Mastering Canine Portraiture

This past week was a difficult one for our family as one of our two beloved Siberian Huskies passed away. She was a red husky with light blue eyes and at 16 years old, she had lived a very robust life. Nevertheless, it’s not an easy thing. My husband requested that I do a portrait of her for him in her memory. Animal paintings are really not my wheelhouse (since I’m more of an Abstract Expressionist painter.) However, I wanted to give this heartfelt endeavor a go. In a previous article, I wrote about the importance of art journals and I remembered years ago I had taken a painting class which covered the nuances and pitfalls of animal portraits. So I thought I would share some hints from my art class notes as I prepare to paint our huskie’s portrait.

Capturing the essence and personality of a pet in a portrait requires careful observation, a steady hand, and an understanding of the unique features that make each dog special. The process starts with narrowing down a favorite picture as a reference, crucial for accuracy in creating a realistic portrait.

Next, figure out your canvas or paper size, ensuring it’s large enough to capture the details of the dog’s face. Then choose what type of paint (acrylics, oils, or watercolors) and select a high-quality brand with a large range of colors.

Begin by lightly sketching the outline of the dog’s head and facial features onto the canvas. Many artists do this with a charcoal vine and avoid pencil as the lead will bleed up through the paint. If you prefer to sketch with a pencil instead of charcoal, the secret is to use a clear gesso after sketching, then apply your paint after drying. This way, the lead sketching will not bleed through to the paint. Once your sketch is done, start with the shading of the eyes, nose, and mouth. One of the biggest mistakes made in any animal portraits, especially canine, is making the eye shape and lashes too human-like. Really study the shape, color, reflections, and highlights to bring the eyes to life.

The fur is another area of painting animals which can be very challenging. To avoid the fur looking overworked and muddy, build up layers working from dark to light, to create depth and dimension. Work in small sections, using short controlled strokes to mimic the direction of the fur. Vary your brush size to capture different lengths and textures. Do several layers of this with each layer drying in between. The undercoat of the fur, middle, and tips of the fur are often different colors. Letting layers dry in-between and blending colors seamlessly will also avoid a muddled outcome. Add finishing highlight touches at the very end as a last step.

Painting a canine portrait is a labor of love that requires patience, so don’t be discouraged and take your time. With any type of painting to be successful, time takes time. With dedication, you’ll master whatever art venture you dive into!