8" x 10" portrait of a black and white Springer.

Back online

Well i'm eventually back online. I was very pleased to discover we could get broadband out here as it's in the countryside a bit, so I thought we might be restricted to dial - up. I think I would have gone raving mad putting up with that after years of broadband!! We are sort of settled in the new house, just the usual sort of teething troubles with buying an old house that's been empty for over a year! It's also smaller than the last one so finding room for everything has been fun.

But i'm officially back to work tomorrow with Pebbles' and co's portrait to complete and a graphite Springer Spaniel to start and complete by the end of the month. I will have some updates on Pebbles, Pickles and Arillus tomorrow.

I think i've finally changed my address details and telephone number on everything, including the website, which I did today. I'm having fun with my printer at the moment. It is printing, but very very slowly and the computer is telling me the document hasn't printed when it is actually printing. Hopefully it will survive for a bit longer and not pack up completely!

I am feeling very motivated at the moment, so my year is officially starting in February, not January like everyone elses! 2009 is going to be a year of artwork.

Pet Portrait completed

I have recently completed Tiny's pet portrait. This is a 12" x 16" graphite portrait and was a donation for a Greyhound Rescue auction. Here is his portrait:

Work in progress - Tiny

Here is the latest update on Tiny's pet portrait.

Pet Portrait update - Tiny

Here is the latest update from my graphite pet portrait of Tiny.

Pet Portrait completed

Here is Margaux's completed pet portrait:

Pet Portrait update

Here is an update on my latest pet portrait, a graphite drawing of Margaux, a black Labrador. This will be finished tomorrow.

New Pet Portrait - Margaux

Here's the initial sketch of my latest pet portrait. It's of a Black Lab, named Margaux and I'm looking forward to this one because, as you can see, it's a close up of the dog's face, rather than the usual posed head and shoulders. It's a graphite portrait and is 12" x 16".

Completed pet portrait - Tess

I have completed Tess' pet portrait today. I have made a few amendments around her head so hopefully there is more of a likeness now.

Springer Spaniel work in progress

I have been working on Tess, the Springer Spaniel's pet portrait today. Here is the latest scan from today:

Pet portraits in progress - Tiny and Taylor

I have two pet portraits to post work in progress updates on, so thought I may as well blog them together.


The first is Tiny. This is a graphite 12" x 16" portrait. It is only a small update, but there will be more to see after the weekend:

The second is Taylor. This coloured pencil portrait is really coming on now and the next scan is likely to be the final one. Here is today's progress:

New pet portrait started

I have just recently started a new graphite pet portrait. It is 10" x 12" in size and is a of a black and white Springer Spaniel. So far I have just completed the outline, but there will be more to show soon as it has to be completed by the end of August:

Pet portrait in progress - Tiny

Here is an update of a current graphite pet portrait that I am working. The subject is Tiny and it is a 16" x 12" portrait.

New pet portrait started

I started a new pet portrait today which is another one I donated for Greyhound Rescue. It is a 12" x 16" graphite portrait of a lovely little dog named Tiny. So far I have just done the outline:

Pet Portrait completed - Katy and Lulu

I have finished Katy and Lulu's portrait today. It is a 16" x 20" graphite pet portrait. Here it is:

Pet portrait in progress

Here is another update on Katy and Lulu. As you can see I have now completed yellow Labrador, Katy and am working on Lulu.

Katy and Lulu - work in progress

I have been away for a week to visit my family and arrived home yesterday. Today I was back to the easel though and continuing with Katy and Lulu's pet portrait. Here is the latest update:

Katy and Lulu - work in progress

I have completed Katy's face today. I will do some more work on this pet portrait today, but I thought I would show you this small update:

And here is a close up showing the detail.

Katy and Lulu update

Today I have been drawing some more of Katy and Lulu's pet portrait. So far I have been concentrating on Katy. Here is the latest update:

Katy and Lulu take 2

Katy and Lulu's pet portrait has been started again, due to their owner being unhappy with the original. Here are two work in progress photographs. The first one has been darkened considerably to show the outline.

Katy and Lulu update

Here is another update on Katy and Lulu's portrait from this afternoon:

Work in progress - Katy and Lulu

I have been working on Katy and Lulu's pet portrait this weekend. I have now finished Katy and will get Lulu completed by the end of the day. Here is the portrait so far:

Katy and Lulu - new graphite portrait

Here is the latest graphite pencil pet portrait that I am currently working on. It is of a labrador retriever and a cat and is 16" x 20". Here is the whole portrait - I had to darken it so the outline would show up.

Here is a close-up of Katy's face

Pet Portrait complete - Mia

Here is my latest completed Pet Portrait. This is Mia, who is a black German Shorthaired Pointer. Her portrait is in graphite and is 12" x 16":

Rottweiler portrait completed

I have now completed Darcy the Rottweiler's pet portrait. I really enjoyed this one - I like anything I can get the 7b and 8b pencils out for.

Rottweiler Pet Portrait

Here is another Pet Portrait I have recently started. I like to do several portraits at a time, however this one is also a bit of a last-minute one. It is a 10" x 12 graphite pet portrait of a Rotweiler named Darcy.

Mia - German Shorthaired Pointer

Here are a couple of work in progress images from a new Pet Portrait I started today. The subject is Mia, who is a German Shorthaired Pointer. The portrait is in graphite and is 12" x 16".

Completed Pet Portrait

Here is my latest completed Pet Portrait. It is of a Jack Russel cross and is a 5" x 7" Graphite pencil piece. I enjoyed doing this as it grew so quickly compared to my usual portraits. I wouldn't have normally recommended a dog portrait on such a small size but I think it turned out really well and am looking forward to another one coming up shortly of a cat on the same size. Here is Teddy:

I also want to give you an update on the recently completed 'Westie' portrait. The customer has told me that Punchie is in fact a Lucus Terrier, which is a cross between a Sealyham and a Norfolk Terrier.

Westie pet portrait completed.

My first completed pet portrait of 2008. This portrait of a Westie is 12" x 16" and in graphite pencil.

Westie work in progress

Here is the latest update on the Westie in graphite I am currently working on:

First pet portrait of 2008!

I have started my first Pet Portrait of 2008 this weekend. This 12" x 16" graphite portrait of a Westie was actually ordered before Christmas for completion in the New Year. So far I have just completed the outline:

Happy Christmas!

Hope you all had fun and are now looking forward to 2008! Now I won't be spoiling any surprises I can show you some of the pet portraits I completed as Christmas gifts.



These two beautiful yellow labrador's pet portraits were commissioned as gifts for the owners Mum. They went to America. The top one is Lib, the bottom one Biscuit. Both are 10" x 12" graphite portraits.

These two are elderly ladies Whisky and Poppy. They are both Golden Retrievers, which are one of my favourite dog breeds. This portrait is 18" x 24" graphite.

These two are Penny and Harry who took me an embarassingly long time to draw! I find white dogs in graphite really hard to do - I am a bit heavy handed with my shading so find it very difficult to be gentle and keep my tones pale. I'm pleased with how they turned out though and thankfully so was the customer. It's a 16" x 20" graphite portrait.

Millie Finished

I have now finished Millie's pet portrait. She is a stunning Yellow Labrador and has a 16" x 20" graphite Pet Portrait.

Pepsi and Ice - German Shepherds

Here are a couple of work in progress images from my latest pet portrait. It is a 16" x 20" graphite portrait of two German Shepherds. Here is the initial outline of the two:

And here is some of the work i've done on the first dog, Ice, who is a white German Shepherd:

Millie

Here is the start of my most recent pet portrait. Millie is a beautiful yellow labrador and is being drawn in graphite, size 16" x 20". The paper is actually off-white, I had to darken the photograph to show the outline clearly.

Ruth and Rosco

This Pet Portrait is a bit different from usual and a first for me. It includes the pet's owner. I was originally contacted to produce a pet portrait of Black Labrador Rosco, then was contacted again by my customer who explained that unfortunatley Rosco had just died and it was felt a portrait including Rosco and his owner Ruth would be more appropiate in the circumstances.

I am actually really excited about doing this and i have a lovely reference photograph to work from. It's not very bright, as it was starting to get dark when I took the photo but it gives you an idea. I've started the shading very lightly and left my grid lines in where the pencil will be dark and cover them up. I'm working from two copies of the photo on this one, I had to lighten it considerably to get some detail on Rosco so I have a super lightened copy for the dark bits and the original for the lighter bits and hopefully will manage to combine them to produce something good! Anyway - her they are, Ruth and Rosco:

Cat Pet Portrait started

I started a new pet portrait today. This one is of a cat. It is from a voucher I donated to an online auction in aid of greyhound rescue, so assumed I would be drawing a Greyhound - imagine my surprise when I was sent photographs of a beautiful black cat! It is 12" x 16" and in graphite. The paper is white, I had to darken the scan so you could see the outline.

Pet Portrait gallery updated

I have just added Bud's pet portrait to the graphite pencil dog portrait gallery, so that is all up to date now.

And totally off topic, I have just noticed that this post is number 201 on my blog!

Lovely card from a customer

I got a really nice thank you card from a customer a couple of days ago. I often get sent lovely emails from people, but a card is just a bit extra special.

This one was from the owner of Winney, the black crossbreed I drew in graphite recently. The portrait was commissioned as a gift by a friend of Winney's owner. She put several things in her card, but my favourite bit was: "Your drawing will stay with us forever in our home, it has pride of place in our hall to be viewed by every visitor and to be seen by us as we go about our daily routine." I liked this as it says to me that what I do is more than simply copy a photo of someone's dog. When the pet has sadly passed, a portrait is a unique way of capturing the pet and having them close by forever.

Cat Portrait update

I have done a little bit more of my Bengal Cat graphite drawing today. As you can see I have started at the opposite end of the cat which is a bit odd! Basically this is because I normally start at the top left hand corner so when i'm drawing there's less chance of me making a hideous mess smudging with my hand. On this portrait I started with the eys and spread out from there, but have decided now to continue in my usual pattern from the top left corner and join the earlier drawing in the middle. Here's the portrait so far:

Bengal cat portrait

As I said before, I am working on two graphite pieces along with my current two coloured pencil commissions. Today I have been working on a Bengal cat that is 12" x 16" in graphite pencil. I can't remember when I started it, it was that long ago! When it is finished i'm going to submit it for my Pet Portrait Diploma. Here it is so far:

Westie Pet Portrait finished

My pet portrait of the westie, Jack has been finished today. It is 8" x 10" in graphite pencil. Here is the final scan:

I now have two commissions on my waiting list, Harry the Brittany Spaniel, and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Jobi, both in coloured pencil.

Westie Portrait - work in progress

Here is the latest image of the graphite pet portrait of Jack.

I am hoping to have it finished tommorrow.

Westie Portrait

Here is a photo of my latest Pet Portrait - an 8" x 10"graphite portrait of a West Highland White Highland White Terrier named Jack:

New Pet Portrait size

I have just added a new size to my standard pet portrait sizes. You can now have a 5" x 7" portrait of your pet. This size is mainly for people with small animals they might like a portrait of - such as rats, ferrets, hamsters etc. It will be a suitable size for a full body or a head or two of a small animal. A 5" x 7" graphite pet portrait is £35 and a coloured pencil portrait is £45. There is no option of a detailed background on this size. Here is a portrait of my rat, Treacle, in graphite as an example of the type of portrait this size is suitable for.

Latest Pet Portrait

Now I have posted off my latest completed Pet Portrait I can show you all a copy. This is the one I had to keep a secret as it is for a gift. The subject is a beautiful crossbreed called Winney, who had her Pet Portrait drawn in graphite on 10" x 12". Here she is:


I have also made a few changes to the Gallery on the website today. Instead of having one gallery I have separated them into 5 galleries of Graphite Dog Portraits, Coloured Pencil Dog Portraits, Cat Portraits, Horse Portraits and Small Animal Portraits. I think this will make it easier for people to look for mediums and subjects they're interested in, instead of plowing through all of the portraits on the site.

I'm still here!

Just thought i'd post to say I'm still alive and I have been working on a graphite pet portrait recently, but it's a surprise for a present, so i'm unable to show it on the blog. I finished it today and have just emailed a copy to the customer for approval.

I have a coloured pencil pet portrait to finish in the next few days as well, which is of a Brittany Spaniel, so I will have some updates of that one I can show you. I am planning on doing some of that tommorrow, and I am also thinking of trying out my new pastel pencils as well, as I still haven't done anything with them yet. I've been doing a lot of overtime at work, and when i'm at home i've had portraits to do, as well as my Sister coming to stay, so i've been really busy. I'm thinking of trying a different subject matter with the pastels - still animals, but possibly some wildlife, rather than domestic animals. I shall update you all tomorrow.