Computer Crash GRRRRR!

Hello! I won't be able to post an update of Ollie's portrait until I get my computer back hopefully by the end of the week. It started to freeze on me last week and by Monday morning it actually refused to turn on so I am currently using our server. So far I have been working on the background of the portrait. Most work has been done on the blurred bushes and I will then work on the the foreground, then the two large trees and lastly Ollie herself. If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Ollie Commission

Hello! Here is a picture of my next subject 'Ollie'. She is a Border Collie and I am going to paint a 50x75cm oil painting of her with a full background. This great action shot was taken by her owner. If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Shai Finished

Here is Shai all finished. I found getting her fur just right was a bit tricky but I think I have achieved a brindle effect. The other challenge was working from a photo which had an ear missing as well as some of the chest fur. I used a combination of photos to put the portrait together. My next commission is an oil of a Border Collie named Ollie. I should be starting this as soon as I have prepared the canvas early next week. If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Shai Update 2

I have done a bit more to facial fur, mouth and body here. I still have allot to do all over particularly the mouth, nose, right eye and body fur. If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Shai Update

Shai Step 1

Here is the portrait to date. As you can see I am using a different photo to the one originally posted. I believe the one chosen here shows Shai from a better angle as you can see the shape of her profile. I work mostly from dark colours to light so the portrait when finished will be lighter than this. If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Shai

I have started Shai and now that the composition and layout are finished I can begin the pastel work. I will post a picture of what I have done by the end of Thursday. Tomorrow, Wednesday is a public holiday here so I will be sailing with my husband. If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Le Tour Stages 2 & 3

Step 3

Step 2

Here is the beginings of glaze application. I have to keep reminding myself that a painting is never 'stuffed' it is just not finished! My intention is to apply many layers of glazes until I have great depth of colour. I now have a pretty good idea of what is going to work and what will not. There will be different shapes overlapping and the over colour effect is not going to be as it appears now! Just keeping you guessing!! 'Phew' I can hear you saying. Yes I hate that green!! I probably will not have time now to do more until I have finished the portrait of Shai. I have bought materials today ready to begin Shai on Monday. Also been busy purchasing food etc for my daughter's 21st tomorrow. No time to pick up a paint brush except when I was a t the art supply shop!! If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Shai Pastel Commission

I have just recieved a new commission to do a pastel portrait of a beautiful Staffy named Shai. She is pictured above although this may not be the pose I will use. I will be starting it on Monday so you will be able to follow my work in progress here on the blog. I have also worked out how to tackle Le Tour and will post what I ahve done so far tomorrow. I will be putting Le Tour aside temporarily from Monday whilst I am doing the portrait of Shai. If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Le Tour Step 1

Here I have sketched the cyclists onto the canvas. Having thought about how I am going to tackle this painting I have decided to make it a Mixed Media. I intend to use Acrylic glazes first to indicate the movement and speed of the cyclists followed by oil for the cyclists themselves and the add a bit of oil glazing if needed. A bit experimental but we will see how it goes!! If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml