Pet portraits in time for Christmas

These two were a little challenging because sadly the pets were no longer with us so I had limited subject matter to work with. The dog, Moppet (such a lovely name), was worked from a computer print out that had been sent as a Christmas Card. 

This sweet little Gemma is the spitting image of our cat, Topsy. We still have Topsy, when she cares to come home and we are so proud that she’s reached 7 years! 

A fine pack ...

Just before I went in for jaw surgery, I drew two of the dogs on this portrait. Then about a week after, I tied on a bandana to help with the post surgery drool, and sat down to draw the remaining two over a couple of days so a dear friend could collect this! 

I am thankful that I found the brain cells and my muse to complete this work after such an ordeal. But I did and I’m sure it was therapy. It was something that made me feel more like ‘me’ and that’s important. 

I hope you like it. I love drawing. 

Three faces of the season.

How cute is this little girl? She's carefully cleaning her paw. Or is she? Caption competition?

 

Sometimes I have to wait to after Christmas to share what I have been up to with some furry friends. Such is the case with these three lovelies. 

So good to be asked to do a rat again. I will always love rats and value them as pets as well as subjects!

 

A girl Yorkie and a boy with the best nose ever are this years delightful dogs. 

 

I can't wait for the new year to begin. It's going to be a good one. I think 2016 held a lot of challenges. How was it for you? 

Best Compliment Ever ...

Well I don't very often draw people but when I do it's often for a really good friend! J asked me to draw her son so that she could surprise her parents, and presented me with this amazing photo which shows real cheeky character and I accepted the challenge! I also usually draw non furry faces in monochrome and J was happy with that. 

I chose to take out the seatbelt and therefore the sling since I couldn't see how the sling looked at the top. As I fashion my portraits in white-space the seat belt was going to look too prominent in the picture. If you draw portraits your self you will know how important the eyes are and in this photo our young man has a very distinctive highlight which I worked hard to get right. The eyes, and the shapes of our nose and lips are what makes us unique. Get these slightly wrong and your picture doesn't look like the person. 

Well I completed the portrait and waited for the time when J would present it to her parents, and after that I shared it to my Facebook page where Mum proudly shared it, writing something that made my day. She said, "the artist is so good I can't tell it apart from the photo. And she has captured my grandson's spirit of fun", and that's probably one of the best compliments ever!

Cathy, aged 11

What a beautiful gentle old girl is Cathy the retired racing greyhound. She belongs to a friend of mine, and I was asked to draw her out of all the special dogs my friend has loved!

When I began to sketch her out, it was really important to me to capture the soul that shows in her big brown eyes. 

After mapping everything out in dark sepia, I build up colours in layers, my favourite part of making a portrait. I'm really pleased with how Cathy turned out. 

A Handsome Black Dog ....

I A friend recently commented on the challenges of drawing black dogs! I've done a few, and a glossy black cat, and here is one I tackled fairly recently. 

This boy is done in coloured pencils, in a painterly sort of way. Have you been successful painting black pets?

This is Lilli

A Yorkshire terrier from down the road ...

And she's been given the Raggy Rat treatment in time for Mother's Day!

Another Dog Drawing ...

How I love to draw ....here i am building up colour and depth on a black, curly haired dog...some of you know that black dogs are not easy to draw!

And here is Archie, my friends dog, an older boy with a young heart! Archie I mean, not my friend! :-)

Pippn-Papillon! Pet Pawtrait!

The basic outline - pippin's eye were flashed-orange in the photograph, so i quickly fill the pupils in black, with an added white highlight ...

Putting in the mail colours, building up depth gently as I go ...

Looking very hard to pick out all the colours I can see, traces of strong pink and even blue for some of the shadows!

WIP - Drawing Max ...

Drawn Dog!

Meet Herbie - hairy dogs are fun to draw! This pic is almost there!

WIP - Herbie

T-Shirt ready ...

This is a photograph and I have also scanned him, he just needs some editing and he will be lovely xxx

Art in Church ...

Sometimes, when I am listening, I draw what I 'see'...

Mika .... Artwork finished ...

do you remember me making a start on this drawing?



its of this beautiful collie, Mika ...



well i finally found the groove and finished it ... if you want to see it in the flesh, you can visit it Here!



The girls worked along side me on the day I completed it ... 2 mikas, a traffic light, a strawberry, a row boat with oars and a flower - daisy is 4 years and home educated ...



three mikas, strawberry, raspberry, daisy flowers, matty is 4 years and home educated ...



i love their drawings. I love how they started with the amazing ears Mika has!