I was walking the moors in August on a day that started clear but with the mist rolling in fast, which made the landscape look quite autumnal.
At first, we spotted just the occasional grouse, but the further we walked, the more birds scuttled out of bushes and ran away from us. They are quite well camouflaged. I wonder if you can spot the one in this painting?
This is the portrait of a chocolate labrador I painted towards the end of the summer and I am pleased with how it turned out.
People who know the dog have commented that it is a good likeness and particularly referred to the eyes as a true reflection of the dog's character.
On a practical level, when trying to achieve a likeness, it is not enough to focus on just painting the eyes correctly. Instead, the same attention must be paid to the attitude of the dog and all the apparently less important parts of the head, as they all contribute to an eventual likeness. This is why I finish the eyes last in my painting process (be it in humans or animals).
Portraits need reference photos with good lighting to be successful and I find natural light without strong shadows the most pleasing.
