Backdrop for Dog portrait painting in progress

In this step I added several layers of pastel to create the blurred out background for this portrait. Four different shades of green were used for the grass, (three shades on top of each other) with a solid color for the darker band or greenery across the very top. I may still go back at the very end and soften the background more.

 

Now that the background is pretty much done, I will be able to go back and add the final layer of  fringe fur around the golden retriever's head and complete the fur on the rest of her body.