Pitty

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Artwithmycoffee

I am struggling with this one. I really liked the photo but I am not happy with the painting yet. I think I really dislike the background color, and I also think that the head is too dark. I have tried to adjust him at least once but not feeling that it was successful. I think I need to go back and try again. Really, what have I got to lose if I don’t like it anyway?

I actually find that at this point in a painting, I can actually learn a lot. Once I am not concerned about ruining something I already dislike, I am willing to take more risks. This is a good time to learn.

Proud Larry

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Artwithmycoffee

These sweet little terriers are full of life and enthusiasm. This guy is no exception and he seems to exude his self confidence here. Almost seems to be saying, look at how handsome I am! They are very fun to paint!

Scruffy

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Artwithmycoffee

I think it is so fun to paint shaggy dogs. They can be challenging at times, but overall, I just think they are fun. They tend to look a bit more comical…maybe that’s why I like them. This particular one went together very quickly. I don’t think I even had to do any preliminary drawing on this one.

Sophie & Pearl

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Artwithmycoffee

These are my best friends’ dogs. They are very cute and well behaved. I have had this photo for quite a while just waiting for the right time to do it. I have several others of them, as well, that I will be doing. They are good subjects for practice. This is one of my favorite pet portraits so far.

Maggie

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Artwithmycoffee

This was done for my niece. It was actually one of the more difficult pets I have done. It was difficult to find a photo of her that was detailed enough to paint from. I think it turned out cute, especially with the little dinosaur toy. The background is an interesting thing, I never know what color to use. The panel was underpainted with light red and when I put ochre over it, it came out this orangy tone, which I sort of liked. It wasn’t what I was going for but I thought it worked well, so I left it. I guess it is a good example of one of those happy accidents.

Mable

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Artwithmycoffee

This girl is relaxing contentedly on her cushion. I’m sure it is only after hours of rambunctious play that she finally gave in to a rest. It seems like those eyes are even now, thinking about what sort of play may be up next.

This wiry coat can be tricky to paint. I found myself just the slightest bit frustrated in the process. It takes many layers to build up the depth of color in all those hairs. It can seem like one will never get the final stages. But the end results are worth the effort. Many different colors can be seen. It is especially nice in the sunlight.

Bruno

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Artwithmycoffee

Like most Bulldogs, this guy is just full of attitude! It was fun to paint his wrinkles and that piercing eye. It sort of looks like he is saying, ‘you want a piece of me!’ It certainly seems like the most important part of painting animals is the eyes. A painting can be out of proportion and if the eyes speak to you, then you may get away with it. Hopefully the proportions are correct as well, but I’m just trying to make a point…the eyes are very important.

Buddy the Frenchie

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Artwithmycoffee

This is a painting that was a little experimental. I used a black and white photo to try to make myself focus more on using warm vs. cools depending on where they were in relation to the light. It was actually quite helpful. I look forward to doing it more. I don’t want to just copy a picture, but use it as a guide to be more creative.

What a Head!

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Artwithmycoffee

Bloodhounds are such a distinguished looking breed. Doesn’t he look stately! I guess to some they are ugly, but I think they are beautiful! To be honest, I wouldn’t own one, but I do think they are very beautiful, and to think of just how powerful those noses are with all those wrinkles and floppy ears helping to trap the scent for them…fascinating to me ( =

Cricket

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Artwithmycoffee

This beautiful girl is my sister’s dog. It took me a while to get a good picture of her, but I think this one worked very well. She had just been groomed and is looking her very best. She has such big, warm eyes.

Art with my Coffee

art, oil painting, watercolor, landscape, still life, pet portrait

Category Archives: animals