Let me introduce you to Bramble, the star of this beautiful commissioned coloured pencil portrait.
The perfect size portrait
Bramble’s portrait is small as they go, just 14cm square. My client requested these exact dimensions as Bramble’s portrait hangs beside his predecessor. Now the family dogs’ pictures hang together on the family home wall in West Cornwall.
We all love Chocolate Labradors
Labradors are a firm favourite for family dogs; reliable, full of love and good-natured. I am very much a dog person and I have a soft spot for the larger breeds. I suspect that being tall has something to do with that, they are more my scale than a terrier. But the rich colours of a Chocolate Lab’s coat combined with those warm amber eyes mean I am liable to be parting with all my treats with one after just one imploring look.
Coloured pencil for portraits
Coloured pencil is a popular choice for those who like realism, accurate colour representation, and the look of a hand-drawn portrait. Unlike pastel which can be very smooth and almost creamy on the page, my coloured pencil portraits retain the texture of the paper on which they are drawn.
It is a medium which is growing in popularity in recent years, though still often overlooked in favour of paint. I will always champion pencil as an artistic tool. And I will also be the first to say that coloured pencil is not an easy or fast medium to work with. My dressage horse study Poised is a great example of how the colours can shine, creating a picture that captivates with it’s luminosity and detail.
The six stages of drawing Bramble
You can see here the six stages of drawing Bramble. It can be hard to describe how I see the colours and how I start a picture, so I hope that this montage helps. By building many layers I can almost sculpt the image on the page. It is developed by creating depth in the hues as well as the tones, the golden and reddish base foundations serve to bring warmth to the high ground. Whilst the cooler shades help create shadows and planes that slightly recede.
I share work in progress photographs along with commentary about the process on my Facebook and Instagram pages, so you can follow me there and watch as I work.
Considering a commission? Let’s have a chat
Portrait commissions are always welcomed from both UK based and international clients. On my Commissions page there is an overview of the process, and for a more in depth look at commissioning a fine art portrait, please read this guide.
For any questions you may have, or advice you may need, you can contact me here or call or WhatsApp on 07967 416072
And if you would like more inspiration, these coloured pencil portraits are all commissioned pieces which celebrate pets in all their individual beauty.
First we have John and Louie, who have lived together for 14 years and counting. Then Dancer who is a retired Cornish show jumper, now living his best life running free in the fields with his closest horse friend. And CAT, a stunning calico cat with a wild side – I think you can see it in those cool, green eyes.
