A friend of a friend saw the paintings I'd done of our family dogs and has asked me to paint their 2 dogs and she is going to pay me! Wow!
Fortunately, we had dinner with them the other day and I got to meet the dogs and get a feel for their personalities and have taken some piccies of them.

I've done all the measurements from the photo and have done the sketch on the canvas, now for the hard part; painting it

So I may not be able to participate in the daily challenges for a little while but I'll still visit to see what everyone's up to.

Wish me luck

Andrea

Congratulations Andrea!! What a great acknowledgment of your talents! I'm very happy for you.

Thanks Rose, I am very excited but also nervous
Will let you know how it goes.

OOOOOHHHH! I have just seen that I am an aficionado now too! Wow! How cool is that!

Andreathat is wonderful! Congratulations!! Can't wait to see your completed paintings of the doggies.

Way to go ! congratulations.....

Hey Andrea.

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!
This friend of a friend will be very pleased.

Andrea, that is Wonderful!!! You'll have to post the finished portrait, I know it will be beautiful! Elizabeth

What lucky people to hook up with the great and masterful Andrea! Maybe you can do a WIP so we don't miss you too much.
Paulette

Thanks guys! You are all soooo supportive which is what makes Drawspace sooo special

Paulette, I might just take you up on that and post some pictures (too big to scan) as I go along.

Andrea

She wants individual paintings of each dog, so I'm starting with Emily first.
They are both bishon frisse (sp) dogs but one is fatter than the other

I measured from the reference photo and have sketched it onto the canvas. It's not a perfect copy but not worried about that yet, it's just for reference really.
It's a 40 x 40cm thick sided canvas.

I've attached the reference photo and the photo of the canvas. Sorry about the poor quality picture, it was cloudy! You will notice in the reference photo the retina reflected the flash so will have to use another photo for details of the eyes

Next onto the painting.....

Actually, this is quite useful to post this as I can already see some little things that need altering. I wish I had that software where you can put the images side by side.

Congrats Andrea this is such a compliment to your talent

Andrea,
It's looking good. I use photofilter, Ted (tehobu) pointed me to it.
Paulette

Congratulations Andrea! Good luck with the painting, I bet the outcome will be great!

Thanks Kim, Paulette and Marjke for your support. I think I'm going to need it; I haven't painted curly hair before!

Andrea, Congradulations!!! I know you have nothing to worry about. You are a wonderful artist and I know you can do it. Just take your time and use alot of patience. Your a step ahead of me though, I have yet to make a commission off of anything I have done. Though I still have no idea how to even charge for commissions!! Learning about it though in my Study unit right now for my online art class. Very interesting material. good luck and great job so far.

Thanks Venus, I have no idea about how to price commissions either, I'm probably totally underpricing myself Because they are my first ones I don't mind though but I would be very interested in any useful info you glean about pricing from your art course.
Are you enjoying your course? What does it involve and how long is it?

Andrea, congratulations on your first commission! I know that you'll do great work!

Jill

Ok, I've just gone for a dark plain backgroung initially, it seems to work with light subjects.
I started on the fur (bottom left corner). The dogs have recently been almost shaved so their fur is very short but wavey, I've not painted wavey short hair before .

What do you think; does it look short and a bit wavey?
I may put add more highlights/darklights yet.

Andrea

Sorry I've just realised that is a very large image, the second image I've attached is smaller, for those with dial up

Yes! That's so cool how you can use the texture of the paint to add depth and detail. I haven't done any painting since I was a teenager; you're making it look like a lot of fun!

Thanks Ernest. You've given me the confidence to keep at it

Wow Andrea! I agree with Ernest, you are using the texture of the paint wonderfully.
Please do keep at it!
I can't wait to see the next update...

Ok, here's the next installment..

A couple of things;

1) My OH thinks perhaps I should change the background colour, he thinks it looks like the black is coming through the fur! Obviously it's not as I left the actual dog bit white before painting onto it. I hope you understand what I mean Any thoughts?
2) I haven't finished the collar yet, but think it is lower than on the refernce photo. Not sure if it matters though?

So far I have probably invested about 4 hours in it, yes, I know, I'm a bit slow!
As before I have attached a large image for you to see the close up and a smaller one (second image).

Any comments welcomed...

The collar is beautifully rendered but... I'm afraid that it's proportionately too narrow, which makes the dog look bigger in comparison. I measured with a ruler and in the painting the width of the collar is about 1/20th the width of the head, ear to ear; whereas in the reference it's more like 1/17th. Just enough to make a noticeable difference, I think.

Thanks for the quick response Ernest. I'm having a blonde day (I can say that because I am blonde ). Are you saying I need to make the collar even wider? Not from top to bottom but from ear to ear or both?

What do you think about it being too low?

Andrea

I think it should be fatter, thicker; bigger top to bottom.


I don't think there's a problem with it being in the wrong place. I see what you're saying but it's not in an impossible place.

Looking at the reference I think you are right. Ok, will have a play with it today.
Thanks

I think your OH probably thinks that because, between shading and reflection, it probably does that a bit. I saw a neat drawing challenge on wet canvas where everybody had to draw something white with out using any shade of grey. The drawings turned out great. If I can find it I will give you the link. Although at this point it might not help, but for future reference.
I think it is going great.
Paulette
Here is the link, Wet Canvas.
Here is a link to a post with many of the drawings in it (save time looking), Post # 312.

Thanks Paulette, those pictures where great, some of them did look like they had grey in them!
It's amazing what you can do with a combination of colours.
I'll see if I can salvage this one by adding some different shades.
I'm considering starting over, not sure if I like the 3D effect of using thick paint, may be too much?

Hi Andrea

Starting over? But I love the 3D effect of the paint...
It makes me want to touch my computerscreen to get the feel of it, hehe. No really, I'm sure I would want to touch the canvas and feel the paint if I were standing in front of it. And I know I shouldn't touch paintings hehe, but I always love it when a painting does that. It means it really comes out to you and there is some sort of real interaction...

I hope you will finish this one. I think the background needs some other colour in it (not entirely, but maybe some color, so it looks like the dog is in front of a velvet curtain or something, with dark shadows and colored highlights). Hmm, that's just what feels right to me. But it would probably be better to see the dog finished before making suggestions about the background.

Well that all is just my opinion...

If the painting doesn't feel right to you, maybe you should start over.
But if it's just natural artists insecurity that makes you wonder if you should start over, then I surely hope you will finish this one.
I still think it will be great!

- Marijke

Thanks Marijke. I agree with you about the background. I do value your opinion.
I think you are right; it probably is my insecurity as I've not done such 3D painting before and I was worried it was too grey. Although I may be able to rectify the grey issue still.
I have started a new painting today but have promised myself that I will finish the first one as well!

Will keep you posted re how I'm getting on.

I would have to agree, I think it is coming along beautifully. I'm not so sure giving up on it is the way to go. I just pointed out the other stuff because your OH was worried about the black. If you are thinking of doing it with colours, I would experiment first.
Paulette

Paulette, please don't think I was offended by your earlier comment. I have just printed a high quality picture of the dog and I do think I need to lighten my greys.
I really appreciate everyone commenting on my work. Thats what we're here for after all, to help and support each other.
As Marijke said earlier its probably just my insecurity; worrying because this one is for money!
Thanks guys

So, once I got over my colly wobbles I continued with the painting.
I have tried to put more colours in the fur rather than grey and I am mixing colours to produce my own grey tints instead of using grey straight from the tube.
After putting in the eyes and nose it's starting to come together.
Still lots more to do but would welcome any comments on how to improve it.
My main concern at the minute is the collar, which is why I haven't finished it.
I moved it up the neck and made it bigger but now I think it may be too big!

Any comments, please?

Sweeeet! That's looking great, Andrea! The collar thing has really made a big difference; looks much more like a cute little dog. I also love the browns in the fur, and the eyes sparkle like onyx!

Thanks Ernest, I can always rely on you for a quick response
We are either in the same time zone or one of us is an insomniac

So you don't think I need to make it smaller?
Hoping to have it finished this week.

Andrea

Well, I don't sleep much

I think it's just right.

I don't know if it is a boy or not, but you have captured the little old man look that he/she has. Good job on adding in those colours. Job well done!
Paulette

Thanks Paulette, it's a girl but she is 14, which is pretty old for a dog.
when I first added the colours she looked like joseph in his amazing coloured coat! But then I added a white wash to dampen them down and it's looking better I think.

Wow Andrea, I think you are doing an amazing job!

You've given the dog such character and it looks so sweet!!

You're asking for comments to improve, but I think you are doing so well and it's hard to say anything while you are still in the middle of working on it.
I agree with Ernest that you made a big improvement on the collar. I feel the left side (for the viewer) of the nose/chin-area will need your attention. But I think you were coming around to that.

I have been wondering how you were doing on the painting, I really like watching your WIP step by step.
Looking forward to next update already. You're doing great, no need for colly wobbles, hehe.

Thanks marijke
I'm having to go more slowly now as I am suffering from eye strain, too much close up work, I think. I suffered with it last year when I started painting, strangely, I don't get it when I draw.
I started working on the left side of the face today.

Thanks for your support

Andrea

So, here's my next installment.

Still a long way to go; I ned to work on the viewers left ear, side of face, under the chin & the collar, not much then

Anyway, my main concern at the minute is; does it still look like a white dog with all those colours in there?
I'm so close to it and I'm finding it hard to see past the colours!

Any comments appreciated

I've finished it, I think!
I'm never 100% happy with these things and could keep adding and redoing areas for ever, so I must draw the line somewhere.
However, I haven't put the varnish on yet, just in case any of you see something which obviously needs changing.

I would love to hear yourl comments/critiques.

I think you did a wonderful job, they are going to be very pleased!! So how long did this portrait take from start to finish? Elizabeth

Thanks Elizabeth, it probably took me about a week in total. I really struggled with the fur on the body for a few days but the head and collar were easier.

Wow Andrea, you did an amazing job!!
I absolutely love it and I'm sure your friend's friend will too.

You made the fur look very realistic. I now want to cuddle the dog, hehe.
And don't worry, the dog surely still looks like a white dog. I think it's the right decision to call the painting finished, because it looks perfect to me!!

The only thing is.....
You've set the standard high for the painting of the other dog. Hehe. (There was a second one right?)

I think you done a great job with this, I can't imagine them not being pleased with it. You really got the eyes, be proud of your first commission.

Thanks Marijke and Nancy.
Yes, unfortunately she has asked me paint her other dog and one of her cat! She hasn't even seen this one yet! Hopefully she won't change her mind when she does, hehe!

I love it! There's so much depth to it, he just jumps out of the frame.

Thanks Ernest, you are very kind!

She's beautiful Andrea!
Paulette