Let me show you how I developed this drawing of Kate and Peeper dog in pencil.
Pencil for a portrait
Pencil (graphite pencil as opposed to coloured pencil) is such a commonplace tool that it is often overlooked. It was what I learned to draw in. Not because I had a particular affinity with it, rather because there was always a pencil laying around somewhere, and I could erase my mistakes and rework the drawing.
Now pencil is my favourite of all the art mediums. The simplicity appeals to me, as does using something so every day to create extraordinary artworks.
Drawing a portrait from photographs
I had not had the pleasure of meeting Peeper dog, although I am sure I would have loved him. The inspiration for ths portrait came from a photograph that Kate shared, and when I saw it it stopped me in my tracks. That is essentially what I look for in an image to draw, It is something unquantifiable, but you know it when you see it.
Although you might get a willing model to sit for you whist you draw from life, dogs are not known for posing and staying still. So photographs are a wonderful tool. Photos give us access to the past, and those whom we may otherwise never know.
Stages one to three
Stages one to three are where I have blocked in the main shapes. The temptation is always to go for the details, the things that make the subject come to life on the page. However as is the case when building anything, the foundations may be less glamorous but they are crucial to your success.
You can see that I focus on the shadows, leaving the page bare where there are the brightest highlights.
Drawing blonde hair is the hardest of the colours in my opinion. You have to really focus on the shadows between the strands, and be careful to not overdo those. In all drawing there is a balance to be struck between suggesting information and leaving space for the mind to fill in the gaps.
Stages four to six
Stages four to six are where it gets really exciting for me. I continue to refine the image as I go, no one area is finished till right at the end. The longer you look at a picture, the more you will see. And the more I draw, the more these elements change how other areas feel. This is especially true with tonal values, as a very dark shadow in one part will make the other darks look paler in comparison.
I would say that Kate doesn’t really look like herself till stage five. Her eye make up is characteristic of her, so without that it feels like something is missing. And at this point I have edited the shape of her eye a tiny amount. This has made a big difference to the likeness.
And of course, as the depth in the shading and the smaller details increase, the drawing changes from something sketchier to a more polished and increasingly beautiful study. It has been such a joy drawing these two, thank you Kate and Peeper for sharing yourselves with me in this way.
I have written more about both Kate and Peeper, and their beautiful relationship in my blog post Kate and Peeper – Pencil Portrait of One Woman and Her Dog.
Videos of drawing Kate and Peeper
I have been learning the basics of recording my drawing process You can see some short videos of the creation of this portrait on my Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
In due course, when I am more proficient at filming and editing my creative process, I will create a YouTube channel. There you cwill be able to learn a lot more about how I draw my portraits.
I will share updates about the development of my YouTube channel in my newsletter (sign up at the bottom of this page) and via social media. And of course a blog post will be shared here in my artist’s sketchbook.
More portraits step by step
If you enjoyed this post, check out how I drew two very different portraits: Thinle a Nepalese mountain guide, painted in pastel, and Poised, a horse drawn in coloured pencil.
