Sassy, a poodle/rat terrier mix (Ratty) was a great challenge on how to show a salt and pepper coat. I chose to go with a line and wash style, using Micron pens and then Daniel Smith watercolors over that.
I always start with eyes. If I can’t get those right, I start over because nothing will work right from that point forward. The owner was thrilled with the eyes, so we got a win! The Rat Terrier is strong in this girl, and she is smart as a whip.
I am beginning to work on larger scale portraits. This is Shira. An adorable puppy training to be a therapy dog. I opted for no ink on this little floof of sweet cotton candy. Even on her eyes, which are big black buttons, yet with a sense of depth.
She is in constant motion and putting ink into the mix would stop that motion, in my mind. She has no hard, defined edges. Such a sweetheart. Her personality and temperament is perfect for a little girl who will be bringing smiles to people’s faces her whole life.
Mostly Daniel Smith and some Qor watercolors were applied with a size 10 and 12 brush.
She was a pleasure to paint.
A memorial commission for a sweet show dog. This is why I do this – honoring the memories.
I am finally getting caught up on my Inktober pet portraits, interrupted by some final ornament orders. This is Fergus, joining Boo (who was completed in October) on their trip to the East Coast, compliments of the US Postal Service.
This little sweety is headed to Canada. This may be the floofiest white texture I have worked with in ink.
Work and then a spate of travels pretty much sucked up the first part of my year. But I am getting back into the flow of completing commissions.
Something I have been doing with these inked pet commissions is asking for donations to a favorite local dog rescue where we have gotten our dogs in the past.
These rescues are suffering during covid times, so every little bit helps. I appreciate those who are donating this way! Makes me feel good.
The last of Inktober this year closes out with the pet portraits.
Throughout Inktober I salted in the images of pets from friends and people I know as a part of the joy it gives me to give back to others, and at the same time, it was a fun exercise in pet portraiture and practicing values and shading. The above image is one of the spaces in the house that allowed me to enjoy the portraits throughout Inktober. I am missing them now that I have packaged them up to mail off.
Here is the entire set of the individual pet portraits, including a few I have already shared. I have 4 more ink portraits that have been requested which will be done after some Christmas orders are complete.
My friend, Isaac, submitted this pet photo, which gave me a challenge with German Shepherd form and fur!
Flexing My Wings 