Dog Portrait Painting Process of Tika - Step 4
by Carol McIntyre on 2/4/2010 12:26:47 PM
3 Comments
|
First layer of pastel
It is time to make those initial decisions about colors - warm versus cool. I have painted the sunny side of Tika in warm colors, whereas as the shadow side is in cool colors. The same holds true with the snow and cast shadows across the snow. Because it is a winter sceen, the sky starts with a very cool (e.g., greenish) light yellow. When the blues are layered on top the sky will have a colder feel to it.
The first few stages of a painting always look a little strange, at least my paintings do. I often use colors that work as the foundation for the final layers of pastel. At this stage, I also try not to be concerned about details. Notice that the bare trees that are evident in the drawing are not visible, but they will be painted in once I am satisfied with the sky and a few other areas. They may be the last thing I paint, but we will have to see!
...to be continued.
Comment on or Share this Article >>
|
|
|
|
Dog Portrait Painting Process of Tika - Step 3
by Carol McIntyre on 2/2/2010 1:25:32 PM
2 Comments
|
Pastel layout in my studio
Because Tika will be joining PeeWee, and later two other black lab sisters, on the wall in Kirsten & Joe's home, I want to paint all four Memory Portraits in the same color palette. As I mentioned before, I use color schemes based on the color opposites - red/green, blue/orange or yellow/purple. The color scheme for these four ladies is the red/green palette.
For fun, I thought you might like to see all, or rather nearly all, of my pastels. I have no idea how many there are, but if you feel like counting them, let me know! This layout demonstrates an investment in time and money. Pastels come in various degrees of hardness and softness, as well as nearly every shade in the universe. Are they not beautiful displayed like this? 
Pastel artists arrange their pastels in many different ways. Mine happens to be by color family and within that by values (light to dark). It can be quite over whelming to choose the "right" color for every stroke. We cannot mix colors, other then by layering, hence the need for lots of colors and shades. The pastel sticks you see along the edge of the counter, are the pastels I used in PeeWee's Memory Portrait. I also have a shelf on my easel for putting the sticks I am using for a particular painting. It would drive my crazy if I put each pastel back and then tried to find it again. (By the way, my counter is an old door that I cleaned up and attached to used counter height cabinets.)
Which hue family do you like the best? Did you have any idea that pastel artists had color palettes like this?
...to be continued.
Comment on or Share this Article >>
|
|
|
|
Dog Portrait Painting Process of Tika - Step 2
by Carol McIntyre on 2/1/2010 12:59:32 PM
1 Comment
|
Drawing of Tika on tracing paper
What did I do with all of that snow that was on Tika's face in the reference photo? Ahhhhhh, the magic of PhotoShop Elements! I have learned to use the bandaid button and it comes in handy in situations like this. The other photographs will help me when it comes to painting the final details of her jawls, mouth and nose. You can see in the digital photo that I lightly colored in the background of the winter forest and evergreens with colored pencil.
Tracing paper is used because after this sketch is approved by Kirsten & Joe, I then tranfer in onto my pastel paper. They asked me to add her dog tag. Some dog owners like the collars and dog tags and others do not. It is just one of the many things that are customized in my Memory Portraits. The variety is wonderful.
Would you change anything in this sketch? Some of the lines on Tika's face are for me, so they may seem a little strange to you. What other questions do you have at this stage of the game?
...to be continued.
Comment on or Share this Article >>
|
|
|
|
Dog Portrait Painting Process of Tika - Step 1
by Carol McIntyre on 1/31/2010 1:31:40 PM
1 Comment
|
Sample reference photos of Tika
This next dog portrait is the second of four Memory Portraits that I will be painting for Kirsten & Joe. Her name was Tika and she had a strong connection with Kirsten. Because these 4 paintings will most likely hang together, I need to think collectively as well as individually. To help with the consistency between the paintings, each will be 11x14, painted in pastel and the head sizes will be approximately the same. I am not concerned if they will all hang vertically nor horizontally; I checked this out with Kirsten & Joe during our interview.
Many reference photos of Tika were provided (the more the better!), and I have a sample of them showing here. The pose that Kirsten & Joe want of Tika, is the one where she has snow on her face. Tika loved the snow and being outside, consequently, I used another photograph as my inspiration for the background of Tika, that you will see in the next post. PeeWee, the first dog, has a warm fall background and now Tika's is winter. It will be interesting to see how they work together. What do you think? Should I be concerned?
...to be continued.
Comment on or Share this Article >>
|
|
|
|
Memory Portrait of PeeWee - Step 11
by Carol McIntyre on 1/25/2010 7:05:20 PM
1 Comment
|
PeeWee's Memory Portrait
Is PeeWee's Memory Portrait finished? After talking to Kirsten and Joe, I learned that I needed to fix or change a couple of things in PeeWee's portrait.
I darkened the sky a little, I straightened out the top of her nose a bit and I eliminated some of the straight lines in her jowls. I am not sure I like the highlight on PeeWee's nose and I think I need to give it some color. It was tricky trying to figure out how to highlight her nose because it is up against a light blue sky. What to do? I painted in a few more trees in the background behind the highlighted area. Like I stated above, I think I need to give it some more color. Your thoughts?
...until the next Memory Portrait! Thank you for coming along on PeeWee's artistic journey!
Comment on or Share this Article >>
|
|
|
|
Memory Portrait of PeeWee - Step 10
by Carol McIntyre on 1/20/2010 10:25:38 AM
4 Comments
|
PeeWee's portrait is almost complete!
PeeWee's portrait is getting real close to being complete. This is fine tuning time for me and this will continue for awhile. In fact, it is sometimes good to leave the painting alone for a few days or "walk away" so I can be more objective the next time I look at it.
It just so happens that an exciting interruption occurred just in time for me to take a break from the easel. We went to pick up our fist dog - I grew up with dogs, but have not had one as an adult - yesterday. She is a rescue dog, about 3 years old, a Nowegian Elkhound/Shepherd mix and a real sweetie! She even has a paint brush for a tail!
Back to PeeWee... The pastel layers have been smoothed out a little more, as well as more layers in the trees and water. A pattern on the bandana has been added and perhaps more contrast in her highlights, but I am not sure. I struggled with PeeWee's grey beard, it was a technical challenge, and I need to know if she looks the proper age. This is also the time for Kirsten & Joe to let me know what they think needs to be tweeked.
How do you think PeeWee is looking?
...to be continued.
Comment on or Share this Article >>
|
|
|
|
Memory Portrait of PeeWee - Step 9
by Carol A. McIntyre on 1/16/2010 6:20:25 PM
Comment on this
|
PeeWee's eyes are nearly done.
I love painting the eyes in a dog portrait - I know an artist who paints the eyes in the very early stages of a pinting - but I like to work up to it. By waiting, we become better acquainted and I am able to acquire deeper feelings for the wonderful pet. How do you react to her eyes? Is her intensity there? She is beginning to appear as if she on the look out for something, though we may never know what it is.
You will also notice more detail around her eyes and integration of the colors throughout the painting.
...to be continued.
Comment on or Share this Article >>
|
|
|
|
Memory Portrait of PeeWee - Step 8
by Carol McIntyre on 1/16/2010 10:56:34 AM
3 Comments
|
Is PeeWee starting to look more like a black labrador? You can see that more colors or layers of pastel have been applied throughout the painting, except for the sky. It may be interesting to know that pastels are made up of many degrees of softness and hardnes, and each plays a role in my pastel painting. The hard pastels, which are quarter inch square sticks, are similar to the black board white chalk hardness. I often use them for detail and they work well for smoothing out the soft pastels that feel almost like butter when applied. The latter are about the size of a little finger.
PeeWee eyes now have some color and I think her left eye is about finished. It is so small, therefore only a few strokes are allowed to convey that eye. Creating her intensity through her eyes is a welcomed challenge and we will see how I do in the next stage of the painting. The background trees are remaining subdued so that they do not compete with PeeWee. I also have to be careful not to make the bandana too red or it will detract attention from her. Painting is a constant balancing act, which is all part of the process!
Any comments or questions at this stage? Will PeeWee stay in the boat or jump into the water?
...to be continued.
Comment on or Share this Article >>
|
|
|
|
Memory Portrait of PeeWee - Step 7
by Carol McIntyre on 1/15/2010 9:15:02 AM
2 Comments
|
PeeWee begins to feel 3 dimensional
PeeWee is looking more like a chocolate labrador at this stage because I need those under tones to create the brown-black. No worries, she will be a black lab soon!
I have started to darken up her fur, smoothed out some of the highlights, integrated many of the areas on her hed, established a shadow on the bandana and applied several layers of pastel throughtout the painting. It is tempting to start working on her eyes, but I am holding off a little bit longer.
Is she starting to look more three dimensional? I almost forgot. Can anyone find the "7" that I hid in the painting? It seems appropriate to ask that since we are at Step 7. For those who do not know, PeeWee had a white spot on her chest in the shape of a seven!
...to be continued.
Comment on or Share this Article >>
|
|
|
|
Memory Portrait of PeeWee - Step 6
by Carol McIntyre on 1/14/2010 1:20:44 PM
2 Comments
|
At this stage of the painting, I am beginning to slow down in my application of pastel. The digital image is a tad small, so you may not be able to see the various changes from the previous stage. Here are a few things that I have done: 1) softened the background; 2) started to build more colors on the bandana; 3) added some reds on PeeWee as if it were a bit of seasoning; and 4) begun developing the rhythm of the water.
The eyes are so tempting to do at this point and I like painting the eyes, but even I must wait a little longer, as I want to have her face more developed before I paint her eyes. Patience! 
I can feel the spirit of PeeWee, can you?
...to be continued.
Comment on or Share this Article >>
|
|
|
| |
|
