This was a commissioned 8 x 10 inch painting of Gwapo, a water-loving dog. With each step featured here, I emailed the owner of the progress.

It begins with a photo provided by Gwapo’s owner, their German Shepherd mix. Gwapo loves the water and this is a favorite picture of him in the water.

I wanted the focus to be around his eyes. So his eyes are positioned in the upper third of the canvas and a third from the viewer’s left side. It’s a loose interpretation of where the golden mean is.

Shadow patterns are established. The background colors are put in lightly.

Areas in the light on Gwapo are more accurately painted in.

From this point I start refining the details of Gwapo’s fur. The color around the nose was off when I put in the nose color. So I had to make readjustment there with values of the nose and the surrounding area.

More color and more paint. And more detailed work around the ears and eyes.

When I’m somewhere satisfy with Gwapo, I began working more details in the water. Paying close attention to the circular pattern of the water, I had to redraw the ripples to line up correctly.

Completed painting of Gwapo.

(I may have to replaced this photo. It came out too light.)