Welcome! This post will take you through the step by step process in creating a detailed, realistic watercolor painting of a Boston Terrier!
Thanks so much to Rachel Raynor, from the Reference Photos for Artists Facebook page for permission to use a a photo of her beloved dog, George. I created this painting in honor of my grandfather’s treasured dog, “Nipper.” Nipper came to the family as a puppy and lived to adulthood. Grandpa sure loved that dog! Here’s to you, Grandpa and Nipper!
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This video from my Youtube channel provides a taste of the process.
Materials
I am an affiliate of Blick Art Materials and receive a small commission when you click these links at no cost to you. Thank you!
You can find the full materials list, along with downloadable drawing and reference photo in the step by step video course at our online school.
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Watercolor Paper: Arches 140 lb. Cold Press paper
Paints: We use Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Paints. The small, 5 ml tubes last a long
time.
- French Ultramarine Blue
- Burnt Sienna – Create gray and black by mixing and layering Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna.
- Yellow Ochre
- Permanent Rose – Mixed with Yellow Ochre creates a pinkish hue for noses and around eyes; feel free to experiment with other pinks/reds that you have on hand.
- Winsor Lemon – used underneath browns, especially in eyes; feel free to experiment with others yellow that you have on hand.
Here is a link to the full list of recommended materials used in our online school.
Step by Step Process
Step 1: Create the Eyes and Nose
Getting the eyes and nose in place first establishes the character of the subject, and is a great confidence booster!
Create the first pale layers of color in the eyes, representing the lightest values.
Layer by layer, apply darker grays, blacks, and browns, always thinking about creating smooth transitions from dark to light. By the end of this step, the eyes will be just about finished. Final refinements will be made at the end of the painting.
Establish the initial, pale layers of gray in the nose.
Layer by layer, refine the nose. Establish darkest values, then mid tones, as well as textures. Smooth as needed with plain water and your damp brush. By the end of this step, the nose will be almost finished. Final refinements will be made near the end of the painting, after surrounding colors are in place.
The eyes and nose are in place, and it feels like this Boston Terrier is urging us onward!
Step 2: Foundational Colors
In this step, we’ll establish the foundational colors – those lightest values found underneath the darker grays and blacks. These pale colors will serve as the groundwork for the darker values to come, and will help to unify everything.
Ask yourself “What are the lightest colors that I see underneath the darker fur and textures?” I’m seeing white shapes, pale gray, and pale pink. We’ll focus on one color at a time, starting with the pinks, then the grays. By the end of this step, the foundational colors will be in place, providing a map to follow as we move into darker values.
Step 3: Map the Darker Values
Next, we’ll establish the dark and mid tone values. First, create a map of what will eventually be the darkest shapes. These applications will be pale. The idea is to create a map of where these dark shapes will be, and we’ll slowly go darker. Things will appear sloppy, and that’s ok. It’s part of the process. Layer by layer, it will come together.
Next, apply mid tone and light grays, working around the shapes that will be white or pink. By the end of this step, you will be able to see different values of gray – dark, light, and mid tone. Things will appear sloppy and it’s not dark enough, but we are slowly going darker, and, layer by layer, it will become unified.
Step 4: Ears
A map of the dark and mid tone values is in place. Things are appearing disjointed and too pale. Often, at this stage, it’s helpful to focus on one part of the subject, taking it almost to completion. I’ll focus on the ears. Getting them in place provides a feeling of confidence and will serve as a guide as we create the rest of the dog.
Step 5: Details and Darker Values
In the next steps, we’ll take the dog significantly darker. First, reinforce what will be the darkest shapes, applying fur, textures, or layers of color. Things will appear disjointed and probably not dark enough yet. No worries! It’s part of the process, and it will come together!
The darkest shapes have been reinforced, and presently, things are appearing unbalanced. Over the next lessons, we’ll begin to unify, creating smooth transitions from dark to light.
One of the challenges in this dog is “how to create a smooth transition from the black to the white fur?” I find it helpful to establish a pale map of the length and curve of the fur. This will serve as a guide as we create the transition from black to white.
The pale map of fur will serve as a guide in going darker and transitioning from black to white fur. Next, return to the black fur, which is appearing quite disjointed. We’ll begin to create unity with mid tones – those grays that are in between darkest and lightest. These applications will serve as a bridge to smooth the transition from dark to light. The process will take more than one layer of color. Allow applications to dry before moving back in to refine, and take your time. Little by little, things will become more unified.
The fur is appearing more unified (although it will be refined further.) In this step, we’ll give attention to values, textures and colors around the mouth and nose. Layer by layer, we’ll take this area darker while establishing contour and textures. You may need to apply more than one layer or color or textures until you are happy with what you see. Take your time and enjoy the process.
Step 6: Final Refinements
You will reach a point in your painting where you might be feeling that it’s time to “wrap things up.” As you make refinements, it’s helpful to take a break and stop looking at the painting for a while. In addition, take a step back, look at the painting from a distance, and squint.
If you would like some guidance on making final refinements to your painting, this post may be helpful!
I began at the top of the dog, working my way downward.
- Ears – Refined dark and mid tone values to create smooth transitions and the impression of contour, shadow.
- Forehead – Created smoother transitions from dark to light in the black fur
- Around mouth – Adjusted values and texture to go darker, reinforce contour, and create smooth transitions
- Body – created smoother transitions from black to white
- Smoothed textures with damp brush
- Created thin whiskers
- Refined color in the eyes, taking them a bit darker
And that’s it! This Boston Terrier is finished. Would you like to create a realistic Boston Terrier or any animal containing black and white fur? If you love to create detail and realism, I invite you to visit our online school, where you can learn to paint this and many pets and animals in watercolor.
Learn More
Free Courses – Helpful if you are new to watercolor or wish to explore detailed, realistic painting
Explore the Online School – Search for courses, learn how the school works
Membership: An abundance of courses all in one place!
How to Paint Eyes – lessons in painting eyes
How to Paint Noses – lessons in painting noses
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below. I’m happy to help!
