Frustrated with commision help? xpost pastels

[artbywendy]

I am doing a commision and am struggling with one of the dogs...working from a terrible reference photo so am doing the best i can with it. The dog on the right is okay its the left one Im struggling with...I really dont want to start again any suggestions??? Have attached what Ive done so far as well as the reference photo. C&C please thanks!!!

[ArtbyPeggy]

Why are you frustrated Wendy? I think you've captured him beautifully!
Peggy

[imaginationcounts]

looks good to me

[outsidemywindow]

ok the only thing i dont like is how he finished off at the end of the page I like how you floated the other and to marry them together you need to do the same, I think your done a fine job considering that reference, perhaps the shadows under the chin need to be a little less harsh they kind of cut off his head a bit and if you look at the reference the darks float in and out a bit more, hope this helps cheers

[lotsofsmoggies]

Looking good, if your bug bear is the fact your version of the dog isn't the same angle as the ref picture, does it really matter? You have a commission to draw the dogs and capture the likeness not make an exact copy of a rather daft reference picture.

Have you shown the owners the developing piece? Personally I'd just work towards bring out those eyes and defining the areas already mentioned.

[Artybo]

You have done a great job from a horrible reference. I agree with all of the above suggestions, especially bring out the eyes more.

[MJGresko]

I would add some color to some of those sticky hairs around its mouth. They are pretty standard on those type of dogs. When I get a bad reference photo and the dog is a purebred (which I think that one is) I look for other photos of the breed to help with coloring, etc.

[artbywendy]

thanks for the great tips and comments

[She-She]

Looking really good!!

[*AquaMarine*]

Hey Wendy - You've gotten some good suggestions here. Some I think is a matter of personal taste - unlike Outsidemywindow, I'm not a big 'floating heads' fan, altho I know it's done routinely. If I were going to tweak the painting, I'd extend the body of the dog on the right down and develop the one on the left a big more - looks very close to done, and I think you've done a fabulous job. Really lovely work!

ginny

[nickib]

You are not far off at all Wendy..... His black part is blacker, and his brown area around his mouth is browner, but you have done a very good job if you ask me Nicki

[GailT]

Looking closely at the work, I feel Wendy is intending to continue the other dog to the bottom of the painting? I like it so far! Gail