Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

GreenPartyVoter

(72,377 posts)
Wed May 27, 2020, 11:38 AM May 2020

Need black lab help. This is the practice piece and I used

another dog as the pose model. Aside from unfunhousing the nose, working on the mouth, and making the eyes bigger, how do I make this one more like Maggie in the snaps below?

Also, another friend suggested painting on a page of 11x15, but I only have Strathmore pulp in that size. I have Arches cotton in 9x12 hot and cold 140, and also 300 cp. Would you do this on cheap paper just to get the size?

She was a sweet girl. Used to walk my boys home from the school bus drop off, then I had to walk _her_ home because she wasn't supposed to follow them LOL










22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Need black lab help. This is the practice piece and I used (Original Post) GreenPartyVoter May 2020 OP
Work on the eyes. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2020 #1
Yes, I noticed the eye dropped. I often get it right with pencil GreenPartyVoter May 2020 #2
This is beautiful just as it is! LiberalLoner May 2020 #3
Thank you! I'm definitely breaking out the Arches 300 for this one. GreenPartyVoter May 2020 #6
use the good paper. duh. mopinko May 2020 #4
Yeah, I feel like it's a duh. I might do the 300lb as it could give me a little more room for GreenPartyVoter May 2020 #5
If you love granulation...check out Daniel Smith Lunar Black for a nice dark color! LiberalLoner May 2020 #7
Thank you! I have it on a dot card, but I can get similar GreenPartyVoter May 2020 #11
Those watercolor paints can get expensive, that's for sure. But those Daniel Smith watercolors are LiberalLoner May 2020 #20
i learned as much about art from bill alexander and the magic of oil painting mopinko May 2020 #10
Very true. I don't mind her darks not being all neutral black. Warm GreenPartyVoter May 2020 #12
oh yes. mopinko May 2020 #13
My two cents bif May 2020 #8
keep sharpening your eye, friend. mopinko May 2020 #14
Good luck lunatica May 2020 #9
ikr? just dont stop, and you must arrive. mopinko May 2020 #15
? lunatica May 2020 #16
oh no. did i? mopinko May 2020 #17
What does lunatica May 2020 #18
i know, right? mopinko May 2020 #19
LOL! lunatica May 2020 #21
lady, one of these days we have to meet in meat space. mopinko May 2020 #22

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,280 posts)
1. Work on the eyes.
Wed May 27, 2020, 11:47 AM
May 2020

In the painting the right one is a little higher than the left one and just a touch too far to the right. It's been my experience that if the eyes aren't exactly in the right place the whole piece looks a little off. More contrast would help a bit too. Black is tough to work with, especially in water colors.

GreenPartyVoter

(72,377 posts)
2. Yes, I noticed the eye dropped. I often get it right with pencil
Wed May 27, 2020, 11:56 AM
May 2020

but lose things as the paint goes down. I'm going to do heavier lines on the next one. Mostly I am nervous that if I had trouble making an exact copy of a model, that tweaking to make it look like Maggie could be really tough. But I love this pose and happy expression, and that's how I want to commemorate her for her parents, so I am taking on the challenge.

LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
3. This is beautiful just as it is!
Wed May 27, 2020, 01:55 PM
May 2020

I would use the good paper because all of your art deserves the best paper, best supplies in general!

mopinko

(69,806 posts)
4. use the good paper. duh.
Wed May 27, 2020, 02:10 PM
May 2020

also, she is black, paint her black. use a small number of strong white lines.
the eyes, nose, and mouth have color. but yeah, she's a black dog.
my sister is a pro photographer and i asked her once how you can take a picture of a black animal and she said- light it from the back.

GreenPartyVoter

(72,377 posts)
5. Yeah, I feel like it's a duh. I might do the 300lb as it could give me a little more room for
Wed May 27, 2020, 02:54 PM
May 2020

corrections. I think big might be cool, but I don’t want to wrestle with more pulp. I’m definitely going blacker, but I do like the granulating effect of the sodalite. I might mix some stains in with it.

As for white lines, I’ll mask a few plus pupil highlights.

GreenPartyVoter

(72,377 posts)
11. Thank you! I have it on a dot card, but I can get similar
Wed May 27, 2020, 06:14 PM
May 2020

results with umber and blues or stains and the sodalite. But I might get some LB in the future if I'm ever feeling plump in the pocket. LOL

LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
20. Those watercolor paints can get expensive, that's for sure. But those Daniel Smith watercolors are
Wed May 27, 2020, 06:53 PM
May 2020

So incredibly pigmented and wonderful, aren’t they?

mopinko

(69,806 posts)
10. i learned as much about art from bill alexander and the magic of oil painting
Wed May 27, 2020, 05:03 PM
May 2020

as anyone. dont think i ever saw an episode that he didnt say-
if you vant to show light, you have to have dark.

GreenPartyVoter

(72,377 posts)
12. Very true. I don't mind her darks not being all neutral black. Warm
Wed May 27, 2020, 06:23 PM
May 2020

and cool blacks to help show the light are my goal.

mopinko

(69,806 posts)
13. oh yes.
Wed May 27, 2020, 06:30 PM
May 2020

there are many blacks. i tend to favor the warm ones, as w most colors.
there are 2 reds on the color wheel which few people can tell apart.
one if my favorite color. a true color.
the other is just, just, the opposite.

a few steps down that wheel, and the contrast is not there.

but, ya know, lights and darks.
warm and cool.

to really put it on paper, you need to see both. and use that.

bif

(22,560 posts)
8. My two cents
Wed May 27, 2020, 03:58 PM
May 2020

I'd make the shading on the inside of the eyes a bit darker so they look a bit more recessed. Other than that, I'd say you're pretty darn close. Nicely done!

mopinko

(69,806 posts)
14. keep sharpening your eye, friend.
Wed May 27, 2020, 06:31 PM
May 2020

for art to be true, you must see clearly.
no art comes to those who dont first see..

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
16. ?
Wed May 27, 2020, 06:35 PM
May 2020

I have complete faith in all the artists who post here and many gave very good advice. Did I sound snarky? I certainly didn’t mean it that way. So if I did I need to apologize!

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Artists»Need black lab help. This...