Gracie the Whippet Watercolour Portrait Continued

My blog has been sadly neglected lately. I've been running madly off in all directions, making preparations for my booth at the International Plowing Match coming up in September, selling every Saturday morning at the local Farmer's Market, helping my daughter get ready to go off to university, and the list goes on. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day.

I have managed to squeeze out some time to work on Gracie. The reference photos I have are not very good, which makes it quite challenging to get the coat colour correct! I'm still working in watercolour, and managed to lighten most of my initial drawing which was much too dark. I've added a few more layers of washes to the background and to Gracie. It is starting to come together, but I still don't feel that I've got the balance of values correct. So, lots of work yet to do!

I've also started working the commission with the two Shepherds Keady and Blue again. I posted their reference photo quite a while ago. I had the initial sketch done, and then had to quit because of my darn shoulder. The position that I have while drawing aggravated it a lot, and it's just been over the last couple of days that I've felt that I might be able to draw again for short periods of time. I will post the work-in-progress when I have a bit more finished.

Dog Portrait - Another Watercolour Wash

I've added another couple of washes to Gracie's portrait, strengthening the darks slightly. She has very delicate colouring, so I'm being very conservative with my paint and keeping the washes very light. I forgot to erase those "too dark" lines from my initial drawing! If they won't lift off now, I will have to change to acrylic paint or pastel.

I completed this a week or two ago, then became busy with other things. I'm hoping to get back to it next week. I would like very much to have this commission done and on it's way!

Dog Portrait - Stage 2

Here is stage two of my portrait of Gracie. Just a light wash over the body. I went too dark when I transferred my drawing on to the watercolour paper, and it's going to give me some trouble if I continue working in watercolour. I will have to see if I can lift and lighten some of the lines. If not, I will have to switch over to acrylics.