I was approached with several potential photo references by my client for this portrait of Charlie. While the one I chose was not particularly sharp in detail, it revealed an alert and regal pose and a good sense of light on the fur. I felt I could create a nice formal style portrait for the client.
I used a grid method to create my drawing. A photoshop application was used to overlay a grid on the reference. I created my own gridded paper enlarged to the final 12 x 16 size to aid in the placement of the key features. The genius of this process is that no line in the drawing can be less accurate than the limitations imposed by the grid since the artist’s lines are drawn within the limits of each square. It is most important that the placement, size and shape of the eyes and other key features be as accurate as possible. The eyes make the painting. With great care taken to check and double check the accuracy, I can then sketch in the form by placing shadows. This is the stage in which it is essential to check carefully and correct and work out all the features that help create the likeness that is essential for a portrait, animal or human.
In the next phase, I sketch in oil paint thinned with a good amount of mineral spirits. Using thinned paint allows corrections to be easily made in the final phase of applying pure oil paint or oil mixed with medium. As I proceed with each layer the paint used is progressively thicker paying close attention to the color temperature and value.
My plan for this portrait was a dark green background lit with subtle warm light from an unseen reflected light that suggests the backlit effect on the fur. Of note, the strands of hair falling from the ear take on a cooler, grayish tone against the lighter and warmer tones that are showing through from the back. Also note the difference in each eye. The closer eye holds your attention occupying a center position and is rendered in strong, deep tones with contrast and detail. The more distant eye is rendered with softer edges and grayer tones. This was intentional to augment the feeling of depth. And while it is subtle and difficult to see, the same principle was used in the fur: more detail in the center of the image and softer, lost edges toward the bottom of the painting. In my view, the bright lit edges helped make this painting a big success.
“Charlie”
12 x 16 Oil on canvas board
Excellent and thorough blog entry, Kathy! The portrait of Charlie is beeee-u-ti-ful ! Most people have no idea about the process an artist like you must work through in order to portray accuracy of all the details. You have explained it very well! Kudos!