Watercolor Black Poodle

Hello Everybody!
I hope you are doing well on this sunny Wednesday.
What better thing to do when you are sick and coughing up a lung.
I finished my black dog challenge to myself piece.
I used some artistic license for the eyes (they are too dark in the photograph) and also the fur. 

As many of you know by now, I love animals, all kinds, probably since birth.
I remember bringing home kittens after school. "Look Mom, look what followed me home from the bus stop?"
Of course, I would pet, love and encourage them so that they would follow me home. We always had to take them back to the owners. Which broke my heart as a young child.

It wasn't until we discovered Poodles that we were able to have any pets.
Poodles have a different type of dander and my Grandma wasn't allergic to them.
The first pet I grew up with was a beautiful miniature black poodle that we named Tracy.

Painting this picture really brought back the memories of growing up with Tracy.
Here's my poodle piece on watercolor paper 5x7.
I may have to do this full picture. Image is from pixabay.

Poodle Tutorial

Following loosely a speeded up youtube video tutorial by Rebecca Rhodes for this dog study.

Watercolor on watercolor paper.

Thanks for stopping by!

Dog Eye Tutorial Finished

Completed as far as I'm going to take it.
I was following a Dog Eye tutorial from Rebecca Rhodes but I've taken it past the eye and filled in the face that fits the 5x6 image.
There is a lot wrong but a lot right as well.
What a great lesson and what fun to practice more techniques and learn new ways of doing things.
Hope you like it!

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Dog Eye Tutorial

Following a Dog Eye tutorial from Rebecca Rhodes but I've taken it past the eye and filled in the face that fits the 5x6 image.
Here's what I've done so far

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Minature Poodle - Water Color

I did another watercolor painting.
This time it was a minature poodle
Reference was used with kind permission of Karen Broemmelsick from Photos for Artists
Canson Mix Media paper
7"x10" watercolor

This is the 4th watercolor (I think) I've done  or maybe the 5th.
Was a fun exploration in how to use watercolors.

Hope you like it!

Pugs Eyes Update WIP 2

Well, I wasn't going to finish this since it was just a practice piece but popular opinion says to.  So, I'm finishing it for my fans :)

Here's where I'm at now.

Hope you still like what I'm doing to with it.

4th Watercolor Practice Piece Pug Eyes

This was just a little practice piece that I started back in 2014 (Pug Eyes) and finally took it as far as I'm going to go with it.

It actually made me realize I really need to ditch the student grade Academy WaterColor paints and get artist grade watercolor paints.

Thanks for stopping by.
Hope you like what I've done with it!

Pug Eyes

Still working on the pug painting. Put more time into it last night.
Was supposed to get this done before the end of the month because "technically" the class ended at the end of April but we are still able to continue and post....I wish I had the best of both worlds! All the time I want to spend riding my horse and doing my art as well as what my new job gives me 
Oh well, as the saying goes, you can't have everything! So, I work on my art when I can and ride my horse when I can :)
Hope you like it!!

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Evan Finished!

YAY Medicine is all finished! I can see clearly again and the irritation is gone
I apologize for the delay!
Here is Evan completed and signed!
I really had a lot of fun drawing him with those wispy ears.
What a beautiful boy!
Hope you like him 

9x12 Graphite
Strathmore Bristol Smooth
Completed: 9/23/2013

Evan WIP Update 8

Using my newly purchased Tombow Mono Zero eraser, hopefully a steady hand and a prayer, the whiskers are now in. I'm always terrified I'm going to mess the entire thing up putting them in but they always seem to come out OK.  Am I the only one that feels this way?  Do you have the same fears?
I also brightened some of Evan's highlights with the Tombow.

I believe Evan's finished but will set him aside for a couple of days and then see.
Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Evan WIP Update 7

Stepped backwards and removed a lot of the graphite under that ear!
YIKES was that a scary thing to do. 

Then attempted to put it all back.
I'm much happier with the wispy hair and also the white patch on his back. 
Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping  by :)

 

Evan WIP Update 6

Getting Evan's Left ear Wispy bits along with his body is proving to be a challenge. Created a lot of soft edges and tried to also create some hard edges to try and maintain some order.
I was also having quite the challenge to keep the little white patch of hair that Evan seems to have. The wispy bits go over the top of it but keeping dark above white is really something I was struggling with tonight.
I think I've got it now though :)
Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Evan WIP Update 5

Tonight's update is adding more of Evan's body and getting that part of the multi-colored upswinging tail that shows in.
I didn't work on this a lot today but here is what I got done.
Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Evan WIP Update 4

Started working on Evan's white bib.  Still have a long way to go!
Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Evan WIP Update 3

YAY Evan now has a second eye!!
Not sure why I started with only one eye this time but at least he now has both of his eyes!
Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Evan WIP Update 2

Today's progress with Evan.  Getting the tone correct for the face as well as some of his white hairs.
Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Evan WIP Update

Started working on Evan.
Started with soft and then added hard graphite. Also blending a little with a tissue.
Evan is a beautiful Papillon and is going to be both a black and white challenge. So far, I really like how the ear hairs are coming along
9 x 12 Graphite on Smooth Bristol
Hope you like it so far!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Starting Evan

While Big D is out of sight, I started on my next one.
I made a quick preliminary sketch to work out form, etc... then tweaked it until I got a good match to the reference photo.
I'm pretty happy with how this went together so nicely and except for tweaking this drawing is ready to be transferred to it's working surface. 
I was really surprised when I kept track of time and this drawing was accomplished in 2.5 hours
Again, because I draw so lightly, the contrast has been changed so you can see what I'm doing.
Hope you like it!

Gabbi Final

I just realized I never posted my final for Gabbi.  This is a 9x12 graphite portrait on Strathmore Bristol Smooth.
Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Gabbi WIP Update 6

Added tone here and there and refined her tail a little bit better. Now it will sit for a couple days and then I'll look again but at this point, I'm saying Gabbi is finished though I haven't signed her yet!

I leaned a lot with this portrait and I also learned after doing the last two "white" animals that depicting white takes just as much work as depicting any other color. 
I Thoroughly enjoyed the process of getting Gabbi to come alive on paper and can't wait for my next project.
Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by :)