Little Mongrel Needs a Name

He wa’n’t no common dog, he wa’n’t no mongrel; he was a composite.
A composite dog is a dog that is made up of all the valuable qualities that’s in the dog breed—
kind of a syndicate;
and a mongrel is made up of
all riffraff that’s left over.

Mark Twain

This little mongrel needs a name – any ideas? I found the reference photo on Pixabay – it’s the eyes!

I’m preparing for next Saturday’s (September 24) Barkfest at Midway Manor in Allentown. These shows are fun – people are so passionate about their dogs, and I always pick up commissions for pet portraits, which I love. I’m looking forward to the cool, crisp Fall weather – hopefully the heat waves are over!

Here are some step by step photos – the video is coming to my Youtube channel later today!

Little Mongrel – Step by Step

8 x 10 inches on Arches Cold Press paper
Winsor & Newton Artist watercolor paints:
– Yellow Ochre
– Winsor Lemon
– Burnt Sienna
– Ultramarine Blue

This painting was createdusing mostly wet on dry – always blending

Photo 1:

Start with the colors underneath the fur – watery Yellow Ochre everywhere that will be brown. Work around the eyes, nose, and parts that will be white or just black fur, with no brown underneath.

Photo 2:
I like to complete the eyes and nose early in the process, to give the subject life.
The eyes begin with watery Winsor Lemon, working around the highlight. When dry, watery Burnt Sienna, dropping in thicker in the corners, blend to the lower edge.

When dry, wet the eye, drop in thicker Burnt Sienna mixed with a bit of Ultramarine Blue to create a darker brown.

The nose – using a grey mix of Burnt Sienna/Ultramarine Blue (more blue than brown), wet on dry – work around the lightest areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo 3:

Still working mostly wet on dry and blending – work gradually from light to dark – Burnt Sienna, followed by a black mix of Burnt Sienna/Ultramarine Blue, working in the direction of the fur.

Final Photo:

Add more black to the neck, put a dot of Ultramarine Blue in each highlight of the eyes, reinforce the darkest darks, including the nose, insert whiskers, and it’s done!