Long haired cat portrait pastel painting commission

I really enjoy drawing or painting fur and this kitty's coat provided hours of enjoyment! This commissioned kept me on my toes...the short fur on the face and muzzle and the long clumps and strands of fluffy wavy fur, some of it going in every which direction, oh, and of course the coat color are what made this project so interesting. 

Another refreshing challenge was having to create a profile pose which is not something clients usually chose since they like to look into their fur-baby's eyes as they gaze back at the viewer. 

The following pose is the third in a series of commissioned portrait by the same client. If you want to view the other portraits of  "Two Face", the tortoiseshell cat, simply jump to the posts here: 

https://petportraitsbycolette.blogspot.ca/2018/02/tortoiseshell-cat-pet-portrait-pastel.html

and

https://petportraitsbycolette.blogspot.ca/2018/02/tortoiseshell-cat-custom-pet-portrait.html

 

"Two Face"

Tortoiseshell cat portrait

pastels

8"x8"

SOLD

Bichon Frise dog portrait (painting) commission

As I was working on this portrait my heart started melting as soon as I was done drawing this dog's expressive eyes. What a darling little face!! I'm so lucky to have the best job in the world!!

It is always my goal to achieve the most accurate likeness and expression of each and every commissioned portrait I create. I'm very happy to say that the clients were "over the moon" when they saw the final piece... despite the fact it also brought tears to their eyes. I was told that Scooby had recently passed on the the rainbow bridge.  I understand fully how loosing a beloved pet is hard to take, loosing my faithful gal only a year ago today. But time heals the wounds and we learn to move on...forever left with their paws on our heart!

Here are a few more steps showing the progress of the soft pastel portrait, with the final image at the bottom.

"Scooby"

Bichon Frisé

8"x10"

soft pastels

commission

Tortoiseshell Cat Pet Portrait Pastel Painting Commission

When I was contacted to commission this cat's portrait, I was sent several photographs and asked to choose the best ones. I then created two mock ups so the client could decided on a pose. They loved the two poses so much and so decided to get both done! 

This is the second commissioned artwork featuring the gorgeous "Two Face". You can see her full body pose here in a previous post.


For this piece, I used mainly soft pastel pencils along with a bit of NuPastels (mostly the black as it is one of the deepest blacks that I can find in a pastel). I did  a lot of layering and fine detailing but it was well worth the effort in the end as I am very pleased with the results.  I love this pose so much that it will be featured on my next business cards. 

I am told that Two Face has a rebellious side.. like a naughty teenager! She's quite the colorful character, both in physical appearance and in spirit! Here she is:

'Two Face"

Long haired tortoiseshell cat

Pastel

8"x10" 

Sold

Work in Progress of Tortoiseshell Cat Portrait

A LOT of detailing work goes into each of my portraits. I always tell my clients that the better the reference image, the easier it is for me to reproduce a realistic looking portrait of their pet. However, finding good photos is not always possible and so in those instances I can work with several not-so-good photos and along with client feedback, I have always been able to achieve a pleasing and realistic portrait of their pet. 

Keep in mind however that clear, close up shots taken in natural light make the best reference images. For more information on how to choose or take your pet's photo for a portrait, you can read the following useful article I wrote: Tips for Taking Quality Photographs .

Stay tuned to watch the final progression of this cat pastel portrait in my future post.

 Thanks so very much for following!

Commissioned Cat drawing in progress

I'm really thrilled at the opportunity to draw not only one but two customs portraits of this delightful long haired tortoiseshell cat!
I love to share my works in progress and I always get good feedback from them by followers and subscribers.
In this stage of the pastel portrait, I'm adding the fur on the side of the face and I find it much easier to rotate the panel to achieve nice flowing strokes. I also rotate my reference photo so that it is easier for my brain to better see the direction of the fur as I am working. I prefer to use an iPad as I can easily zoom in and out and move the screen around my work area.
You can see much of my daily postings on my Animal Artistry FB page  and more work on my website www.colettetheriault.com

Golden Retriever dog Portrait Time Lapse Painting Progression Video

Thought you might enjoy watching how this custom pastel portrait of a golden retriever dog was created.
The portrait was commissioned by a client who wanted to surprise their spouse for all the hard work they do.
You can also view many more of my painting demonstration and progression videos on my YouTube channel and even subscribe for free!

Click here to view more videos on my channel

Christmas pet portrait commission of Pit Bull Terrier dog

With my solo show just around the corner, I have been quite busy in the studio creating new works and neglecting to update my blogs and website...I will try to post paintings more often as I have many to share with you!!
So today, I thought I'd share a secret commission that I completed last year for a client. It was given as a Christmas present for their spouse.  The dog portrait was done using pastels on suede panel and it took many hours of layering to get the details just right. Isn't she a real sweetie??

"Duchess"

Pit Bull Terrier

pastel

11x14

COMMISSION

Golden Retriever Portrait; commission painting in pastel





Portrait artists oftentimes have to make due with less than desirable photographs to work from when creating a painting.  This can lead to frustration or artists' refusal to work with such images.  I often have to work with such images and while I admit I've had my share of frustrations, it forces me to use my artistic judgement rather than solely rely on a photograph. Of course, I always take the client's feedback into consideration, as they sometimes guide me in the process, and as long as they are happy with the likeness of their pet, it was worth the effort on my part.

 

Here is the latest dog portrait just off my easel, and recently approved by the client.  It gives me great pleasure to be able to create a lasting memory that the owner can treasure and remember their beloved pet.

 

 

"Dixie"
Golden Retriever
Pastel
18" x 24"





reference image 4" x 6"



Update on Pastel Painting of Dog Portrait

My favorite fur type to paint is probably that of Shelties and dogs with similar coats but the layering is very time consuming!  The way the subject poses and how the fur lays on this dog's coat makes for an interesting composition and a great exercise at patience.

I hope you enjoy watching the progress of this pastel portrait as the dog seems to poke it's way through the paper. Thank you for following!

Pet Portrait of Shih Tzu in Pastel

After finishing the chair late last night, I sent a scan to the client and this morning I had received confirmation via email of the approval of the portrait. Watch for my next painting on the easel coming soon!


Shih Tzu Portrait
Medium: pastel
Size: 10.5" x 8.5"

Shih Tzu portrait step 2

At this stage, I have completed the first dog in the pose. You will notice as the painting progresses that the larger dog's fur is shaved down while the smaller pup sports her long coat.

I color corrected the scan to better reflect the actual portrait.

Pet portrait painting in pastel

Here is my latest pet portrait commission work on the easel...two adorable little shih tzus posing for their owner! Portrait size is 8x10 and I am working on ochre colored suede. Better images to come...

Tabby Cat commission

Oh, how I LOVE my new pastel storage taboret! I feel like my studio is so much more organized and easier to work in. The only drawback is that all the drawers are full...

Switching from different mediums can be challenging but can also offer a refreshing break.

Here's what's on my agenda for this week; a brown tabby cat portrait in pastel that has very recently passed away. The client informs me that she was almost 18 years old which is very old for a house cat. Unlike the thousands of cats living in shelters and on the streets, she was one of the lucky few that was adopted. Please spay/neuter your pets and consider adopting your best friend from your local shelter.

Pug Portrait Painting in Pastel

While it is not often that I can complete a portrait in one day and be satisfied with it, I am hoping that the client approves this one so that I can move on to my next project of another "furry" nature....details to come soon!

"Mic" ~pug
pastel on suede
7" x 5"

Dog portrait progress

I am so excited to have started working on the second dog! While the coat color is different than the lab, it does provides me with the opportunity to apply a different technique to recreate the fur thus avoiding monotony.
 The texture and pattern on the sofa will probably be the most challenging aspect of this piece so I reserve that for last. I have included the reference photo so that you can see the transformation of the "flash eye" effect that ruins so many pet photos. I did use a few other reference photos of the dog that were taken outside in natural light (showing much better eye detail) to help me capture the likeness of his eyes.

Framed portrait of "Captivation"

She's now hanging on my wall in a gorgeous solid wood frame that my husband built from scratch for me! For those who are into woodworking and would like to view our step by step article on how to make your own custom wood frame, please visit my website at http://www.colettetheriault.com/descriptions/Articles/Buildownframes.php

Step 4 of Boxer Portrait

I'm entering the final stretch of the portrait with one more update left before I call it complete! On the next step, I'll be finishing the fur of the neck below the collar and smoothing out the edge of the neckline so that it softly blends into the background.

White cat painting-update

Click image to view full size:

Here is a slightly "larger than life" image of my latest commission. This cat pastel painting was done on white Hahnemuhle velour paper. The original portrait shown below is too white so I decided to have the light source coming from the side to create a shadow on the face.

I really enjoyed creating this piece as it was the first time I used white velour paper and I was anxious to try it. I could have also used a light grey paper instead of the white.

White cat portrait in pastel

A small commission measuring 5" x 7" that I am currently working on. I am using white velour paper and NuPastel "medium" pastel sticks.

Pastel Portrait of Bernese Mountain Dog

A commissioned portrait of a most beautiful dog! Just click on the link below to see a larger detailed view and for a complete description.

http://www.colettetheriault.com/descriptions/petdescriptions/Bernese_Mountain_dog_pastel_pet_portrait.php