Saturday, December 29, 2012

Progress on the Golden Retriever portrait painting in pastel

Today, I've almost completed the Retriever's body fur; having only part of the legs and feet to do before I continue to fill in the grass.

In the next update, I should have begun working on the second dog in this portrait commission.

Dog portrait in pastel update by Colette Theriault


Golden Retriever Dog portrait painting in pastel by Colette Theriault
 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Backdrop for Dog portrait painting in progress

In this step I added several layers of pastel to create the blurred out background for this portrait. Four different shades of green were used for the grass, (three shades on top of each other) with a solid color for the darker band or greenery across the very top. I may still go back at the very end and soften the background more.
 
Now that the background is pretty much done, I will be able to go back and add the final layer of  fringe fur around the golden retriever's head and complete the fur on the rest of her body.
 
Golden Retriever Dog Portrait Painting in progress

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Golden Retriever Portrait painting update

You might notice on this update that the dog's left eye has changed position slightly. After looking at them over and over again and observing the image in the mirror, it was apparent that a touch up was in order.

The colors are much richer in real life than on the update below which was taken with a camera.  I reserve the final scan and color adjustment for the last update as I'd rather be painting than spending time matching an update to the original.

golden retriever portrait painting update by pet portrait artist Colette Theriault

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Golden Retriever Painting commission in progress

Finding the correct colors to paint a golden's coat accurately can be challenging. For example, the light source and reflections from surrounding objects and the environment will affect how the dog's coat color appears in a photograph and in real life. To complicate things further, the genetic variability of the retriever's coat can make one golden appear redder while another to look almost white. 

While it can be next to impossible to match exactly all the tones and subtleties on any animal's coat, it will be easier to accomplish if you have a wide array of pastel colors at your disposition. The more pastel sets you have, and from different manufacturers, the better!

So let's have a look at what I have so far...

golden retriever painting in progress by Colette Theriault


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Hummingbird drawing revisited




Hummingbird drawing by Colette Theriault
BEFORE
Ruby Throated Hummingbird
Drawing
Many of my colleagues know, I rarely create a  piece of art which I am totally satisfied with.  I can usually live with it, sometimes even taking years for me to really like it.   The hummingbird drawing however, was on my black list of "terribles" and I could no longer bear looking it at anymore, even though I had hung the artwork in a dark wall of the stairwell in an attempt to obscure it from view.

So today, I felt I needed to take the chance and attempt to revive that drawing. I also needed to regain my confidence which has been escaping me these past dark wintery months. I blame it on the seasons...it's just easier that way.

 As I took the dreaded drawing out of it's frame and laid it on the table, I took out my Prismacolors and chose a chocolate brown pencil.  I was  amazed at what little time it took me to achieve what I  hadn't in my first attempt.

It was just the change I needed. I am even starting to like it now.
Ruby Throated Hummingbird drawing by Colette Theriault
AFTER
Revised version of
Ruby Throated Hummingbird
Drawing





Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Maple Bush Landscape Painting

This special request was a rather large painting I completed for a client. I don't normally take on commissions of this type but felt it was time to push the limits of my comfort zone and explore something other than animals and wildlife.

The reference photos used for this painting came from my own collection (main scene) as well as from the client (gentleman). The painting is a gift to commemorate the life of a special father and grandfather who enjoyed spending time at the maple bush.

Landscape Paintings in Pastel by Award Winning Canadian Artist Colette Theriault
"Sweet Memories"
pastel
23"x16"
 


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Cairn Terrier Dog Portrait in Pencil

Although I currently have over half a dozen commissions left to do, this dog drawing is the last of which needs to be shipped out before Christmas. With the pressure of commission deadlines being lifted from my shoulders a bit, I can now start thinking of my own Christmas shopping and errands left to do! 
Cairn Terrier Dog Portrait in Pencil by Colette Theriault
"Hunter"
Cairn Terrier
8"x10"
Graphite