Just finished up two dog portraits in oils for one client.
Begins with many photos provided by the client. I choose one photo, make a pencil sketch, then an underpainting to establish values and the painting. Each step I show the client.
These paintings are small 8 x 6 inches and done on stretched canvas for easy hanging.
“Charly” oil on stretched canvas, 6 x 8 x 3/4 inches by Marlene Lee
Photo reference of Charly
Charly pencil sketch
Underpainting of Charly
“Jinja” oil on stretched canvas, 6 x 8 x 3/4 inches by Marlene Lee
This is Lexi, the dog who would not stand still for a photo. In this painting I worked more on soften the edges to give it a more softer look. The background is different from how I treated other dog portraits. I wanted a more neutral color so that Lexi would stand out.
“Lexi” 10 x 10 x 3/4 inches oil on canvas by Marlene Lee
A commissioned oil painting of a little chihuahua named Dinky. What strike me of this little fellow is his alertness and compact body. He’s ready to spring into action.
Dinky, 8 x 6 x 3/4 inches oil on stretched canvas
Below is a step by step of how I paint this portrait. This process had turned out more successful for me to follow for future commissions. And this had come out of a workshop that I had taken from Sarah Sedwick. Here’s one of her videos about her step-by-step alla prima oil painting.
I started off with a thumbnail sketch to established where I wanted to place Dinky. It should be simple enough but it was a great warm-up. Then I did a pencil block in on paper of shadow/dark and light shapes. Using the pencil drawing as a base I gridded it and laid in with transparent red oxide on the canvas. Then in the fourth stage I laid in the basic shapes and local colors. The final stages comprise of adding more concise colors and background. The eyes and the area around them were the anchor for everything else. More details were devoted there.
This one I felt was one of my best. More info on commissions click to go to my Etsy
A recent commission of two dogs. The client is from Germany and wanted two sizes, one at 9 x 12 inches and the other is a smaller size at 3 x 4 inches for a dollhouse. Both are painted in oil on stretched canvas.
Blue and Ballou, oil on stretched canvas, 9 x 12 x 3/4 inchesBlue and Ballou, oil on stretched canvas, 3 x 4 x 1/4 inches
Here are the step by step.
For more information about pet commission, click to go to my Etsy shop.
This is a 8 x 10 inches watercolor commission of a front yard. When I was commissioned, her yard was filled with blooming flowers and her dog posed right in the center. Perfect!
