Standard Poodle Portrait

This standard poodle portrait commission gave me the fun opportunity to use lots of thick, rich paint in the subject as well as the background. It is such a beautiful breed -- he already had a lot to offer the portrait: textures, expression and interesting features that translate well in a painting.

Trio
10 x 8 inches, Oil on canvas
Rita Salazar Dickerson

Stage 1: The sketch. I loosely painted in the features with contour lines that would be easy to follow. My goal was to capture the likeness of Trio at this stage which made the rest of the painting so much easier. It was time well spent.

Stage 2: Blocking in. It helped to squint my eyes as I looked at the subject at this stage so that I could simplify what I saw and block in all the major shapes and values with a relatively large brush.

Stage 3: Completing the portrait. From here on out it was time to let loose and enjoy the creative process.  Using lots of paint and coarse brushes I wanted to communicate to the viewer Trio's gorgeous coat and contrasting marble-like eyes. He was a joy to paint.

Dog Portrait Commissions: Stubby I and Stubby II

After studying the regal look and features of this beautiful German Shorthaired Pointer, I told my client I was going to give him the title of "Sir" Stubby. He has such a strong, confident look about him. (He was named Stubby because of the shape of his tail.)

"Sir" Stubby
8 x 10", Oil on canvas
Rita Salazar Dickerson

Stage 1: Drawing and blocking in (painting the first layer of shapes and values) the subject. With a thin wash of burnt umber paint and mineral spirits, I loosely drew in the shapes and features, using a soft cloth to erase and make adjustments.

Stage 2: Completing the portrait. For the second layer, I like to start with the eyes and then build the painting from there. The eyes become the focal point and well as my point of reference for the rest of Stubby's features.

Stubby has rich features, contrasts and color. I enjoyed painting his spots, keeping them clear but with soft edges. His sun bleached coat added reds and lighter browns to his coloring. Once I felt like Stubby was close to completion I painted in the background of blues and browns to visually give the painting a sense of cohesiveness.

"Sir" Stubby II

I was fortunate to receive two portrait commissions of Stubby. This second portrait features him in an outdoor setting with the lighting enhancing Stubby's darker coat. (The reference photo I used was taken at a different time period from his first portrait). Stubby looks free and full of energy, as though he stopped running in the fields just long enough to have his photo taken.

Stage 1: Drawing and blocking in the subject and creating the composition. Working a landscape into the composition made this an interesting challenge. I didn't want the background to over power the dog. I intentionally kept the edges soft.

"Sir" Stubby II

8 x 10", Oil on canvas

Rita Salazar Dickerson

Stage 2: Completing the portrait. Putting Stubby in the great outdoors makes this portrait unique from the first one. Having his mouth open also sets this one apart. I enjoyed painting in the fall colors and hints of water from a creek. The gold flecks in his eyes reflects the color around him. The browns and golds throughout the painting tied the colors in to each other.

As usual, I am always pleased when I have completed a commission(s) but just a little bit sad too.

Painting A Dog Portrait: Skeet

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace."
                                                                                                                            - Milan Kundera

Skeet
10 x 8", Oil on canvas
Rita Salazar Dickerson (c) 2014

Stage 1: The drawing. With a thin wash of mineral spirits mixed with burnt umber, I used a #2 brush to paint in the lines (freehand) of Skeet.

Stage 2: Blocking in the underpainting. With a larger, #8, filbert brush, I blocked in this first layer of paint, paying attention to the shapes without the details. And then I started the background.

Stage 3: Painting the background. With lots of thick paint on my flat brush, I lavishly applied the blues and touches of brown to the background. 

Stage 4: Completing the painting. Skeet had a lot of fun features to paint. Plus, there was drama with his white hair around his eyes and snout. I used plenty of paint to enhance his tousled hair but really, Skeet is a character all unto himself. To see him is to love him.

Dog Portrait: Diesel

I would like you to meet Diesel, my most recent portrait commission. When I was asked to paint Diesel, I had no idea what he looked like but the minute I saw him, I knew he was going to be a fun painting project. Diesel gave me so much to work with. Long hair. Scruffiness. Personality. And eyes that see right through you.

Diesel 
10 x 8", Oil on canvas
Rita Salazar Dickerson (c) 2014

Stage 1: Sketching Diesel. With a thin mixture of Burnt Umber and mineral spirits, I used a #2 brush to capture Diesel's image. His head was slightly tilted so I had to make sure everything lined up correctly.

Stage 2: Blocking in the shapes. Working with three values, I applied a thin layer of paint for the underpainting, paying close attention to Diesel's features.

Stage 3: Painting the eyes.

Stage 4: Painting the nose.

Stage 5: Adding darker values.

Stage 6: Blocking in the background. I chose a warm orange as my underpainting for the background to compliment Diesel's hair color.

Stage 7: Completing the background.  To match the shine in Diesel's nose, using a coarse brush, I applied lots of thick, light blue paint which added drama to the background. I carefully allowed bits of the orange to show through as I placed wet paint onto wet paint.

Stage 8: Completing the painting. With a palette knife and brush I applied the the paint liberally to capture Diesel's magnificent hair which in turn added great texture and personality to an already charming face.