Springer Pet Portrait complete!

I finally finished the graphite Pet Portrait of the three Springer Spaniels today. The customer wanted me to put the dog's names on it, which is something i've not done before, but I copied a swirly font off of the PC and I think it looks pretty good. Here it is:

Spaniels

The Springer Spaniels aren't quite finished, but they're nearly there. Just the neck fur on Molly and the names to write underneath. Here is the portrait so far:

And here is the latest commission i've just started, a Brittany Spaniel, named Harry. The portrait is 8" x 10" and will be in coloured pencil. I have just drawn his outline, and here it is:

Springer Spaniels nearly finished.

I have been working on the Springer Spaniels portrait over the last few days and it should be finished tommorrow. I have completed Clyde now and just need to do one half of Molly and then it will be done. Unfortunately I still have no camera battery, but i'll get one tommorow so I can photograph the finished portrait. I also started a new pet portrait today, for the second time! I wasn't happy with the composition, so started again today and am much happier with it. It's of a Brittany Spaniel, and I will post a picture of it tommorrow along with the Springer Spaniels.

Spaniel ears in progress

Well today my camera battery died so I am unable to show you an up to date photograph of the Spaniel's portrait, so I have some step by steps of the spaniel ears that I took earlier in the week. First of all I roughly draw out the shadow areas in a 2B mechanical Pencil:

I then go over this is a darker pencil, because this Springer is one of the black and white ones I used a 7B in this case:

And finally I fill in the gaps, creating highlight areas by blending the darker shadows at the top and bottom of the paler areas and leaving the middles the lightest. This then creates the shape of the waves:

I can't believe it's the 19th of April already! Where is the year going? The week just whizzes by and I get to Friday and think, well I haven't even done half of what I wanted to achieve this week! This week has been a fun one. I should have finished the Springer Pet Portrait by the end of it and i've had loads of fun with the new rats. The babies are now in the big cage with Treacle and Charlotte and they are all sleeping together, all snuggled in the igloo. Tinkerbell is becoming a little confident mischief maker, she is often charging around with Treacle. I think Treacle is pleased she has new friends to play with. Quite often if I let them out in the afternoon Charlotte will go back to bed, and Treacled had no-one to play with, but this afternoon she was happily pea-fishing with Tinkerbell and Doughnut while Charlotte went back to sleep. Having four is great - double the trouble, but double the fun too!

Springer Spaniel update

Another small update on the graphite Springer Spaniels. I started on the third dog Molly today. As her ears overlap Clyde's slighly i'm going to draw her first so I don't end up in a muddle with the ears. Here it is so far:

Spaniel Pet Portrait update

Another update on the Pet Portrait of three Springer Spaniels, Smokey, Clyde and Molly. Here it is so far:

And here is a close up of the gorgeous Clyde:

Springer Spaniel Portrait update

I have been very bad while my in-laws have been visiting and not done hardly any drawing at all. Today I am back with my routine though, and a renewed determination to stick to it. I have been working on the Pet Portrait of the 3 Springer Spaniels today and have got quite a bit done. I completed the second ear on the first Springer, Smokey, and have started on Clyde. Here it is so far:

Here is a close-up of the work I have done on Clyde. It isn't this dark in real life. I love the expression on Clyde's face. It is the classic snooty yet sad look that my Springer Spaniel, Tom, has so often.
And here is a close-up of Smokey with both of her ears completed.

Springer spaniels Pet Portrait update

I have done a little more today on my graphite portrait of the three Springer Spaniels. I have completed Smokey's right ear:

I have also been working recently on my website re-design. I have finally overcome 3 problems I was having with a couple of layout issues and a script error on my Gallery and I'm really pleased with it. I just need to amend a few more pages and the shop section and the new-look www.lauraspetportraits.co.uk will be ready to go live! I'm really excited about it and as usual I really enjoyed the designing and learning new techniques.

Springer Spaniel Portrait update

Well I go for days without updating my blog, then add two posts in one day! After painting my pastel wolf earlier I did some more work on my current Pet Portrait - the Springer Spaniels in graphite pencil. There's not a huge difference since the last update, but i'm pleased with it so far:

Springer Spaniels portrait update

Today I have started on the detail on my current graphite pencil portrait of 3 Springer Spaniels. I do one small area to completion at a time, then move onto another area, and I have started on the black and white Springer, Smokey. I think Spaniel's ears are one of their most distinctive features, but also the one I find hardest to draw. The small part of Smokey's ear I completed today took me an hour! Here is the portrait so far:


And here is a close-up:

Springer Spaniels Portrait

Today I started on a new commission - 3 Springer Spaniels. I'm looking forward to doing this one as I have a real fondness for Springers - I do have two of my own! It's also going to be nice doing a graphite portrait after working with the coloured pencils for so long. As much as I enjoy working with colour and the effects achieved with coloured pencils, graphite is and probably always will be, my favourite medium.

Here is the first stage of the portrait. It's 12" x 16" on Italian Fabriano 5 hot press 140lb watercolour paper. The composition was suggested by the customer - he wanted to create a triangular shape with the male Springer in the centre slightly higher and the two girls either side.