Tortoiseshell Cat Custom Pet Portrait in pastels

This long haired cat has a beautiful tortoiseshell coat which was very fun to draw. Aptly named "Two-Face", it's easy to see why.
This is one of two portraits I am creating for a client. 

 

"Two Face" 

Long-haired tortoiseshell cat

11x14

pastels

Sold

Yellow Labrador Dog Pet Portrait commission

When I first saw the reference image I was using for Ollie's portrait I thought oh, how much FUN it was going to be to draw this pose! One can't help but smile looking at Ollie's charming face as she stares right back at you.
This portrait was commissioned to remember all the joy that Ollie brought to the lives of her human family.

Ollie

Yellow Labrador Retriever

Pastel

11x14

commission

Akita dog portrait using pastels

I'm having so much fun painting this commission of an Akita frolicking in the snow! After I completed most of the facial features, I added the snow background/foreground before I can finish up the fur around the outline of the dog.

I hope you enjoy watching the progress of my pet portraits...

A portrait begins with the eyes...the window to the soul!

  I am often asked, when working on a piece, if I start with the eyes on my paintings and the answer is almost always "yes".  Now you may ask why do I start with the eyes when creating a portrait? There are a few reasons:

   Firstly, I want to feel connected to the subject and since the eyes are "the window to the soul", I am able to see the spirit and character early on which helps me render a realistic representation.

    Secondly, I don't particularly like staring at blank ghostly orbits as the rest of the subject comes to life. It's like I'm staring at a ghostly figure with no emotion.

   Thirdly, once I am satisfied I have rendered the eyes to convey the subject's unique character and charm, it gives me confidence that I can truly achieve a good likeness. It just has to look like the client's pet and of course, they have to be in love with it too!

 

You can follow the progress of this and many other portraits on my official facebook page and website 

Reflections from my studio

Although I did not achieve all I had planned for 2014, it was still a memorable year. Many wonderful opportunities arose...I explored Panama for 3 weeks, taught workshops for adults and teens (Visionart), established new relationships with several galleries, sold quite a few original paintings and prints from my inventory, worked with old and new clients as I created commissions for them, and met some wonderful people who've inspired me to never give up! Thank you all and I welcome 2015 with open arms, embracing the new adventures and opportunities that await...

Portrait of Belgian Malinois Painting in Pastel

As promised, here is the finished and client approved version of the Belgian Malinois dog portrait using pastels.

After sketching the outline and major features of the dog, I worked the top half of the background first.  Then I started with the ears and worked my way down the dog's face. The last part was adding the darker green on the lower half of the background.

You can follow the work in progress on my website

"Zorro"

Belgian Malinois

pastel

9" x 12"

COMMISSION

Commissioned painting of a dog in pastel

After completing a dog drawing commission, I am busy with this new painting of a handsome malinois.

Some of you might wonder how come I haven't started with the eyes?  I felt that I'd rather begin laying in the messy background first (from the top) then working my way down the ears.  I'll most likely tackle the eyes next only because I hate looking at a ghostly figure for too long. 

Garden flowers background for dog portrait

Here are two progression shots of the background work for this dog portrait. Having the dog sitting in front of this particular garden is very important to the client since both have great sentimental value. Huge Annabelle hydrangea bushes and giant Hosta lilies make up the vegetation in this particular garden plot and will contrast well against the black coat of this cherished companion.  

The composition below is actually the combination of two different photographs combined together.

Flatcoated Retriever Pet Portrait

Here's a bit more work I've been doing on the backdrop for this wonderful garden setting.  The black dog will stand out well against the greenery and interspersed flowers.

By the way, this dog is said to be a cross from a setter/dalmatian/flat coated retriever. Quite the perfect model she is!

Progress on Golden Retriever Portrait

I have been busy layering more fur this afternoon, and I re-visited the eyes as mentioned in my last post. There is so much more work to be done but at least, it is beginning to look more and more like the subject!

Update on Pet Portrait of Golden Retriever

Equine art on the easel

Many  layers of pastel were needed to create the dappling effect on this horse neck. I will most likely go back and tone down several areas...or not...I'll  have a better idea once the chest area is completed. Stay tuned!

 

Golden Retriever Painting commission in progress

Finding the correct colors to paint a golden's coat accurately can be challenging. For example, the light source and reflections from surrounding objects and the environment will affect how the dog's coat color appears in a photograph and in real life. To complicate things further, the genetic variability of the retriever's coat can make one golden appear redder while another to look almost white. 

While it can be next to impossible to match exactly all the tones and subtleties on any animal's coat, it will be easier to accomplish if you have a wide array of pastel colors at your disposition. The more pastel sets you have, and from different manufacturers, the better!

So let's have a look at what I have so far...

Soft Pastel on Sandpaper Workshop

Last weekend, I presented a 2-day workshop for members of the Rayside Balfour Whitewater Lake Brush and Palette Art Club. During the workshop, I demonstrated the techniques that I use for creating my pastel portraits with sandpaper as the support. Judging from their facial expression, I presume they were quite happy with their results.

 I was told that the participants enjoyed themselves so much that they requested I return early next year to teach them how to work pastel on suede and velour papers! I am delighted that my workshops encourage other artists to give pastel a try.... and it seems I have many of them hooked on the medium and thirsty to learn more about this versatile and enduring medium.

Keep on Painting!

Colette

Border Collie Portrait in pastel

It seems I forgot to post an update of this finished pet portrait commission; my apologies to my followers!!

This charming and playful dog is actually a border collie/German shepherd cross. As a pup, she was rescued after being hit by a vehicle and suffered a broken leg. When she was well enough to be adopted, she was lucky to have found a very loving home in Minnesota (her new owner drove over 14 hours to get her).

Now that she is all grown up, her owner wanted to portray the boundless energy, charisma and charm of her best friend with this unique portrait. Believe it or not, a total of 5 photos were used to create this composition, which included replacing the head on the body with one from another photo.

 I hope you enjoyed watching this portrait develop as much as I enjoyed creating it.

"Izabel"
Border Collie/German Shepherd Portrait
18" x 14"
pastel

Sphynx (Hairless) Cat Painting in Pastel

Title: Teeky

Medium: Pastel

Support: Archival Suede Board

Size: 8" x 10"

COMMISSION

read more about this cat portrait on my website: http://www.colettetheriault.com/descriptions/petdescriptions/Sphinx_Cat_Painting.php

Step 3-Sphynx cat portrait in progress

Most of the detail on the cat's face is complete in this stage. I'll probably go back to the face and touch up here and there and then defining the wrinkles under her chin and throat. So finishing up the wrinkles and adding the rest of the coat will be my next step.

Well, it's lights off in the studio for today...let's hope I have the chance at another sitting tomorrow to finish off this unusual portrait.

Step 2-Sphynx cat portrait in progress

Here's more on the hairless cat portrait that is currently on my easel.

Before I continue to add the details on the cat's face I will complete the ears and top of the head.

Cat Portrait On The Easel

Here's the start on my newest commission; a special breed of exotic cat. I've included the original reference photograph below.

It should be easy enough to recognize the hairless or Sphynx breed.

Dog Portrait step 3

If all goes well, I should have this portrait finished in the next sitting!

Dog Pet Portrait step 2

After a tiring but fun weekend at my art show, I am now able to concentrate on completing my Christmas portrait commissions. Here's the next step on this dog drawing.

I'll be posting some photos of the exhibit hall where the art show took place as soon as I am caught up on my work!