Why, oh why, am I even trying this? Painting a Black Dog

madmum · #1 09-12-2003, 06:03 AM

Have I gone completely mad??? Quite possibly!

A good friend sent me some photos with permission to paint from them if I got the urge. Sadly I did, but it wasn't one that I would normally choose.

I loved the photo of her BLACK labrador, Sally, passing the time on a narrowboat.

So I'm painting her as a present for my friend!

The photo:

And the start, pthalo blue (gs), FUB/perm. rose mixture wet in wet. Highlights masked with masquepen.

Trouble is, I can't see ANY colour in the fur. I have met Sally and she was blue/black so I'm going along that route.

Thanks for looking!

Ruth

**painterbear** · #2 09-12-2003, 06:07 AM

Ruth,

I can see why you would want to paint this, the light shining on the fur is exquisite, and the pose with her paw up on the railing and looking off to the left is really nice.

Not an easy painting to do for sure, but you can make it happen I'm sure. Will be following along very happily.

matingara · #3 09-12-2003, 06:29 AM

Wow! Great start and what a challenge! I see red/rose in the coat and a wide range of tones. I would incorporate the red/rose - but the again - i have not done figures - animals or human as yet. So I am prbably best ignored!

Joel.

jaytee · #4 09-12-2003, 06:39 AM

In answer to your question......

* because you are mad
* because you like a challenge
* because you are a lovely person & want to give your friend a pressie
* because you CAN

laudesan · #5 09-12-2003, 07:04 AM

Wooooooo Hooooooooooooo.......................

I am tagging along for this one

JJ

Jell · #6 09-12-2003, 07:08 AM

It's going to be really exciting watching this develop...

~~Jacqueline~~

madmum · #7 09-12-2003, 07:16 AM

Thank you Sylvia, Joel, Jaytee, JJ and Jacqueline (all those J's!!!! LOL)

Sylvia the pose was the clincher!

Jaytee, right on 2 counts anyway

Joel you do?? Maybe my monitor needs fixing because I just don't

I did spot some burnt sienna on the muzzle and paw though

I've concentrated on the head because if I get that wrong, there's little point doing the rest.

See anything wrong? (yes, will be adding small details later, and probably scratching back a few highlights at the end)

Ruth

laudesan · #8 09-12-2003, 07:20 AM

Oh My Ruth...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looking real good.....!!!!!!!!!

JJ

Crystal Owl · #9 09-12-2003, 07:26 AM

Great start Ruth, you can do it!

Irene

lynn_cyr · #10 09-12-2003, 07:48 AM

Ruth, this is looking terrific so far!! I must pay attention here, because he looks just like my dog!! (my Slater is also a Black Lab, and I've been meaning to paint him but never got the courage).

I can't wait to see the final piece!!

Lynn

Sue Irish · #11 09-12-2003, 08:06 AM

Good Morning Ruth,

The start of your lab is excellent. If I may be bold here, as a dog art gallery owner there are a few simple pointers that I might share.

I realize that you see both blue tones in the sheen of the coat and some burnt umber in the shadows along the ears. However, most dog people are very picky about the coloring of their animal. If they THINK their dog has a black coat they usually don't want to see other color tones in that coat. It can be difficult as an artist to balance between what you really see in the photo, what you sense of art tells you and what a client THINKS they see or should see in the finished painting.

As shadows take on the colors of the surrounding areas the blue casting may be from the background. Example, a thickly leafed tree will cast a slightly green shadow tone of the neighboring barn. So you blue may not be the coat but the background coloring.

This can be a real problem for dog artists, especially in the white and black coats, both of which are very reflective of the surroundings. Samoyeds are a great example. One of my first dog canvases was three sams running through a dark winter scene. Of course, as an artist, I picked up the blue gray tones of the snow and sky for some of the shadow coloring for the dog's fur. The first thing my client screamed was "MY DOG'S ARE WHITE!!!" All she could focus on was the touch of blue that I had added as she had no sense of shadowing.

So if you delete that blue backing, the blue along the porch rail you may need to add this color somewhere near your lab. Or you may need to keep the shading as close to the black as possible.

Just a thought. What you have posted so far is quite excellent!

Susan

Uschi · #12 09-12-2003, 08:14 AM

I am gob smacked impressed with your skill and your courage!!!!!!!!!!
Uschi

capricorne · #13 09-12-2003, 08:14 AM

It seems that you are on your way to a beautiful watercolorpainting....

Jan

Little Old Lady · #14 09-12-2003, 08:31 AM

Another J checking into to say what a great job you are doing on this.
JoAnn

madmum · #15 09-12-2003, 08:35 AM

JJ thank you again! Still working.....

Irene, I appreciate your confidence in me

Lynn, I hope this looks like a labrador when I've finished! I think she looks a bit too rough at the moment.

Susan, I really appreciate your advice! The problem with watercolour is that actual black paint is rather a dead colour, so I have to mix my "blacks" to give the fur as much life as possible. I admit that I'm inexperienced with animal portraits - this is the first living subject I've tried and as I said, I will gift it to my friend. If she doesn't like it, it will be a valuable lesson! I will use blue in the background though

Uschi, the word is MADNESS! lol

Jan, thank you

JoAnn, we cross-posted, thank you!

Latest stage:
Found a little more burnt sienna tone in her fur, worked on her body a bit.

Ruth

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