Custom Pet Portraits in Oil
Today’s featured custom painting is of a pet named Bailey. Bailey is an adorable little dog who is extremely friendly. He loves people and loves attention! (Who doesn’t, right?)
“In short, he’s energetic, outgoing, intelligent and playful.” Says his owner.
And thus, an oil painting depicting Bailey was put into motion.
Bailey’s fluffy coat and endearing puppy eyes lent itself well to a variety of techniques including playful linear brush work, and soft and hard edges.
Lost and Found Edges
In this detail shot you can see how the background actually works its color right into the left ear. Creating a soft “lost and found edge.”
Artist Tip
Incorporate Lost and Found edges into your painting when applicable. It will enhance the viewers experience by allowing their eyes and imaginations to interact with your piece. Why spell everything out with outlines and hard edges. It’s not the way we see, or else our lives would look like we’re walking around in a coloring book.
I’ve also incorporated another form of a soft edge where a darker value is painted underneath, and then I softly painted lights on top to create an edge that’s pushed back in space.
Linear Brush Work
I love the energy a nice weighted line will bring to a painting. ’nuff said.
Question for you!
Where else do YOU see lost and found edges in this piece?
Okay …let’s see.
Theres a lost and found edge in his left eye, I think, his left hind leg, and his right foot in the shadow part. And the fur in his chest also is very soft, blending really well.
This is a beautiful painting, Jen.
I like it. I really enjoy the sharp clarity in some places and the fading in others. I like the yellow on the ground. How did you know what colors to pick for the background?
Awesome. Thanks!
As far as the background, since he’s a playful kind of dog I wanted to give a little contrast to his fur. The backgrounds actually more greens, and light greens, but the web color’s throwing that off a little. But still, I choose the background colors to balance or ground the subject in the piece.
Wow …that’s neat! You really captured his personality well!
Wow …that’s neat. You really captured his personality well!