Bernese mountain dog--C&C please!

[lirael2008]

I did this portrait of a friend's dog for a gift. NuPastels and a bunch of different softer pastels (Sennelier, Unison, and Terry Ludwig primarily) on Canson Mi-Teintes 9 x 12" orange paper, rough side.

[DAK723]

This has a very nice loose, energetic quality! Well done!

One thing I would consider would be to "gray down" or neutralize the white fur on the chest. If you look at the photo, that area is completely in shadow. I think toning that down will help make it recede behind the muzzle and the ball.

Don

[equinespirit]

Lovely work on his eyes, I think I would make the ball a little rounder and maybe brighter too as per the ref so its clear what it is?

[lirael2008]

Thanks--I will tone down the chest fur and make the ball a little more defined. I was just worried about the ball becoming the focal point (was thinking it was the eyes), but I guess it is the logical one!

[aguiar11]

oh wow, those eyes are gorgeous...you get the warm, gentle, yet playful quality. The Bernese mountain dog is my dream dog so this struck a note in me. It conveys the personality so well.

One thing to consider: when I first looked at the pastel, I thought he was standing up. Yet, in the reference I see he's laying with his splayed in front of him. If you put a shadow in the area between his legs and darkened that ground, it might read more as laying down vs standing up. A minor thing, but the dull, light greens between the legs are very different from the warm vibrant greens to the left

[lirael2008]

Thanks, aguiar, for the feedback. I'll add more shadows and double-check the greens of the grass background. Good call!