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Author: Toni-Marie_Hudson, Contributing Editor
| In this article, I will explain how I completed a mixed media painting of my dog, Mist. The mediums I use are acrylic, watercolour pencil, coloured pencils, black ink and graphite. The amount of each used in my work varies depending on what is needed. I shall describe what mediums are used in each step in this particular painting. Knowing how awkward noses, eyes and fur can be, I have included a step-by-step on each of these components as well as progress description and WIPs of the full piece.
The paper used is Fabriano hotpress at 140lbs. I have to have smooth paper because grain doesn't work well with coloured pencils and fine detail. |
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| Here is the reference photo I worked from. I took it earlier in the year and knew I had to paint it. Our Mist's character just oozed out of those eyes in this shot. |
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| Above is the outline or blueprint of Mist. I created the outline using a loose grid to get the proportions as accurate as possible. As Mist is my own dog, this would be a special painting for me and painting your own pet is harder for some reason than painting somebody else’s. With other people’s pets, you can only paint what you see in the photo but when it is your own, you also have the added problem of capturing the soul you know so well, especially after living with it for 12 years.
After drawing in the basic outline using the gird, I then use a ruler and take measurements, making sure they match up to the photo. The painting was 1.5 times larger than the photo so any measurements had to be converted accurately. All this is done on old scrap paper so that mistakes can be made, rubbed out, and done again, without ruining good quality paper. Pads of cheap paper that are not good for painting on are great for this. Once I am satisfied with the outline, I go over it with something dark so that it is easier to trace onto the final piece of good quality paper. This way, no good paper is ruined by mistakes, which were made on the old piece of poor quality paper. Once the outline is transferred onto the final piece of paper, I am ready to start painting. |
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