Cat portrait in pastels

I have just started a new cat portrait commission. British Shorthair cat 'Chini' will be drawn in pastels on velour paper. The reference photo will be fun to work from - I love the pose!
Here's the outline:

Parson Russell Terrier puppy - portrait finished

Right, I have completed the dog portrait of a little Parson Russell terrier puppy held by a human hand. The hand was a bit of a challenge so I am very pleased how it turned out. It actually LOOKs like a hand! The dog's owner is over the moon with the portrait and is going to commission another 2 portraits. I have to say that I prefer velour paper to other types of pastel paper now, especially if it is white pets I'm drawing.

NO I haven't left the country! ;o)

I'm still here and promise I shall update my blog more often again. I have not been lazy - there's 3 birthday/anniversary surprise portraits that I have been working on (2 horses and 1 cat) . Oh and one horse that I can show. Here's the work in progress (pastels):

I have also been out and about with my camera - I love taking photos that I might use as reference photos in the future. Last week we went to a British Wildlife Centre - maybe I should show some of my favourite pix on my website. A lot of portrait artists I know are also good photographers - not surprising I guess!
Anyhow, I have also been drawing a pencil portrait of my favourite English actress - Dame Judi Dench. I saw her on stage in London last week (in 'Madame de Sade') and she is as wonderful as I'd imagined. The rest of the cast were great as well.
Seeing Dami Judi on stage had been a dream of mine for years and as we had really good seats (stalls, row D), it was the most mesmerising experience. It is true - there is nothing like a Dame! And certainly nothing like Dame Judi. So I've been trying to draw her - I don't draw humans very often and have to say always find it a challenge - but a welcome one, especially if I 'know' and like the person I'm drawing and know exactly how I want them to look on paper. I hope it turns out the way I'm hoping..and if I recognise the actress I love in my own work then I'll show you the result! ;o)
This is the pencil draft:

OK I'm actually hoping to finish it today. So do watch this space!

Still busy!

I'm still not able to show any work at this stage but I thought I'd let you know that I'm ok and still busy working on loads of Christmas commissions. I'm currently drawing a Trakehner horse, a Jack Russell Terrier and a German Shepherd - all in pastels. I was wondering whether to start a little 'me project' though that I could spend a few minutes on every day. I find it relaxing to work on a fun piece. So if I do start one, I'll be sure to show you WIP scans! ;o)

Pet portraits update

Just a quick update to let you know what I'm up to. I have got six Springer Spaniels to do at the moment, all in pastels so I'm quite busy drawing fur and curls! They are all Christmas presents so I'm afraid there won't be any scans at this point.

I have also been commissioned to draw another Friesian stallion in charcoal. As soon as I've started that one, I'll post a scan.

And a quick reminder: My special X-mas offer is running out tomorrow so if you do wish to secure a place on my Christmas list and get a discount, you need to contact me by tomorrow night. Not many spaces left so hurry!

Back to the Springers!

Rhodesian Ridgeback WIP

I have got some work done on the car but I have to say...it is hard work! The dreaded number plate still ahead...oh well, I'll get there! ;o)
I'm also working on a new dog portrait. It is a head study of a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback in pastels. Here's a scan of the work in progress:

Update on poodle portrait

I have made some progress on Rosie's portrait. Here's an update:

Double horse head study - WIP scans

I am able to show you some WIP scans of the double horse portrait after all! It is of a beautiful bay Dutch Warmblood mare. This is the pencil outline:

I have been working on the left hand head study (as always, working from left to right so that I don't smudge anything with my hand). As you can see below, the first few layers of pastel have been applied and I can now move on to the finer detail. I have done work on the eye, ears and muzzle...and will now spends some time adding more structure to the horse's nose and cheek. I'll keep you posted!

Thoroughbred foal full body portrait

A full body study for a change! This foal is a very young Thoroughbred X stallion and he is being drawn in pastels. Quite a small portrait on A4 but thanks to my new set of Faber Castell Pitt pastel pencils, even very fine detail can be achieved. Unlike other pastel pencils, these are not a problem to sharpen.

Oldenburg mare horse portrait finished

'Gina', the chestnut Oldenburg mare drawn in pastels, is now finished. Chestnuts are not easy to draw so I'm rather happy with the result.

Two cat portraits finished

I've just finished two cat portrait commissions, one of which I cannot show yet as it is a birthday present. However, the other one is the chartreux cat's pastel portrait. The ref wasn't brilliant so I am quite happy with the result. So is the client. :)

Cat portrait in graphite pencil

This one of several cat portrait commissions I've got lined up - 'Al Capone', a Chartreux / British Shorthair cat. He is 11 years of age and will be drawn in graphite pencils (head study) and pastels (full body).
This is the graphite portrait (work in progress):

New horse portrait - Welsh Cob gelding

While I can't show you the cat portrait I am currently working on (it's a present to the client's colleague), I can post a scan of a new horse portrait that I started drawing a couple of days ago. It's a three year-old dark bay Welsh Cob gelding called 'Ijsbrand'. He is being drawn in pastels and this is how far I've got:

Boxer portrait finished

I guess I haven't updated my blog in a few days... I basically pulled a muscle in my right shoulder which is rather painful so drawing/sitting at my pc has been a bit of a struggle. Oh well, getting there... I have managed to finish Gina's portrait though. The scan's a bit lighter than the original...the background is really a creamy/beige colour. Size is A4, pastels.

Shetland pony portrait started

Despite the lovely sunshine which made me want to go for a loooooooong walk today, I started working on the head study of a black Shetland pony mare called "Lisa". No charcaol this time - this one is being drawn in pastels.
If you look at the scan, you can see that drawing a black animal doesn't just mean using a black pencil. Far from it! You will only achieve a rich black if you apply lots of layers, starting with purple or blue.

Friesian stallions

I have just finished the portrait of Tsjerk and Feitse:

Next up is a Shetland pony mare in pastels and a group portrait of 4 Thoroughbreds. I'll keep you posted! :o)

Budgies on hand

I have now started working on a portrait of two budgies landing on their owner's hand. I have to say that I am not keen on drawing human hands but am determined to face the challenge and gain some confidence! I think I've made a good start. I do love drawing budgies (or 'parakeets' if you are from the States) as I've got two of my own called Teddy and Alfie. If you'd like to see some of my budgie portraits, click here.

As for this particular portrait, the reference photo isn't that brilliant (you can't really see the budgies' faces) but the photo means a lot to the owner, which is why she asked for it to be drawn.

The portrait is being drawn using mixed media - pastels and coloured pencils, which I find works very well as far as small drawings of birds are concerned.

I'll keep you posted! Wow, 3 posts in 3 days.... ;o)