Drawing the German Shorthaired Pointer - Muzzle

After lightly sketching in areas of dark shadow and the highlights as well as the centre line on the bridge of the nose I began adding the shading to the lower part of the head.

The painting was working so well I lost track of time and forgot to stop and take photographs after I had finished the jaws, bridge of the nose and muzzle. I will try and make sure I stop to take the photographs when working on the other dog's head.

I still have to put all the markings on this dog, but I will do that later.

Sunset Silhouette 3

This is the third original 4" x 4" acrylic painting and is available for $65.00.

The other two are Sunset Silhouette 1 (see posting on 27 December 12) and Sunset Silhouette 2 (see my post on 19 December 11).


















You are welcome to come out and see all three together at the Miniature Squared Show which will open at KAGS this Saturday and will run through to 02 February 12.

Wine Bottles and Glasses - A Work in Progress

Today we held the first Still Life class at KAGS.

We had two different arrangements, one of vases and bowls with Chinese lantern plants; the other of wine bottles and glasses.

I chose to do the wine bottles and glasses.

At break the members discussed what direction we would like to go with the still life class and decided that rather than stick with traditional still life themes we go with a variety of interest themes. So over the course of the rest of the winter and spring we will be doing just that.

I will post this sketch once I have it completed.

Drawing the German Shorthaired Pointer - Top of Head

Now it is time to get the top of the skull finished and work my way down towards the muzzle.

The first thing I filled in was the small area above the eye. It has a fair amount of high lit areas and the layers of graphite were gradually built up to blend with the surrounding area.

I then worked on finishing the solid marking at the back of the neck and below the ear; darkening the area for the shadows and using curved lines to create the illusion of roundness. Later I will put all the freckles into the coat.

Going back to the area between the eyes the shadows and highlights were slowly working in down and across the bridge of the nose to just below the stop between the eyes.

Working above the sharp edge of the cheek bone, the flat section of the cheek was put in and the shadow area below was joined to complete the front edge of the cheek bone.

The area below the eye was then filled in and some of the small veins which are close to the surface of the skin just above the cheek bone were given a little definition. I then put in the shadow beneath another of the veins just below the front edge of the cheek and across the top of the muzzle.

More detail was added to the corner of the mouth, shadowing was added along the bottom of the jaw and the hollow in the cheek where the tendons run where given a little more definition.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and look at the artwork. I hope you will return often.

Drawing the German Shorthaired Pointer - Eye Lid and Cheek

I wanted to get the eye lids and area around the eye completed today but just couldn't get started. So I added some shading down the front of the neck and worked on putting in the markings on the shoulder.

It is time consuming to get each of the markings in its exact location on the body and on this dog there are a lot of small freckles yet to be done.

I moved upward and rounded the bottom of the cheek slightly and darkened the shadow beneath the jaw giving it a more defined outline.

Working below the sharp edge of the cheek bone I added more shading and indicated areas of highlight.

I did a little more work at the top of the skull and added more shading before I finally started to work on the eye lid and the area around the eye.

The first thing I put in is the tear duct in the corner of the eye and lightly indicate the skin surrounding it. Once that is in place it acts as a guide for the lower eye lid.

The upper eye lid is drawn and the shadow put into the bottom and in the crease. The highlight on the top edge of the eye lid gradually darkens towards the far side of the lid.

The furrows above the eye lid are gradually drawn in and defined.

Drawing the German Shorthaired Pointer - Nose

The next area to be put in is the nose. This acts as a reference for the centre line of the face.

I start by placing a small, light shadow to use as a guide where the bridge of the nose and the top portion of the muzzle meet.

The centre line which divides the two halves of the flat front portion of the nose between the nostrils is put in first and the top edge of the nose pad is darkened.

The curved lines on the top of the nose are shaded in the direction of the nose as it goes along the bridge of the nose.

The shadow under the flap of skin below the nostril is put in which gives it its shape.

The lower edge of the upper lip is strengthened and given a more definite shape. The shadow under the lip is darkened to give a little depth.

The area of the muzzle below the nose is given shape and the whisker lines are indicated.

I then start working my way back up the bridge of the nose giving more shape and confirming the existing lines with a soft line of graphite.

Working with the lines following the curve of the skull I add in shading in front of the ear, gradually building layers of graphite.

The leading edge of the ear flap shows more clearly against the shadows beneath it which seems to push it forward.

The lines on the cheek are put in vertically to indicate the flatness
of the area as opposed to the roundness of the skull.

Next I go back and darken the area around the far eye adding in the furrows above the eye and a little more shadow under the far side ear flap.

As you can see so far other than putting the eyes in on the other dog nothing has been done with him, yet.

Drawing the German Shorthaired Pointer - Ears

Once the eyes have been completed, the next step is to start with the ears.

With the light coming from the upper left hand side of the picture, I like to indicate the highlight areas and lightly define the top of the head and the edge of the ear flap.

The shadow cast by the ear flap and below the jaw is lightly indicated on the neck and I added a few of her markings. The shadow cast by the ear folds are put in for reference with the dark areas marked in lightly. I also added a little definition to one of the nostrils.

Much of the ear is still left with the white of the paper showing. It is easier to add more dark gradually than to try and remove a dark shadow in the wrong place.

The top edge of the ear is given more definition and more of the shadows in the ear folds are indicated. The top of the ear gradually takes shape as more layers of graphite are slowly built up creating depth.

Gradually the shadows and shadings are added with the lightest of the highlights still being the white of the paper.

With the first ear completed it was time to work on the little bit of the far ear that shows. The base of this ear defines the shape of the skull above the other eye.

I then worked on the far eye and started the area around it.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and enjoy the artwork.