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Sunday, 6 July 2014

Pet portrait painting in progress - that's a lot of p's!

Hi everyone! I've been hard at work on a few commissions this week which is great fun!

I've had the house to myself as Sam has been away on a stag weekend, so it's been good to have plenty of time for painting.

This pet portrait is the main piece I've been working on. It's still not finished, in fact there's quite a way to go.


I've got to paint all the little hairs on the ear, add detail to the nose, finish the collar and tags and refine the shading.

I've been taking photos at each stage and am hoping to make them into a video when I'm finished. Until then, here are a few to show how it's progressed.


The last image in that series shows the dog looking very dark. To lighten it up I've painted tiny white hairs over the whole thing which I will then cover with a tan coloured wash to bring it all together.


I'm working in acrylic paint because it dries nice and quickly, allowing layers to be built up with no drying time in between. I've never tried oils but would love to have a go!

Here's where I've been working at the dining room table. It now has a few nice acrylic splodges...shh!


This week I've also been working on a paper cut kirigami cityscape. I'm still only at the cutting stage, the windows are taking ages! Eventually, when all the details have been cut, I'll fold it and it'll magically turn into a 3D city. Well, here's hoping. The last kirigami I did went wrong, so fingers crossed I've got the measurements right on this one.


Next Sunday, I'll hopefully have a finished pet portrait to show you!

If you've enjoyed this post, please pop by my Facebook page. I update it regularly during the week and I'd love to welcome some new faces!

I'm sharing this post on the following blogs: Paint Party Friday, Handmade Harbour, Be Different Act Normal, Manon Popje's Illustrations and Tatertots and Jello.

34 comments:

  1. Wow! I love the intricacy of your work, both in paint and paper. Blessings!

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  2. Your dog portrait looks finished to me, but I can see where adding the tiny hairs really does put more realism into it. Beautiful pup! And the kirigami fascinates me. I am eager to see what it turns out to look like.

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    1. It's almost there, Faye! The hard work is done now, just the finishing touches to add :)

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  3. Goodness you are so gifted at detailed work! I love the doggie and its great to see all the stages. The paper cutting looks mind boggling, good luck! x

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  4. Claire, the pet portrait is amazing with all the fine detail. It's beautiful. I'm excited to see how your kirigami looks when you have it finished. Have a wonderful week :)

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    1. Thank you! It's certainly taking a long time, I'll be happy when I have finished all the little hairs. Have a lovely week too :) x

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  5. Great portrait :-D Your style is very much like mine with all the tiny hair strokes :-D
    I am so looking forward to seeing this new paper cut :-D
    Hope you are both well.

    Hugz
    IKE xxxxxxxx

    My Challenge Blog
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    1. We'd be a right pair if we ever met, sitting painting tiny little hairs! We're great thank you, hope you're having a lovely week!

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  6. Hi Claire
    I love your portrait, you have so much patience, if you have any spare please send it to me LOL!!
    Seriously I simply love it, and looking forward to seeing the finished job
    Sue x

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    1. Thank you so much Sue, and for your other lovely comments! I have quite a lot of patience but really not enough time in the day! x

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  7. I love seeing works in progress, it's surprising how much it changes as you go along, I'm popping over to your facebook page right now :)

    Jan x

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    1. Thank you Jan and welcome to my Facebook page!

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  8. Love your work the dog looks fab.I wish I could paint

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    1. Thanks Chris! You should give it a go, you might surprise yourself! I think patience is the key, more than skill :)

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  9. hello clare, i enjoyed seeing the process of your lovely and detailed work. i look forward to seeing the completed painting, though, it looks mighty beautiful as is.

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    1. Thank you Irene! I'm looking forward to it being finished too :)

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  10. More beautiful work, I am still in awe of your cutting skills, those windows are so teeny tiny!

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  11. oh my gosh, amazing! the work you must put into it. amazing.
    b

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  12. Loving your work, visited your facebook page too.

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  13. Me again !! :-D
    Thank you for your comments on my latest creations :-D
    Yes - Tea Bag folding is like Origami. Apparently it was invented by a lady who did Origami who was sat - bored to death - in her hotel room and started folding the little paper baggies that your tea bags come in... hence the name. The squares are usually about 2"x 2" but you can make them bigger or smaller :-D
    I think her name was Tiny (pronounced Teeny) van der Plas

    Hugz
    IKE xxxxxxxxxxx

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  14. Wooooooow this is so amazing and I am so pleased you shared it with us at Paper Saturdays! Love love it :)))))
    manonXx

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  15. Wow! Painting with so many details...I tried painting a dog for my friend and it was pretty intimidating! I love what I see here....so much of care and details! I did not know about 'kirigami'..will check it out now. Your paper city looks all ready to spring up! I can imagine little lights going up in those windows! I'm happy I visited you, from PPF our perpetual source of joy and inspiration. :-)

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  16. Wow. You are fabulously talented. Great doggy paining with so much detail in. Congrats on being featured over at PFF.

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  17. you are amazing! That WIP is already looking fantastic!

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  18. Your talent is so incredible. You truly do inspire me.
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  19. Awesome! Love the detail! God bless your patience... and your talent!!

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  20. Wow, outstanding work, looks awesome.:)

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  21. Painstaking patience in painting that puppy, Smiles
    Have a nice weekend

    Much love...

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  22. This is amazing. You have really captured the emotion in the eyes. Congrats on being featured at Paint Party Friday.

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  23. The details in your painting are amazing, so lifelike. Can't wait to see the finish product.

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  24. Gorgeous portrait! Beautiful and unique work!

    http://agagasiniak.blogspot.co.uk/

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  25. I missed this post last week because I was on vacation. These are both 2 detailed pieces. So lovely in there own way!

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    1. Thanks Heather! It's so lovely to hear from people who follow my blog :D

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