I was asked a few weeks ago to do a painting of a dog for a client. He sent me various photos of the dog and we discussed the best one for me to do the painting from, and finalised it down to two, the photo of the dog sitting down but change the setting to one which had grass, a tree, and other trees and foliage in the background. It was also agreed that I would frame it for the client, and that the finished painting would be in acrylics on artboard, and measure 18 x 14 inches.
I took photos as I did the painting so I’ll show the different stages here.
Stage one. I cut the board to size and then drew out the image of the dog in pencil onto the board, and the tree trunk, path, and foliage in the background as it had to fit the painting, make it look like the dog was there in that setting but enhance how he was placed in the painting, and not detract.
Stage two, since the acrylic board is absorbent I like to get a couple of layers of paint on it to seal it, and get the basic basis of the colours.
Stage 3, once the first layer of paint has dried, the second layer is more about sealing the board too, going over the same colours and once that was dry it meant I could then start on the details,
Stage four, I painted the background trees, and foliage, path, fence, tree trunk in the middle and started on the grass, and soil that is around the dog.
Stage five as you can see a lot different from the first layers of colour! I put the tones of the dogs brown patches, the white patches, and markings on the white patches, his face, the collar, added more to the grass around him, and the shadows under him, and a few tufts of grass infront of him to show that he was sitting in the grass setting, not hovering over it.
Stage six, the finished painting in the frame the whole painting comes to life now its in the frame that picks up the delicate tones of the dogs coat, it enhances the painting.
I am delighted with this painting, I was asked to put the ‘wow factor’ into it, and I think I’ve achieved that!
Its the joy of painting in acrylics, picking up the fine details, light over dark, dark over light, the subtle light through the trees in the background, the subtle bark of the main tree in the middle, the expression on the dogs face.
I love this painting!
