New portraits

Hi everyone!
Here's an update. I'm working on two pastel commissions - one of a dachshound X and the other of a Briard and rabbit. I'll show some scans soon.
Also, I've decided to get more 'serious' with watercolours so got myself a set of Windsor & Newton wcs and have gone through my 'reference photo' folder for pix I'd like to paint. Inspired by a lady on Wet Canvas who has done wonderful watercolours of Exmoor ponies, my first wc will be of an Exmoor foal. I took the picture myself last year at Knepp Castle (there's a small herd of Exmoors roaming the grounds). This is the pencil draft:

First ever watercolour painting!

Now I am really excited about this! I am working on my first ever watercolour painting.

All my life - from the day I was able to hold a pencil - I have loved drawing. Yet I hardly ever liked art lessons at school as we would never actually draw but always work with watercolours...and I just couldn't do it - or thought I couldn't. My teacher didn't see my talent - just told me off for being messy with the paint and water and that kind of put me off 'painting' for about 20 years. However - knowing a lot of other pet portrait artists who create wonderful paintings with watercolours has inspired me and I am determined to face and conquer the negative feelings I have for painting. In fact, I have already made a start: I chose the photo of a polo pony that I took the other week. And guess what: I am enjoying it loads! I mean I don't really know what I'm doing but when I first started using pastels, I didn't either. I am looking forward to doing some more work on it today although I should really be working on the poodle and a pastel portrait of a girl and her horse. By the way, I have finished the portrait of Benji the Collie, just need to take a decent photo later. So maybe I can have some more 'me time' and get my watercolours out again...yay! And maybe at some point I'll be able to offer this medium to my clients as well. :o) Here's a scan of what I've done so far - not too bad, is it? ;o)