Pet Portraits and Wildlife Art

Work is starting on Mickey's other portrait. Using burnt umber I put a layer of colour down to get everything in proportion and for the direction of fur. As usual I have began by working the eyes first and then continued with the face, this is about 4 layers of colours so far and I still need to add more, it's a long process.I've continued working on Mickey's portrait, I've completed most of Mickey's head now but I need to add highlights and lowlights plus I have also put in some of the grass around his paws. I've had quite a few Christmas orders come in now so it's all guns blazing (pencils at the ready really) plus I've also got a birthday commission to do in a bit of a rush so I'll be working my fingers to the bone to get everything done!!! I'm pleased to have picked up so many orders from my website as it was really hard work for someone like me who has no web knowledge whatsoever. The only problem I have now is that I cannot update my website again but I really am not going to waste time trying to fix it right now!!! Back to the drawing board!I've now added a further layer to Mickey's fur, this time I used brown earth which is a rich medium brown colour, the next layers I add will gradually get darker in colour to give the fur more depth. This photo was taken under a daylight bulb so please ignore any colour differences to the previous image.As you can see I've added another layer of colouring to Mickey's brown fur, this time I used loganberry as Mickey has an almost purple tinge where he is so shiny. Nearest the shoulder area I have started work with yet another layer, this time dark brown, you can see the difference more layers make as the fur near the shoulder area is much more blended and looking realistic, I do have yet another layer of brown black to add overall then it will be adding highlights and black in the darkest of areas, as I said pencils are a very long winded medium to use but the finished effect is exactly what I like so I just need to be patient and keep on going!!Again this photo was taken under a daylight bulb but it demonstrates how much difference an added layer makes to a portrait, Mickey's fur now looks much glossier and smoother, this is because as each layer is added, regardless of how light the pressure of the pencil, each repeated stroke smooths the paper (I use quite a rough paper - called tooth) and leaves the surface smoother thereby looking more shiny. I have not worked the lighter areas yet and will need to burnish these to give an even greater impression of glossiness.Mickey's back leg is now in place plus I have added the first layer of grass. I have not worked his middle yet but this will not take long as it is a very pale area not needing too many layers. I hope to finish Mickey's portrait very soon and then begin Dolly and Peggy.Mickey is now almost complete, I need to walk away from his portrait for a while then go back to see if anything needs touching up. I've added a few more layers (very lightly) to the grass and I have put in very dark shading on some areas of fur but on the whole I think there is very little left to do now.

Terry and Lorraine have commented on Mickey's portrait

So it will be winging it's way to them very shortly