Suppose you are given a task to paint a portrait of your dog properly, and you have to do this from scratch without any input or prior experience in painting or art. This guide will help you get started in making a fantastic dog portrait that will be appreciated by many for many years to come.
Before you begin, it is essential to collect the supplies that will make it feasible for you to produce the dog portrait successfully. These will include different brushes, various oil paints, canvas, a pallet knife, and a pencil (for sketching, duh)
When making a portrait, the first step is to take many photographs of your dog in various positions. Make sure the pictures are in color. Lighting is the most crucial element of an all-embracing dog portrait. While taking the photos outdoors, make sure the dog faces the sun to avoid dark shadows across your photographs’ essential areas.
When shooting the pictures indoors, try to maintain a steady range of light throughout the room to check shadows. Experiment with various lighting conditions within the space you will use and adapt as necessary to stop bright flares and effects useless in the resulting portrait. Upon conclusion of the pre-shoot, see how and where your dog will pose. A casual picture is well worth considering, as it tries to capture the essence of a dog’s personality. Purchase a picture frame that will complement your completed dog portrait.
Once you have ideal portrait photographs in hand, you create a mock-up that will help you envision the final painting. Determine the background that will be most fitting for your portrait. The next step is to sketch the photographs and make sure that it is as detailed as possible. Mix and match the various pictures that you took during your photoshoot.
Design the first layer by spreading the canvas in paint while painting in the fur’s direction. At this stage, you should not worry much about color accuracy. When the first coat has drained out completely, apply a thin layer of liquid over the region, you will be painting the fur.
Now dip the large brush’s tip into the oil paint and start painting the first under-layer of fur and textures. When the first under-layer has thoroughly dried out, apply a thin layer of liquid over the painting. The next step is to get the picture to match the reference photograph and model your dog’s fur. After the paint has dried, cover the whole canvas with a thin layer of liquid.
Now go over the fur using light colors to shape the skin further. Use a mixture of the colors you have to create the desired color for your dog. After that, with the paint dried, again apply a thin layer of liquid over the area.
Begin to glaze the darker colors over the fur’s top to knock back the very light colors and add shadows and depth. Spend more time painting within sufficient detail and hair. Always remember to paint your fur starting from light to dark. Apply a light line of color to blend in the tip and root.
Work on the dog expression to ensure it resembles that in the picture. This is the most significant part of portrait painting, as people are likely to look at the facial expression more than any other aspect of your dog portrait.
It is time to make the final touches on your portrait. Work around the ears, on the eyes, and the edges of your image to produce an excellent and eye-catching finish. Let the picture dry out completely. When all is done, clean it up evenly and frame your dog portrait in a fitting picture frame.
