belgian tervuren

[kasey1]

gee, i'm glad this one (i think) is done. no finish on it yet, i'm in the "living with it' stage so can still make changes.

9x12 acrylic on masonite.

[crafor]

He's wonderful, with the full mane and the mask. Love the colors, the silvers, the mahoganys. Mine is a Groen, and her eyes are soft. Your boy's eyes make him look so fierce. Is that common with the Tervs?
Crafor

[kasey1]

Crafor, i had a malinois years ago, also a groen also. this terv belongs to a friend, i took the photo about a year ago so just trying to duplicate the photo. have sent photo of the painting to owner to see what she thinks. it's a bitch by the way.

[kasey1]

i could say that i only used 4 colors for the whole thing plus a retarder to make a few glazes.

i'm wondering about the grizzle/gray on the muzzle............?

[kasey1]

here's the reference photo, looking at it i could make the eyes more brown than raw sienna..........?

[Five]

My favorite - I've had 3 of them, 2 groens and a mal.
I was wanna-be breed and show, but didn't get that far.

I think you should make his eyes darker.
I have never seen them that light.and not at all to the red color.
You are going to darken the inside of his ears aren't you?
I'd tone down the gray on his muzzle, while he might have that much, it kind of jumps out at you here.

Otherwise - Really Nice! Very good job on the fur. I'd say difficult to do in acrylic.

[kasey1]

thanks, five. this is why i haven't called it finished and why it is here -- to get comments.

i had my malinois when there were less than 100 in the US, he was the first breed champion outside of kennel made champions. he also had a CDX and 1 leg on his UD, sired 8 champions with 4 of those having UD titles, at that time he was 2nd only to his sire who had 12 champions (kennel made except for mine).

[Five]

You had a mal when there were less than 100?
That had to be a long time ago...?
I go my first groen in 1956. Before that I was breeding and showing Shelties.
I saw Rudy's Belgians at a Chicago show and fell hopelessy in love with the breed.

I look forward to seeing more of your work.
This terv is one beautiful dog. I like the heavy shading in the coat. He has really dark eyes.

[crafor]

Mira's eyes show as darker brown, but lighter, I think, than "allowed". I have seen only 3 Tervs IRL, and looked at a few pictures to check on the white in the ears. Apparently some have that, including, according to the reference, that girl. Karen, I guess that it was the fierceness that makes him look (to me) like a male. Yes, I agree, the eyes are too red. As to the muzzle, Mira's is turning gray. So, though I really don't like to see it, it happens.
In the side by side comparison, I think the dark gray is too dark--it may be how it shows on my computer. I also see that the mask is too dark. It must be my computer. This is so well done, I'm sure your coloring is spot-on, too.
I hope I can do half as well with Mira's portraits. You've done a wonderful job.
Your friend will be pleased.
Crafor

[kasey1]

yeah, brig was born 1971.

i've changed the eye color to more like the photo, don't know why i went with what i did. it did soften the expression quite a bit. :-)

my reference photo i printed light so i could see into the darker areas so i'm hoping the level of color in the painting more closely matches Elsie herself.

[nickib]

I have never seen one of these before....Just lovely though. Great job on his fur!!!

[chammi kaiser]

Also think this is a beautiful animal and you have done a superb job on the fur. I think the reason why the eyes are looking so fierce is because the pupils are too large and dark and the eyes too light. Otherwise with a little work on the muzzle, this is going to be superb. I am sure your friend will be absolutely delighted.