Dog Portrait Painting Process of Tika - Step 6

A few more layers of pastel applied

Tika is still looking a bit flat and that is because I have not begun breaking the larger shapes of color on her into smaller shapes. The colors, however, on her should begin to look a little more compatible. Because she is a black Labrador with blue highlights, you will see more blues on her versus on PeeWee, who had brownish highlights in her fur.

I have spent more time layering colors in the background - the sky, the bushes and the evergreen, because I want those areas painted more completely as I finish Tika so that her edges are clean. Another reason I usually finish the background first is to make sure that she is the star of the show and stands out from the background. Since it is currently snowing outside of my studio, it is fun painting a winter scene inside where it is nice and warm.

Oh, and I have the Brandenburg Concertos playing; music that reminds Kirsten and Joe of Tika. How are you liking the background colors? There will be more trees as per the sketch, but they are painted over most of the bushes.

....to be continued.