Dog portraits in acrylics

There are two important elements to a successful dog portrait. One is accuracy, the other is character. An accurate portrait can be impressive but if it lacks the life, light and movement necessary to portray the dog’s character, it is missing a big trick!

Observation

I typically use a grid for accuracy in portraiture. It isn’t cheating – it is an excellent painting aid. I also paint the initial shapes upside down, to focus on observational skills as opposed to interpretational ones in the early stages. With a grid, it is simpler to observe where