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| As you can see, I am using a reference photo. No matter how hard I try, MaLee refuses to pose long enough for me to paint her portrait.She prefers the quick camera shots! I have my sketch in, and decided to add the background color first. Most of the time I wait on the background color, either at least half-way through my painting, or until the very end. But, today I've decided to add in the background color first because of the bright color I've chosen, helping me to keep my other colors on the brighter side. At times we may feel that the background color helps us to build up the rest of our painting. It all depends on how you feel. If you aren't sure, or just beginning to paint, wait on your background color. Later, the correct colors for the background will come to you! |
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| Here I've added in a layer of her blue, blue eyes (exactly what drew me in to rescue her), as well as her petite nose, and of course, the dark under-painting areas. They are made up of a mixture of Alizarin Crimson red and French Ultra-marine blue, thinned with some odorless turp. |
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| Note that I have placed some of the eye color under her neck area. When I start adding in her light coat colors, the blue will be there to add a sort of shadowed effect. Always add several of your colors in more than one place, to create a way for the viewers eye to roam throughout the whole painting. A color here and there, with no link, will make a choppy painting effect and lose your viewer! |
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| I am building up her coat, not too light, not too much at once. I always allow my newest layer to dry before adding another one. If you don't do this, you will end up with a muddy mess. Oils = PATIENCE! |
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| Here is my completed painting. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me through this blog, or form my Etsy Shop, where I sell my work. I love taking custom orders, so feel free to send me any photos you have of your beloved pet, or one of a friend you've like to surprise with a forever treasured gift! Just click on the link below and it will take you directly to my shop. https://www.etsy.com/shop/SandraCutrerFineArt?ref=seller-platform-mcnav Wishing you many blessings for a wonderful week, Sandra Cutrer Fine Art  |
